Category: News
U17’s and U16’s begin pre-season training
After the U-19’s kick-started their training last week, this morning (Monday) the club’s U-17’s and U-16’s held their opening training session. First were the U-17’s led by Ori David, who won the league title last season and will continue for his second season in charge together with his Assistant Jeffry Yishai.
Assi Haber, held his first training session with the U-16’s and will continue for a second season, this time with a new Assistant – Carlos Chacana.
Your end of season clip: 90 minutes with Ivic
The goal of the season was scored by Cohen
Dan Glazer was voted as player of the season!
After an entire season in which he won tackles and left his sole on the pitch, Dan Glazer can add another giant V. In the past few days, the fans voted for Glazer as the NIVEA sponsored Maccabi player of the season.
In an interview which sums up the season, Glazer, speaks about his extraordinary journey with Maccabi this season, his personal progress and the influence Vladimir Ivic had on him.
“I still find it hard to digest. From a young age I had faith in my ability but I never imagined that within two years I will become the league’s player of the season. My style of play typifies Maccabi this season. A tough and uncompromising team, which fights for every ball. Even when we are 3-0 up then to ensure we will not concede a consolation goal in the 80th minute and maintain our deterrent force. I am delighted that my spirit and the spirit of the rest of my teammates was evident during matches”.
“The moment I win a sliding tackle and hear that ‘wow’ from the fans is probably the same feeling a forward has after a goal he scores. This is my satisfaction and my little goal. For an entire season we only wanted more and more. If we managed in such a tense and difficult time to put a smile on the faces of our fans even for 90 minutes – it is worth everything for us”.
The final match: the night Ivic bid farewell from Maccabi
Ivic: “I have had two amazing years here I will never forget”
Maccabi lose 2-0 to Be’ersheva on final day
Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered it’s first defeat of the 2019/20 on the final day of the season losing 2-0 to Hapoel Be’ersheva in Ashdod. Two second half goals from Kayes Ganem (2) and Oren Biton (26) inflicted the damage as Vladimir Ivic’s side lost the unbeaten record they held on to in the league.
For his final match as Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Head Coach, Vladimir Ivic, welcomed back into the squad three of his players who were forced to go into isolation due to Covid19. Eitan Tibi and Avi Rikan, who missed Saturday’s match against Maccabi Haifa, returned to the starting line-up at the heart of the defence and in midfield respectively.
Eyal Golasa was named amongst the substitutes as was Enric Saborit, scorer of the winning goal against Haifa, making way for Ofir Davidzada at left back. Itay Schechter replaced Nick Blackman upfront to line-up alongside Eylon Almog and lead Ivic’s attack as he aimed to emulate the 4-0 victory over Hapoel Be’ersheva on the final day of last season. Or at least maintain his unbeaten record in the league this season.
First Half
Two minutes from the start Be’ersheva took the lead through Kayes Ganem who reacted first to a save by Andreas Gianniotis to slot in the rebound from close range. Yonatan Cohen tested Be’ersheva’s keeper with a long range effort two minutes later which Ohad Levita collected with ease before Eylon Almog blasted a right foot shot high over the crossbar shortly after.
Avi Rikan limped off in the 21st minute and was replaced by Eyal Golasa as Ivic was forced to make his first change.
In the 25th minute Be’ersheva doubled their lead as Cohen lost possession to Oren Biton who charged forward and slotted a left foot shot under Gianniotis.
Right on the half hour mark, Ruslan Barsky blasted a right foot shot which threatened to beat Levita who recovered to tip the ball out for a corner which resulted with a Schechter heading over the bar.
Second Half
Nine minutes after the restart Eylon Almog had a shot deflected out for a corner before Schechter came agonizingly close to narrow the deficit from the resulting corner. But the veteran forward who pounced on the loose ball somehow managed to miscue his shot from close range and Beersheva’s defense cleared the danger.
Almog forced Levita to punch out a fierce shot on 66 before Ivic made a triple substitution within a minute as Saborit, Yeini and Blackman came in for Davidzada, Schahar Piven and Dor Peretz.
in the end of the match, Beersheva’s coach Yossi Abuksis who was the only coach to beat Ivic last season whilst in charge of Bnei Yehuda, kept his record once again. But that couldn’t blemish the Serbian’s supremacy in Israel over two years.
Back in business: The Youth team starts the season
The Avi Cohen Youth Academy began the season as the first team to report back for training is the Club’s U-19’s – Maccabi Tel Avivc ‘Schahar’.
Eliezer Ben Aharon, who will begin his second season in-charge of the U-19’s took charge of the first session together with his staff which includes Assistant coach – Zion Cohen, Goalkeeping coach – Shura Ubarov, Fittness coach – Tal Volik and Physiotherapist – Or Aharon. The Youth team will consist of veteran youth team players as well as young players who were promoted from the U-17’s which won the 
championship last season.
Ben Aharon didn’t hide his excitement as he said after the session: “Despite the fact we are beginning our second season today, last season we worked for two thirds of the season . Covid19 halted our working progress and there is a feeling of an unfulfilled potential both in terms of the team and staff. Regardless, to open a second season as the Youth Team Coach of such a massive club – causes us to be immensely excited”.
“My expectations from the season are extremely high” Ben Aharon continued: “We gained a lot of experience and as coaching staff we feel more confident, connected and a lot more challenged. The club will continue the process of developing players as this is expected this season as well. The competition for places in the first team began today with the training session we held today and was relatively light due to the extremely hot weather conditions which made the lives difficult for the players and staff alike. This however is a reality we will have to get used to just like the way we missed 6 squad players to isolation and call-ups to the first team. We were forced to complete our squad with players from the U17’s and they proved that their place at the club has been justified. Covid19 will probably be with us for a while and it is important that players from the younger age group will remain part of our wide squad so that they understand our way. Finally I would like to wish everyone health and a successful season”.
Ivic: “We would like to finish on a high note”
Maccabi Tel Aviv will try and complete a remarkable season tomorrow (Tuesday) in style. The Champions will be hosted by Hapoel Be’ersheva at Ashdod’s Yud Alef stadium as part of the 36th and final league round.
Vladimir Ivic spoke ahead of the game: “This will be our final game of the season and our opponets, Hapoel Be’ersheva is a team we played many times against. Both teams know each other really well and will have the same goal. We will do our best to achieve one more victory and end this season on a high note”
