Category: News

Maccabi face Be’ersheva in State Cup Semi Final

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After advancing past Maccabi Jaffa at the end of a two-legged Quarter Final tie, Maccabi Tel Aviv will face Hapoel Be’ersheva in the State Cup Semi Final following the draw that took place on Sunday (15:00). This will be a repeat of last season’s Round of 32 Cup tie that saw Maccabi beat Be’ersheva 1-0 at Turner stadium on February 21st thanks to a Dor Peretz goal.

The other Semi Final will feature a Haifa derby between Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa as matches are scheduled for April 19th and 20th at Bloomfield stadium.

U19 reach Cup Semi Final after a 3-2 win over Rishon Lezion

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Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shahar’ met Ironi Rishon Lezion in the Quarter Final of the Youth Cup. Two and a half months after Maccabi recorded a 6-3 victory over Rishon in the league, both teams faced each other as coach Peter van Den Berg made several changes from his side that beat bottom of the table Ironi Nesher 2-0 last weekend.Maccabi took the lead after 15 minutes at the end of a spectacular team effort as a cross from the right was teed-up by Orel Baye for Oscar Gloukh whose clinical finish broke the deadlock. Rishon levelled the score 10 minutes later as Yuval Sasson beat Tomer Alon with a shot into the top corner on 25. On the half-hour mark Baye came close but shot wide. Alon kept Maccabi in the game with a save that denied Roy Telio.Nine minutes after the restart, Bar Linn managed to beat Rishon’s keeper Dvir Nir but his shot crashed against the crossbar. Baye restored Maccabi’s lead in the 59thminute swapping roles with Gloukh who turned provider. In the 77th minute however Rishon were back on level terms for the second time in the game. Roy Nawai was penalized for fouling Rishon’s forward in the penalty area before Ohad Almagor successfully converted the spot kick past Alon to make it 2-2. The full time whistle sent both teams to extra time, as the winner was scored in the 111th minute by Yonatan Paz. The substitute who was introduced by Peter Van den Berg for Carlos Rivera in the 70th minute blasted a shot from outside the area that gave Maccabi the 3-2 lead which booked their place in the final four of the competition.

The Semi Final draw which took place at the IFA Headquarters on Sunday (6.3), will see Peter van Den Berg’s side face Ashdod on April 13th. Maccabi Netanya and Maccabi Petah Tikva will also compete for a place in the final as the venue has to be announced.

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Tomer Alon, Ilay Tomer (Ari Merenshtein 105), Adir Cordoba (Omer Gerafi 62), Shon Edri, Roy Revivo, Roy Nawi, Ori Halevi (Amit Zur 62), Bar Linn (Yakir Zilberman 85), Oscar Gloukh, Orel Baye (Anar Oshmandi 113), Carlos Rivera (Yonatan Paz 70).  

Saluting the generation of the founders of the 30’s

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“A nation that forgets its past has no future”

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC continues to honour its glorious past. For the fifth season in succession and what already became an exciting tradition for you the fans, we are proud to turn the spotlight to a different time in our rich history.

This season we chose to sail back in time to the distant past all the way back to the 30’s of the last century. Days in which Maccabi’s pioneers, began laying the foundations to what is now the largest and most decorated club in Israel. The days before the State of Israel was founded, days in which we have yet to play in Yellow but played in Blue and White as the switch took place only 1942 following the Holocaust. A period when some Maccabi legends like Jerry Beit Halevi made their first footsteps. Members of that generation had to live side-by-side with tragic events before facing the consequences of World War II and the establishment of the State of Israel.

Monday’s league match against Beitar Jerusalem (20:30) will be the highlight as Maccabi’s current players will enter the pitch wearing a retro kit. The kit is a perfect replica for the playing attire the team played with during parts of the 30’s. The entire event will be dedicated to that period of time as some further nostalgic surprises could be found on the night in and around the stadium.

Before reaching Monday, we go back in the time tunnel and dive into the past with a festive of content on the Official Website, the App and the club’s other social media platforms. It is a great opportunity for every true Maccabist, even if born many years afterwards, to dive in and get to know the stories, the people and the football who were part of a period in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s history which is not that known.

Obviously for the merchandise collectors will enjoy an exciting experience thanks to a unique match shirt and a goalkeepers jersey who will, this year, be totally different. The entire collection is already available ONLINE as well as the club’s other official stores. Alongside the Retro shirts, you could enjoy a 30’s stylish Retro Jacket featuring the old club logo at the front. To complete the collection you could find a Blue and White Retro scarf, also featuring an early version of the Maccabi logo.

FOREVER members? A unique coupon code awards you an NIS 20 discount for the retro collection, will be sent to you to be used at the Maccabi official ONLINE store.

Now, make some time for nostalgic walk down memory lane that will take you back in time to the roots of Maccabizm.

Maccabi’s timeline: What did we do in the 30’s ?

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Maccabi’s State Cup Final!

May 3rd 1930

Maccabi began the fourth decade of the previous century by winning the Eretz Israel Cup after beating the 48th Northamptonshire Regiment 2-1 in the final. Menachem Heresh (88) scored Maccabi’s winning goal after Pierce (32) canceled Shmuel Bachar’s (20) early lead in-front of 8000 spectators at the Palms stadium in Florentin, Tel Aviv.

The Eretz Israel league gets underway!

November 22nd 1931

History in the making! For the first time in Israel’s history the Eretz Israel league season is launched.

The Eretz Israel Cup returns to Maccabi!

June 10th 1933

The Eretz Israel league wasn’t played that year and for the first time in history a Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel took place at the Cup Final. Avraham Ya’acobi’s 89th minute goal settled the derby in dramatic style in front of 5000 spectators at Maccabi Petah Tikva’s stadium.

Maccabi in the America

October 1st 1936

Maccabi sailed to a dream tour for the first time in the club’s history with two 17-year-old future stars featured in the squad: Natan Panz and Gael Mechlis.

A historic championship

December 17th 1936

With the 1936 “Arab revolt” and the violent uprising of Palestinian Arabs attacking the Hebrew national home in the background, Maccabi finished the 1936 season top of the table with a dramatic 3-2 victory over second place Hakoach Tel Aviv on the last day of the season.

A second successive championship

November 27th 1937

Maccabi Tel Aviv finished top and above Hakoach Tel Aviv to win the second league championship in succession.

A third championship in a decade

November 11th 1939

Preparations for the tour to Australia didn’t prevent Maccabi from winning the third Eretz Israel league title after finishing the regular season ahead of bitter rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv on goal difference.

Sailing to Australia

May 24th 1939

While Europe was in the middle of World War II, Maccabi Tel Aviv sailed for their second and longest tour in that decade to Australia (128 days). Maccabi ended the long tour with 11 victories, 3 draws and 5 defeats.

  

Hozez: “Players are playing with confidence and enjoying themselves”

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The 25-year-old said at the end of the match: “I am happy with the victory and delighted to score. I love this feeling as we are now with our heads up looking forward”.

On Maccabi’s recent good form under Mladen Krstajic, Hozez added: “The style of our game has changed, there is more emphasis on transition and as soon as we win the ball, we charge forward as fast as we possibly can. There is room for creativity and the players get the freedom to push forward as players are playing with confidence, enjoying themselves and these are the results”.

State Cup: Maccabi beats Jaffa 4-0

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Pre Game

Carrying a 2-0 lead from last month’s Quarter Final first leg, Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium knowing that anything besides a major upset against third division outfit Maccabi Jaffa will see them secure a place in Sunday’s State Cup Semi Final draw.

Three days after guiding Maccabi to a 3-1 victory away to Nof Hagalil, Mladen Krstajic, whose side played six matches since facing Maccabi Jaffa a month ago, made several changes to his starting line-up.

Daniel Tenenbaum started in goal behind Matan Baltaxa and Sheran Yeini who led the team out wearing the captain’s armband. Maor Kandil, who started at right-back at Nof Hagalil, kept his place with Matan Hozez deputising as a make-shift left-back. Eden Shamir and Avi Rikan who both introduced in the second half, started in midfield alongside Eyal Golasa and Brandley Kuwas. Tal Ben Chaim and Eylon Almog, who scored a brace against Jaffa in the first leg, led the attack with four players from the Under 19 Youth team – Shon Edri, Orel Baye, Oscar Gloukh and Bar Lin amongst the substitutes.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot aiming to score an early goal in a bi to kill off the tie. After less than 2 minutes, Matan Hozez curled a right foot shot that Jaffa’s keeper Almog Malul easily collected.

Four minutes later, Malul could do nothing to prevent Hozez from scoring as the Jaffa keeper couldn’t hold onto an Avi Rikan powerful strike before Hozez reacted first to slot in the rebound and put Maccabi in front. Tal Ben Chaim came close to double the score minutes later as he held off two Jaffa defenders before firing a right foot shot that gave the keeper no chance but sailed agonisingly wide. An ambitious Rikan long range effort from 40 meters out caught the keeper off his line on 12, but what would have been a glorious goal just cleared the crossbar .

Eylon Almog, who began the move that led to the opening goal, flashed a shot that rolled across the face of goal and wide of the target on 22. Matan Baltxa also tried to get his name on the scoresheet as he charged from the halfway line in the 24th minute but wasn’t accurate enough while Rikan’s shot a minute later was accurate but lacked power.

In the 28th minute Maccabi were rewarded for their efforts as Almog latched onto a back-pass before firing a low powerful drive that doubled the lead and took his tally to three goals in this tie. On the stroke of halftime Maccabi scored the third as Brandley Kuwas led a counter attack from the middle, released Hozez who skipped past a defender and teed-up Rikan who fired past Malul to make it 3-0.

Second Half

Mladen Krstajic handed Shon Edri his senior debut as the 18-year-old defender replaced Brandley Kuwas at the restart.

Right on the hour mark, Almog and Rikan exchanged passes on the edge of the area before the forward let fly but the shot missed the target. Five minutes later Almog turned provider as he held off a defender on the halfway line before carving Jaffa’s defence open with a through ball to Hozez. The winger who scored the opener kept his calm and with only the keeper to beat burried his shot low into the net for Maccabi’s fourth.

Krstajic made a triple change on 66 as Oscar Gloukh who made his senior debut in a Toto Cup match earlier this season, replaced Hozez. Orel Baye and Bar Lin were also handed their senior debuts replacing Golasa and Eden Shamir. Almog was replaced by Osama Khalaila in the 74th minute as Krstajic gave the 23-year-old striker 15 minutes to try and make an impact.

In the 89th minute Gloukh released Ben Chaim who fired with his right into the top corner, but the goal was disallowed for offside as this was the final piece of action on the night.

 

Jovanovic voted Kopell Group Player of the Month

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A successful February that included a dream debut, good form and 4 goals, saw you vote Djordje Jovanovic as the Kopell Group sponsored Maccabi Player of the Month.

The 23-year-old Serbian striker collected the majority of the votes in the survey, that saw him finish ahead of Dan Biton and Gabi Kanichowsky who finished second and third respectively.

Watch: Angelides and Itzhaki press conference

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When asked at the Press Conference on the future of coach, Mladen Krstajic, Barak Itzhaki, Head of Maccabi’s Football Derpartment, replied: “The initial discussions we had with the coach regarding the contract were clear. We will wait for the end of the season and take a decision. Obviously the decision is mutual. The improvement is clear for all to see and the results clearly show that. This was our aim, as we didn’t expect to start the season in such a bad way. The results are currently better and we hope it continues this way until the end of the season. For the moment it is looking good”.

Answering a question about the changes the squad underwent in the summer and in particular the departure of Etey Shechter and Eytan Tibi and the signings of other player as replacements, Itzhaki replied: “Etey and Eytan had amazing years here and contributed a lot to the club, but ultimately a decision was taken, we moved and signed other players. It is true that we refreshed our squad at the start of the season but we are happy with the decisions. Sometimes one just has to refresh the squad and move on. One can sit here and analyse every decision we took from the start of the season, but it can go on forever. At the start of the season we built the team when Patrick (Van Leeuwen) was here as coach and sometimes when a coach is changed, the style changes as well – but these things occur on the move and we must react accordingly. For the moment, the team is stable despite the fact we are far from satisfied with the position we are in. To be third in the table is something we would never set as a target at the start of the season as Maccabi is a club that aspires to win all titles. We will draw our conclusions as I am somehow in the middle of a learning process I began when Ben (Mansford) was here. I am also learning and trying to improve. We will continue working hard to ensure this team returns to challenge for all the titles”.

On the level of Maccabi’s squad, Itzhaki said: “There is no doubt that over the past couple of years a few significant players left us, but our target is to bring the best Israeli players back but on the other hand develop young players at the youth department and make sure they fit into the first team. Mitch Goldhar invests a lot in the Youth Academy and we would like to reap the benefits in the first team. This is something we intend to focus on in the next few years as our main target is to have the best Israeli players at Maccabi Tel Aviv”.

On the signing of Djordje Jovanovic and whether this is some sort of statement, Itzhaki answered: “At the start of the season we also signed players, for lower prices but still a lot of money. We are on the look out for players and when we find find a new player, especially one the coach knows really well, this is something that helps. Maccabi always strives to be at the top and I don’t think that a signing of this player or another is some sort of a statement. Maccabi will always be built to try and win the Championship”.
On the Youth Academy which is one of the departments he is in-charge of: “We place a lot of focus on the Youth Academy as some of expectations are for some of the players who were raised in the youth department would reach the first team. There are some players who are currently in the youth department, some very talented players who have a bright future at Maccabi’s first team. I hope that some of them will do that in the near future”.