Category: News

Come early: A retro festival at Bloomfield

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Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Hapoel Jerusalem on Saturday for the MD25 ONE Zero League match at Bloomfield stadium (19:30) at a match which will be dedicated to the Championship winning side of 1978/79. Shortly before leaving for the stadium, we compiled for you all the relevant information.

A retro festival at Bloomfield

The club will honour the legends of the past as the current first team will wear a retro set which is a replica of the kit worn by the legends of the 70’s. Shortly before kick-off at around 19:15 an emotional ceremony will take place on the pitch honouring the team, both players and staff of the 1978/79 season. We strongly recommend to make your way to the stadium as early as possible to ensure you don’t miss out and to allow yourself to take part.

Further attractions:

Photographers with instant polaroid cameras will await you around the stadium giving you an extra 70’s flavour but also leave you with a retro memoir. The photos will take place outside the club’s official megastore, around the entrance to gate 2 and near gates 7-8.

FOREVER club members will enjoy an exclusive gift – a blast from the past goodies sweets bag. You could receive your sweets bag at the FOREVER stand outside gate 2. An SMS about the gift will be sent ahead of the game.

With Purim around the corner, Make Up artists will be also on site near the official store and outside gates 2 and gates 7-8.

Inside the stadium there will be cut out images of Maccabi stars wearing the retro kit, for you have your photos taken with.

 

 

A true legend: The story of Vicky Peretz

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Vicky Peretz was one of the players whose was identified with Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 1970’s. After joining the club from Maccabi Ramat Amidar in 1973 in a trade deal which transferred 6 players in the opposite direction, Peretz developed into one of the best strikers Israeli football ever had. He led Maccabi to the League and Cup double in the 1976/77 season and was the top scorer with 20 goals in all competitions during the Championship winning 1978/79 season. He later moved to France and had an impressive career with Strasbourg (80-82) and Rennes (82-83) before returning to Maccabi for two seasons (83-85).

As we salute the class of 1978/79, Peretz’s coach Nissim Bachar and fellow teammates Moshik Schweitzer and Yaron Oz remember the legendary striker who tragically passed away in June 2021 at the age of 68. In a special interview the trio share some memories of the striker who is ranked 8th in the club’s all-time goal scorers chart, the man who always gave a helping hand and the great significance Maccabi had in his life.

Our story begins: Retro 78/79

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Maccabi All Stars: Saluting the great class of 1978/79

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Imagine one team consisting the following components all at the same time: Maccabi’s all time appearance record holder, 2 major strikers who top the club’s goal-scoring charts, an Israeli footballing icon who returned home at the perfect timing after an illustrious career in France another two legends before taking off for careers in England and France. This  cluster of household names that generations of Maccabi fans were raised on received the rubber stamp as the season ended by winning an impressive league championship.

This is not an unrealistic fantasy but a real recipe which took shape during a memorable season. The result was one of the greatest teams ever to play on Israeli soil – Maccabi Tel Aviv 1978/79.

Forty four years later, Maccabi is proud to pay tribute to its’ rich heritage and continues a tradition which began in the last decade and directs the spotlight onto this glorious era. The legendary team of the late 70’s which was the third of the golden generation that had won 5 league titles in 11 seasons and was built from Maccabi pillars such as Miko Belo, Moshik Schweitzer, Uri Saliman, Yaron Oz, Avi Yerushalmi, Giora Spiegel and the late Vicky Peretz, Avi Cohen, Mano Schwartz, Meir Nimni and others.

Every Maccabi fans at the stadium and those tuning in to watch the broadcast on TV will be able to pay their tribute and salute the class of 78/79 shortly before kick-off. The first team players will pay their respect as they will wear during the match against Hapoel Jerusalem a replica kit which was used during the 1978/79 season. In addition to the retro set which will be available for purchase at the official store, fans should expect additional surprises in and around the stadium.

If this wasn’t enough to get you all excited and count the minutes to kick off, then you should expect a wide range of content on the official website, the App and on the club’s social media channels. Everything will be dedicated to Maccabi Tel Aviv’s class of 1978/79 where we will give you a chance to dive into the history and expose yourself to some of the fascinating stories of that season and the people behind that winning team.

For those of you who love a bit of retro chic – the wait was worth your while as this season you could enjoy not one but two retro shirts in Yellow and Blue and Blue and White. To complete the look you will also find a 70’s style retro jacket with the traditional Maccabi logo at the front and a unique stylish retro scarf. All those items are already available on sale at the club’s flagship store at Bloomfield and on the ONLINE store.

FOREVER club members have an NIS 20 special coupon which will be sent to you and could be used for the purchase of retro shirts and the jacket. The coupon can be used at the official online store and is valid until Saturday March 4th at 10:00.

Now is your time to ensure you have enough time left this weekend to dedicate yourself for a full Maccabi Tel Aviv retro experience

 

State Cup: Maccabi advance to Semi Final

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Four days after beating Sektzia Ness Ziona in the league, Maccabi returned to the Petah Tikva for the State Cup Quarter Final return leg against second division side Maccabi Petah Tikva with a 4-0 victory from the first leg.

With the tie all but sealed, Maccabi’s coach Aitor Karanka made eight changes to his starting line-up as he rested several players giving a chance for others to show their form.

Daniel Peretz in goal, Derrick Luckassen at the heart of defence and Ofir Davidzada at left back were the only players who started against Ness Ziona at the weekend with Maor Kandil and Shahar Piven completing Maccabi’s defensive line. Joris van Overeem made a rare start as the midfield anchorman with Eyal Golasa joining the 28-year-old Dutchman in the midfield engine room. Avi Rikan and Dan Biton were also named by Karanka in midfield with Rares Ilie making his debut Maccabi start. Upfront, Karnaka also handed 19-year-old striker Dor Turgeman his first senior start in hope that the youngster will open his account. Karanka welcomed back into the squad Yonatan Cohen, who recovered from the hamstring injury as the 26-year-old forward was named amongst the substitutes on the bench.

With Sheran Yeini, Andre Geraldes and Nir Bitton still injured, Karanka also named Or Yitzhak, Enric Saborit, Dan Glazer, Eran Zahavi, Gabi Kanichowsky, Parfait Guiagon, Matan Hozez and Djordje Jovanovic.

First Half

It took Maccabi less than two minutes to open the score as 75 seconds after the start Dor Turgemman ran behind Petah Tikva’s defence and sent a square ball which Dan Biton side footed home from point blank range. Six minutes later Turgeman almost opened his account as the 19-year old striker dribbled past the advancing Dani Amos but with the ball rolling towards the net, a Petah Tikva defender came out of nowhere to clear and prevent Maccabi from doubling the score.

Ofir Davidzada limped off with a hamstring injury forcing Karanka to make his first change in the 40th minute as Matan Hozez came on to deputise at left back.

Biton tested Amos on 44 with a left foot dipping shot from the edge of the box which was caught by Petah Tikva’s keeper on his line.

Second Half

Karanka made a second change after the break as Dan Glazer replaced Derrick Luckassen at the restart.

Rares Ilie tried cutting in from the left and curling a right foot shot on 59 but once again Amos equalled the shot. Two minutes after the hour mark, Karanka made a double change as Yonatan Cohen and Eran Zahavi were introduced for Eyal Golasa and Biton.

In the 84th minute Cohen blasted a long range free kick which beat Amos but rattled the crossbar. Three minutes later Petah Tikva were back on level terms as substitute Shalev Daniel rose high to head a free kick past Daniel Peretz.

Maccabi scored a late winner inside injury time as Turgeman was rewarded for his efforts on the night with his senior debut goal. Zahavi said the ball to Hozez whose square ball across the face of goal was slotted home by Turgeman who celebrated his first senior ninety minutes with an assist and a goal.

 

Turgeman: “To score and help the team is a dream come true.”

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The 19-year-old striker marked his senior debut start with an early assist and a late goal in the 2-1 State Cup Quarter Final victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva. At the end of the match which secured Maccabi’s place in the Semi Final draw with a 6-1 aggregate victory, said: “First and formost I am delighted we advanced to the next stage” he said, “To help the team advance assist a goal and score a winner is a dream come true.”

 

Turgeman, who made his first senior start and also completed 90 minutes for the first time, admitted: “I was very excited in the beginning, but the assist in the opening minutes helped me gain confidence which just grew the longer the match progressed. I didn’t play too much this season, so just like other players who want to prove they deserve a chance, I was to be able to prove myself.”

On the decision not to go for a loan spell in the January transfer window, and fight for his place, Turgeman said: “I am fighting for playing minutes at Maccabi Tel Aviv which is the best team in Israel. I have the privilege of training alongside players here like Eran Zahavi who was my idol. These players just improve me and will make me a better player.”