Westerlo beats Maccabi 2-1 in friendly

Maccabi suffered their second defeat of pre-season going down 2-1 to Belgian outfit KVC Westerlo at the Het Kuipje stadium on Saturday.

Vladimir Ivic made several changes from the match against Aachen, but Thomas Van den Keybus gave Westerlo the lead on 34 as his powerful drive found the top corner of Daniel Peretz’s goal. Parfait Guiagon, Stipe Perica and Eylon Almog all had shot blocked by Westerlo’s defence as Maccabi were trailing 1-0 at the interval.

Ivic made four changes at the restart as Djordke Jovanovic and then Eduardo Guerrero both missed chances to level the score but were stopped by Westerlo’s keeper Koen Van Langendonck.

Daniel Tenenbaum replaced Peretz in goal right on the hour mark, and four minutes later he was also forced to pick the ball out of the net as Kyan Vaesen doubled Westerlo’s lead.

Brandley Kuwas and Gabi Kanichowsky both looked lively as Maccabi appeared more dangerous in the second half before being rewarded for their efforts as referee Wim Amet awarded a penalty on 83.

Jovanovic stepped up and successfully converted the spot which proved as a consolation goal only.

Maccabi: Daniel Peretz (Daniel Tenenbaum 60), Andre Geraldes (Maor Kandil 60), Enric Saborit (Sheran Yeini 46), Idan Nachmias (Avi Rikan 68), Guy Mizrahi, Eyal Golasa (Nadav Niddam 60), Joris van Overeem (Tamir Glazer 68), Dan Biton (Gabi Kanichowsky 46), Parfait Guiagon (Eduardo Guerrero 60), Eylon Almog (Brandley Kuwas 46), Stipe Perica (Djordje Jovanovic 46).

Thank you Tal Ben Chaim

Tal Ben Chaim has ended six successful seasons at Maccabi Tel Aviv of two tenures between 2013-2017 and 2020-2022 during which  he won 6 titles: 2 League Championships (13/14 and 14/15), 2 State Cups (14/15 and 20/21), 1 Toto Cup (14/15) and 1 Super Cup (20/21).

Whilst wearing Maccabi’s Yellow and Blue colours, the 33-year-old winger scored a total of 56 goals in 255 appearances of which 55 in European competitions and is ranked in 4th place amongst players who represented Maccabi in Europe.

Ben Chaim, who was part of the team which played in the Champions League group stages (15/16) also played with Maccabi in the Europa League group stages (13/14 and 20/21) and the Conference League (21/22) as well as advancing to the round of 32 twice.

Thank you Tal and good luck!

Nir Bitton agrees 2-year-deal

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement to sign Nir Bitton (30) on a two-year-deal with an option to extend.

The 30-year-old, joins Maccabi from Scottish giants Celtic where he spent nine successful seasons making over 270 appearances for the Glasgow club and winning 18 trophies.

Bitton, who made his senior debut for Israel in 2010 scored 3 goals in 39 appearances for the national side and has an additional 39 appearances for the young Israeli national sides.

Bar Cohen joins Beitar Jerusalem on loan

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Beitar Jerusalem on the loan of Bar Cohen until the end of the 2022/23 season. The 21-year-old midfielder scored 1 goal in 28 appearances in all competitions last season during a loan spell with Hapoel Nof Hagalil.

MACCABI AND FILA PRESENT THE NEW 2022/23 KIT

A new season is just around the corner, shortly before the team will enter the pitch, Maccabi Tel Aviv and FILA are proud to launch the official new Home and Away kits of the 2022/23 season.

For the fourth  season in succession, the winning collaboration between the biggest club in Israel and the giant Italian fashion house continues. This time round, FILA surprised us once again with high end fashionable designs similar to those which could be found at the top end of world sports.

Yellow. Blue. Maccabi

The design of Maccabi’s official new home kit was inspired by the two colours identified mostly with the club – which were incorporated into one shirt with a vertical stripy print in the shades of Yellow and Royal Blue. The shirt is made out of a quality textile with the Maccabi club crest featuring at the front. Above the silicone crest, four stars are embroidered representing the 24 league champions won by the most decorated club in Israeli football.

In the jungle

In contrast to the slick and classic design of the home attire, when it comes to the Away kit, FILA were given a free reign to go wild. The result is a dazzling look away jersey which has a wild tonal camouflage pattern print of blue shades. The jacquard woven shirt includes identical details to those appearing on the original shirts worn by Maccabi’s players.

Other features of the away kit include:

  • A fit cut.
  • Short sleeve
  • A highly innovative 100% Polyester Jacquard woven material that helps cool the body and maximises sweat evaporation.
  • A silicone patch club crest with four stars embroidered on the shirt.
  • A badge on the side signifying the originality of the 2022/23 kit.
  • * A refreshing new appearance will also be visible as the main sponsor – with the logo of real estate giants ISRAEL-CANADA taking center stage at the front of the shirt.

Your new kits are already waiting for you at Maccabi’s official online shop and the official store at Bloomfield stadium. Members of the FOREVER supporters club? You earned yourselves a 10% discount in an online purchase of the new Home and Away kits at the online store. A coupon code will be sent to you via a text messages (SMS).

Pre Season: Maccabi beaten 1-0 by Aachen

Elsamed Ramaj (7) scored the only of the game to earn Alemannia Aachen a 1-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in a pre-season friendly at the training camp in Mierlo Holland.

Vladimir Ivic who used the match to share the minutes between almost all his squad, saw his side dominate the game right from the start. Eylon Almog and Stipe Perica who started the match upfront could have scored both in the opening two minutes, but Almog’s sent his shot wide before Perica had his effort equaled by Aachen’s keeper Yannik Bangsow.

In the seventh minute Aachen charged forward for a counter attack and in their first chance Elsamed Ramaj ghosted in behind Maccabi’s defense before squeezing the ball past Daniel Peretz.

Joris van Overeem made his first appearance in Maccabi’s colors almost set up the equalizer in the 22nd as his cross found Perica who flicked the ball wide.

Almog had another couple of efforts blocked by Aachen’s defence as Maccabi increased the pressure. Two minutes before the interval the lively Gabi Knichowsky managed to steal the ball and charge forward but his telling cross was cleared by Aachen’s defence from the goalmouth.

On the stroke of halftime Kanichowsky curled a corner into the danger-zone before Perica rose high and sent a powerful header which was making its’ way in only for Bangsow to deny the tall Croat with a fingertip save.

Vladimir Ivic changed his entire team after the restart as Parfait Guiagon, Dan Biton, Brandley Kuwas, Eduardo Guerrero and Djordje Jovanovic all tried to breach Aachen’s defence in an attempt to level the score.

A Biton corner in the 47th minute reached Maor Kandil whose shot sneaked wide of the post. A minute later, Jovanovic had the ball in the back of the Germans net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Two minutes after the hour mark, Guerrero cut into the penalty area before curling a shot which sailed wide of the upright.

Maccabi continued to dominate as Biton tried his luck with a shot which was equaled by Aachen’s keeper on 73. Three minutes later Guiagon sent a shot which narrowly missed the target as did a similar effort from Kuwas. Jovanovic had an effort blocked by an Aachen defender and inside injury time Maccabi were given a last chance to draw level after the Serbian striker was fouled right on the edge of the area. But Biton’s shot crashed against the German wall before the referee blew the full time whistle.

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Daniel Peretz (Daniel Tenenbaum 46), Andre Geraldes (Maor Kandil 46), Idan Nachmias (Shahar Piven 46), Sheran Yeini (Nadav Nidam 46), Enric Saborit (Guy Mizrahi 46), Ofir Davidzada (Dan Glazer 46, Tamir Glazer 87), Joris van Overeem (Parfait Guiagon 56), Gabi Kanichowsky (Dan Biton 46), Eyal Golasa (Brandley Kuwas 46), Eylon Almog (Eduardo Guerrero 46), Stipe Perica (Djordje Jovanovic 46).

Alemannia Aachen: Yannik Bangsow (Marcel Johnen 46), Marco Müller (Castles 46), Franko Uzelac (Aldin Dervisevic 46), Lukas Wilton (Marcel Damaschek 46), Sebastian Schmitt (Lars Oeßwein 46), David Sauerland (Julian Schwermann 46), Dino Bajric (Frederic Baum 46), Hero (Exauce Andzouana 46), Tim Korzuschek (Ergun Yildiz 46), Elsamed Ramaj (Home 46), Dimitri Imbongo (Jannik Mause 46).

Referee: Steve Janssen (Holland).

NOVATUS MIROSHI SOLD TO ZULTE WAREGEM

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Belgian top division side S.V Zulte Waregem for the sale of Novatus Miroshi Dismas.

The 19-year-old Tanzania international midfielder joined Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy in the 2020/21 season and played 14 matches for the Under 19’s Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Schahar’.

Last season (2021/22) Novatus made 26 appearances during a one-season long loan-spell at second division side Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam.

Miroshi, represented the Tanzania senior national team for which he scored 2 goals in 8 international appearances.

Thank you Novatus and good luck.

Parfait Guigaon signs 3-year-deal at Maccabi

Parfait Guiagon will remain a Maccabi Tel Aviv player until the end of the 2024/25 season after the 21-year-old Ivorian midfielder signed a three-year-deal with an option to extend by a further season.

Guiagon, who joined Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Department in the summer of 2019 and will re-join the first team in their pre-season training camp in Mierlo, said after signing the contract: “I am delighted to remain at Maccabi Tel Aviv as this is the club which gave me the chance when I was still in the Ivory Coast. I started my journey as a youth team player and now the time has come for me to play for the first team. I will do everything to help Maccabi achieve all its targets”.

Maccabi’s Head of Football Department, Barak Itzhaki added: “Parfait is a young talented player who joined the Club thanks to the good work of the scouting department. Parfait gained experience whilst playing for the Youth team, at Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam and last season during a loan spell with maccabi Netanya. The ability of Parfait together with his potential to keep on developing would help us in the coming years and we wish him future success”.

Last season (2021/22), Guiagon scored 5 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions during a one-season long loan spell with Maccabi Netanya. The previous season, (2020/21) the Ivorian midfielder scored 6 goals in 32 appearances with Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam as he helped the second division side reach the State Cup Semi Finals.

In his first season at the Club (2019/20) Guiagon played with the U-19’s Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shahar’ and scored 7 goals in 22 appearances. The Ivorian made his senior league debut against Hapoel Tel Aviv in June 2020 before making two more appearances against Hapoel Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem.