Ben Bitton will leave Maccabi Tel Aviv six months into his loan deal from Hapoel Be’ersheva after his contract at the club was terminated by mutual consent.
The 30-year-old right-back who joined the club on loan in the summer, celebrated his debut with a Super Cup winning medal against Be’ersheva before helping Maccabi reach the Europa League group stages. Bitton, who made three league appearances for Maccabi and a total of 9 appearances in all competitions wearing Yellow and Blue will join Hapoel Tel Aviv.
We would all like to thank Ben for his contribution to Maccabi and wish him success.
Andre Geraldes will return to wear Yellow and Blue in the next 18 months as the 29-year-old Portuguese full-back joined Maccabi Tel Aviv who was released by APOEL Nicosia signed a contract until the end of the 2021/22 season with an option to extend by a further season.
Geraldes who successfully underwent a medical at Shamir Medical Center at ‘Assaf Harofeh’ before signing his new deal, told the club’s official website: “Only after returning back to Tel Aviv I realized how much I really missed this place and this club. I am delighted to be back with the Yellow family and excited to be reunited with everyone again”.
Patrick van Leeuwen, added: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement which enabled the return of Andre Geraldes’ to Maccabi. Andre adds a different dimension and qualities to our squad which will strengthen us. We are confident that he will play an important role in reaching our targets”.
Loaned from Sporting Lisbon to Maccabi in July 2019, Geraldes, assisted three goals in 35 appearances in all competitions as well as playing an integral part in the team winning the League title and the Super Cup last season before moving to Cyprus.
While Israeli football is in the midst of an imposed break due to the lockdown across the country, UEFA published today the all-time European Cup ranking of clubs competing in Europe’s major club competition.
The ranking calculated various statistics such as appearances in qualifiers and group stages, the number of victories and goals scored according to which Maccabi Tel Aviv is the most successful Israeli side in the history of Europe’s lucrative competition.
Of the 500 clubs ranked, Maccabi reached the 88th spot having appeared in no less than 10 editions of the European Cup and UEFA Champions League in total, playing 47 matches and winning 15. Overall, Maccabi received 40 points to top the ranking of Israeli sides, ahead of Maccabi Haifa (102nd), Hapoel Be’ersheva (131st), Beitar Jerusalem (170th), Hapoel Tel Aviv (181st), Ironi Kiryat Shmona (267th) and Hapoel Haifa (397th).
The team ranked top are Spanish giants Real Madrid whpo won the trophy 13 times, and are the most successful club in the history of the competition. Bayern Munich (2nd), Barcelona (3rd), Manchester United (4th), Juventus (5th), AC Milan (6th), Liverpool (7th), Benfica (8th), Porto (9th) and Ajax (10th) complete the top 10.
Maccabi Tel Aviv and leading computers manufacturer HP signed a sponsorship deal according to which HP will become the main sponsor of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s gaming team, Maccabi eSports. As part of the collaboration, the team players Dor and Or Eligula, will use the equipment of the giant computers firm which includes new gaming screens, gaming chairs, headphones and special microphones which will be used by the team’s players in training and matches.
Maccabi’s Acting CEO, Sharon Tammam said after the agreement was signed: “Maccabi Tel Aviv FC has been monitoring the developments in the eSports world for several years. This season we decided to take another step forward in terms of professionalism and participations in competitions. This is why the connection to a professional sponsor was the right strategic move for the club as part of the next step in the world of gaming. Naturally, as a leading firm in their filed, HP are the ideal partner for the move”.
The club’s New Media Manager, Lior Timor, added: “Five years ago we became the first Israeli sports club to enter the world of gaming with the signing of FIFA players, Dor and Or Eligula. Since then we continue promoting the team’s activity which continues competing in all the international tournaments and this season became the first team to compete in the world club’s club championship. I have no doubt that the collaboration with HP will help the players reach their targets and achievements they aspire”.
Michal Avni Levy, HP Israel Partners Marketing Manager: “We are extremely delighted with the collaboration between the two organizations, the combination between technology and sports is a natural one in the same way that our partnership between us and Maccabi Tel Aviv – two organizations which share the same values of striving for excellence, achievements and victories. HP are the leading firm in the computerization field, the eSports, the gaming and Maccabi Tel Aviv are the pioneers in the development and collaboration of the professional gaming amongst sports clubs through Maccabi eSports”.
HP advanced gaming equipment was chosen specifically for the needs of the team players, and will assist them during the lucrative international tournament – the 2021 FIFA clubs World Championship where Maccabi eSports became the first Israeli football club ever to compete at this level.
In addition, the equipment will be used by the team players during the international FIFA tournament (FUT) where they have been competing during the year.
The Maccabi eSport players will use amongst other things the HP gaming equipment of the two sub brands OMEN and PAVILLION, such as the OMEN Blast Headset which supports the 7.1 surround and a 24.5” PAVILLION screen with Hz144 and a response time of ms1 as well as specially designed OMEN Citadel Gaming Chair.
“We had a chance to cut the deficit and continue the run of victories, but I am feeling that we lacked energy and the result showed it” Dor Peretz said tonight (Thursday) after Maccabi’s 0-0 draw against Bnei Yehuda.
The midfielder who will serve a one match suspension after collecting a fifth yellow card, was asked about the reason for the team’s performance, added: “There is no particular reason, as this is something which happens and it is normal, but we need to work really hard in the next couple of weeks in order to ensure we look better at a later stage”.
Maccabi Tel Aviv missed a chance to cut the gap from top spot after being held to a 0-0 draw by Bnei Yehuda at Bloomfield stadium. The point gained takes Maccabi’s tally to 27 points from 15 matches and ended the 100% record Patrick van Leeuwen had since starting to guide the team.
First Half
Maccabi dominated the early stages of the game but time after time they couldn’t breach Bnei Yehuda’s defense. In the 16th minute the visitors threatened to draw first blood as Pedro Campos managed to dribble into the area, but his shot crept outside of Daniel Tenenbaum’s left post.
Yonatan Cohen managed the first shot on goal on 37 but his left foot effort bobbled on the ground before Omer Niron collected it with ease. Campose continued looking dangerous as he shot from the edge of the area forced Tenebaum to dive and collect.
The game seemed to have gone up a notch as Aleksandar Pesic had a shot blocked by a Bnei Yehuda defender but the halftime whistle of referee Aviad Shiloah meant the no goals will be scored untill after the interval.
Second Half
Van Leeuwen made a double change at halftime as Avi Rikan and Tal Ben Chaim replaced Eyal Golasa and Eylon Almog for the restart.
Maccabi started looking lively as Ben Chaim down the flank began a move on 53 which resulted in a Yonatan Cohen cross that was cleared by Fadi Najar before Dor Peretz managed to stick his boot in.
Van Leeuwen made a third change a minute after the hour mark as Matan Hozez came in for the tired Cohen. A minute later Maccabi got their first serious chance as Eytan Tibi picked Dor Peretz with a pinpoint pass over Bnei Yehuda’s defense. But the midfielder who brought the ball down with a perfect pass was let down by his shot which went high over the crossbar.
Ocampos flashed a shot wide of Tenenbaum’s goal in the 65th minute but a minute later it was a Louis Hernandez long pass which found Hozez inside the area. The winger was brought down and referee Aviad Sholoah went to the VAR but dismissed claims for a penalty.
Mohamad Ghadir replaced Roi Ben Shimon at Bnei Yehuda on 75 while Dan Biton came in for Eden Karzev at Maccabi a minute later. Dor Peretz went into the referees book for a foul on Campos and as that was his fifth yellow card he will be suspended from one match after the lockdown.
In the 85th minute both substitutes combined well as Hozez slid the ball for Ben Chaim inside the area. But Ben Chaim’s effort was blocked by the keeper for a corner which resulted with nothing.
Inside injury time Maccabi were given a glorious chance to win the match as Tal Ben Chaim was fouled on the edge of the area. But Dan Biton shot the free kick wide of the target as the final action of the game.
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