For those of you who slipped our minds, then think again. Tradition is tradition, and this year as well, for the fourth season in succession, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is proud to turn the spotlight to the unforgettable season of the club’s glorious past.

This year we chose to pay tribute to the legendary class of 1991/92 that ended a 13-year barren by winning the league title. After several disappointing and frustrating years, the talented team guided by Avram Grant restored the club to the top of Israeli football, with free-flowing, attacking football that led us a glorious decade we experienced in the 90’s.

Maccabi’s current squad will host Ashdod at Bloomfield stadium (Sunday at 20:30) wearing the famous retro kit which was worn during the iconic 4-0 derby victory that featured the ‘Palladium Discotheque’ as the shirt sponsor. The match will be attended by stars of the 91/92 team as well as the coaching and managerial staff who will all feature in an emotional ceremony prior to kick-off.

During the next few days we will travel in time and meet the heroes of that season with the main highlight being a Documentary which was produced especially for the occasion. Avram Grant, Avi Nimni, Eli Driks and Shura Ubarov all feature in the documentary sharing with us some of the moments and plenty of fascinating stories.

You could all continue the journey back in time to the early 90’s with a feats of special content, that includes an interview with Stalos, the singer who performed the championship winning song, as well as a reminder of the memorable goals scored during that season. You will find all that together with various articles on the Official Website, the App, and on the social network different platforms.

Merchandise lovers could also feast and enjoy an exciting experience with official match shirts that are available already now from the online stores and official club shops. As well as the shirt, one can find a Retro Jacket which is an identical replica to the jacket worn by the members of staff. All that together with four scarves  bearing the names of the stars of that season. But that is not all we have for you – we will put up for sale 100 limited edition packages of Shura Ubarov’s goalkeeper’s shirt which is packed in an exclusive box that will also have a scarf of the legendary goalkeeper.

Now, all you have left is to enjoy the nostalgic time travel that will definitely take a large number of you back to most magical moments with Maccabi

 

Every championship winning season has it’s song and the soundtrack that echoed Maccabi’s dream season turned into one of the biggest terrace hits of all times. The one responsible for that is Stalos, one of the household names in terms of Greek music in Israel, who launched the song: ‘Yalla Ya Maccabi’ that became the eternal championship song.

Ahead of the launch of our Retro kit you are invited here below to remember the song and on the way we held a short interview with Stalos where he spoke of his work.

“Maccabi was a very strong side that season with great players led by a coach in Avram Grant. I sat with mates of mine who told me: ‘You are a maccabi fan, why don’t you write a song?’ he remembers. “I loved the idea, created this catchy song and later on I wrote another song for the 1995/96 season”.

Stalos, who revealed to be a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan from a young age, added: “We recorded the song in one of the Tel Aviv studios. In fact this is a song that is based on a Greek tune of a song that was a major hit in Greece at the time – and we just wrote the lyrics. It turned out well and luckily had the players’ names in it. Even now-days when I am performing live, I get requests from people to perform that song. There are those who don’t give up, and even-though I try to convince them that ‘it is no longer relevant’ they still insist on this song because it arguably a nice song”.

On his love-affair with the fans, Stalos continued: “I remember this song was released and the stands were buzzing from excitement. They used to sing it as the song was extremely successful amongst fans. I remember singing it at the championship winning celebrations at Rabin square in front of 30,000 fans – which was a phenomenal experience one can never forget”.

Q: Do you remember how the players reacted?

“Of course I remember their reaction. Avi Nimni in particular loved this song. And so did Itzik Zohar, Avi Cohen and they rest of the players were very complimentary”.

To sum things up the veteran singer added that in the event you meet him in a show, unless you really insist, you will probably not receive an exclusive performance: “I can tell you that to deal with football songs is a very complex matter. I sing to all types of audiences, also to fans of rival teams, so I try not to mix football in live performances. There are die-hard fans so I know they don’t feel too comfortable that it sing that song right in their faces. So I decided I will only sing that song and birthday parties of fans and only if someone who grew up on that song really really asks me for it. And only if I know that unless I sing him that song he will not get off my back. So overall I try not to sing football songs in live shows”.

 

Israel is celebrating 73 years of independence and we wanted to know where does this number meet Maccabi since the State of Israel was founded.

Maccabi played its 73rd match five years after the State of Israel proclaimed it’s independence as they lined-up against Maccabi Haifa on February 6th 1954. Three thousand fans turned up at Kiryat Haim stadium but didn’t witness any goals as the match ended in a goalless 0-0 draw.

Seven years after Israel was founded Maccabi recorded its 73rd league victory on December 17th 1955. Goals from Yosalle Mirimovic Shmuel Yisraeli and Zvika Studisnsky led Maccabi to a 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa in a season which resulted with a league championship.

Since Israel proclaimed it’s independence, Maccabi’s 73rd goal was scored by Shmuel Yisraeli during a 3-0 victory over Hapoel Rishon Lezion on March 18th 1950.

Throughout history, Maccabi scored 38 goals as no less than 31 Maccabi players scored in that particular minute.

Maccabi’s all time record goal scorer, Avi Nimni, leads in that category as well with four goals to his name – all of which scored from the penalty spot.

 

The 2020/21 season was opened by a Nick Blackman 7th minute goal which gave Maccabi a 1-0 lead over Hapoel Be’ersheva in the Super Cup.

In the 2014/15 season Maccabi faced Hapoel Be’ersheva for a top of the table clash on MD28 at Bloomfield stadium.

Maccabi took an early 3rd minute lead through Eran Zahavi on the way to a 3-1 victory that extended the lead at the top of the table to five points and ultimately a successful treble winning season.

The senior players who wore the number 7 on their shirts were Rachamim Talbi, Eli Driks and Eran Zahavi with Matan Hozez currently wearing the famous shirt.

Senior players who wore the number 3 shirt were Maccabi’s all time appearance record holder Menachem ‘Miko’ Bello. Matan Baltaxa is wearing the number 3 shirt from the current squad.

Maccabi ended the 2000/01 season with 73 goals mainly due to two extra ordinary results especially in terms of that decade: a 10-0 win over Rishon Lezion and a 7-1 victory over Beitar Jeruslem.