Ido Shahar, who made a second half substitute appearance, against Ashdod, said: “There is a very big and wide squad, with plenty of players – everyone could start a match on a given day so we are always fighting for a place in the squad not just the starting line-up. To have so much competition where everyone gives the maximum, creates something good in the team. I am delighted I received some minutes and that the team won the match. During the second half in particular, the team played amazing football – it was a very important victory and I am delighted I got a chance to help the team.”

Shahar, cherished the opportunity he was given as he added: “The one thing I do know, is to enter the pitch and play when I am called on and give the maximum like I do every time.”

Shahar, who missed out on this summer’s U21 European Championship Finals after being left out of the squad in the last minute due to a medical condition, added: “I received the news in total shock, but one could take it in two ways. Obviously in the first couple of days I was far from happy, but after that I reached a decision. How do I emerge better and stronger from this situation, how do I build myself ahead of the season, how do I get myself and top form which is exactly what I did.”

Maccabi kicked off their 72^nd season of top-flight football since the State of Israel was proclaimed with a 4-1 victory over Ashdod.

The 4-1 win over Ashdod was the 10^th time in history that Maccabi opened a season with a victory by a three-goal-margin.

Eran Zahavi scored Maccabi’s first goal of the season (his 119^th for the club) and by that continued a personal tradition: scoring at least one goal every time he played for Maccabi on the opening day of the season: 2013/14, 2014/15, a brace in 2015/16 and the 2023/24.

This was the second time together with the 2015/16 where Zahavi scored Maccabi’s first goal of the season. In 72 seasons, 49 different players scored Maccabi’s first goal of the season. Avi Nimni leads that list with 5 goals to his name.

Roy Revivo and Milson joined 33 different players who scored on their Maccabi league debut. Since Oscar Gloukh in April 2022, this was the first time that a player scores on his league debut.

For the 26^th time in history Maccabi opened the league season with a home match at Bloomfield stadium (15 victories, 7 draws and 4 defeats). The match against Ashdod gathered 22,108 fans – a record for the first match of the season.

Maccabi scored all the goals in the second half. Throughout the season, Maccabi scored four goals or more in the second half 62 times. The second half goals against Ashdod were the first time it happened since 5-0 derby victory in April 2022.

In the event there is no extraordinary result in the match between Hapoel Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem tonight, Maccabi could lead the league standings. This will be the second season in succession and the first time since the 1953/54 and 1954/55 Maccabi leads the table after MD1 following last season’s 5-0 win over Bnei Reineh.

Roy Revivo experienced a dream summer as he won the bronze medal with Israel at the U20 World Championships in Argentina, reached the Semi Final with the U21’s in the European Championships in Georgia and made his debut appearance for the Israel national team. But Revivo, who scored his senior debut goal admitted after the game that scoring at in front of Maccabi’s fans was a dream come true: “It is my first senior goal for the senior side and I am delighted to have scored it at Bloomfield” he said.

Revivo, who made six appearances so far this season of which five were in the starting line-up, added “At Maccabi the battle for places is not just for the starting 11 but for a place in the squad. One needs to keep on working and working hard. I am delighted the youngsters are receiving credit but this is nothing special as it happens all over the world. There are other players as well who get a chance and I hope this continues.”