Category: News

Kervin Andrade joins Maccabi Tel Aviv

Posted on

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Fortaleza Esporte Clube of Brazil for the transfer of Kervin Mario Andrade Navarro. The 20-year-old Venezuelan forward successfully completed his medical and signed a four-year deal.

Since joining Fortaleza in 2023, initially on loan before making the move permanent in June 2024, Andrade scored 8 goals and added 6 assists in 50 first-team appearances, as well as 3 goals in 5 outings for the U20s.

After successfully completing his medical and signing his contract, Andrade, who will wear the number 10 shirt, told to the club’s official website: “I’m very excited to join Maccabi Tel Aviv, a great club in Israel with a well-established reputation across Europe. I am grateful for the opportunity to play here and will give my all to help the team achieve its goals as I begin this exciting new chapter in my career.”

A product of Deportivo La Guaira in Venezuela, Andrade made his senior debut in June 2021 at just 16 years old, going on to score 6 goals and add 4 assists in 56 appearances in all competitions. He then moved to Brazil in 2023, where, at 18 years and nine months, he marked his Fortaleza senior debut in the ‘Campeonato Cearense’ regional championship group stage with a goal.

On the international stage, Andrade earned 4 caps for Venezuela’s senior team, making his debut in a friendly against Guatemala just days before his 19th birthday. He has also represented the Venezuela U23s on 3 occasions.

 

Thank you, Stojic!

Posted on

Nemanja Stojic will leave Maccabi Tel Aviv and join PFC Sochi, following an agreement reached with the Russian club for the transfer of the 27-year-old defender.

Stojic, who joined from Red Star Belgrade in August 2024, made 42 appearances and scored six goals, playing an important role in Maccabi’s League Championship and Toto Cup triumphs. This season, Stojic added six more appearances helping the team secure another European campaign.

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC wishes to thank Stojic for his commitment and contribution throughout an unforgettable year in Yellow and Blue.

Thank you, Nemanja, for all you have done at Maccabi and best of luck in your future career.

After their debut goals: Nicolaescu and Noy spoke

Posted on

Ion Nicolaescu, who celebrated his first league start for Maccabi with a debut goal in Sunday’s 4–0 victory over Maccabi Netanya, shared his feelings after the match:

 

Itamar Noy, who came on as a second half substitute and scored his first goal for Maccabi, said after the match: “This is the best feeling there is. I waited for this a long time, dreamed about it a lot. I supposedly started from a lower place, from Hapoel Haifa, but I took it step by step. I don’t see it as a weakness, on the contrary. I expect us to do great things. I don’t know if I’m a Cinderella story, I work hard, I believe in myself and aim to get as far as I can. I hope this is only the beginning.”

 

The midfielder, who joined Maccabi from Hapoel Haifa in the summer, spoke about the competition for places and a strong midfield: “There’s good competition, everyone is an excellent player. There’s a very wide selection. Especially with our European season, there are many matches, and it pushes all of us to be at the highest level. If you don’t perform at your best, there are plenty of good players. It makes us improve, to keep pushing ourselves forward again and again.”

On his relationship with coach Zarko Lazetic, Noy said:
“I am new here, but I’ve been given quite a few opportunities and I have settled in well. I feel his support; he is always talking to me, guiding me, helping me integrate as best as possible. I’m really happy about that.”

On the targets he set himself at Maccabi, Noy added: “I always aim to reach the best and highest level possible. For me, Maccabi Tel Aviv is the best. I want to train with the best players, the best staff, and improve as much as I can. I know there’s competition, I am not looking for comfort or guarantees to play. I want to improve, to progress. Competition is a good thing. When Maccabi Tel Aviv makes you an offer, you don’t say no. It’s always been my dream, and I’m happy it came true.”

Peretz’s summary of the 4-0 victory over Netanya

Posted on

Dor Peretz celebrated a perfect start to the 2025/26 league campaign with two goals in the 4-0 victory over Maccabi Netanya at Bloomfield. The 30-year-old Maccabi captain said at the end of the match: “I am happy to be in this position, in this role where I can help the team win matches. Looking at the bigger picture, this was, in my eyes, a very convincing victory for the team, we showed some good form which is very impressive. The aggression and intensity were at a high level, and I want us to maintain that going forward and take it with us.”

Trying to explain the team’s form on the back of a Europa League Playoff against Dynamo Kyiv which was played in Poland on Thursday, Peretz said: “I think we showed the principles we work on in training. We showed exactly the Maccabi we want to bring into every match, an intense team that wins balls back, plays forward, and creates chances. We came back just a day and a half ago from Poland, and we proved we can do it.”

Ahead of Maccabi’s grueling Europa League campaign that will see the team travel 8 times and host four matches abroad, Peretz added: “We need to prepare for it. Every player has to take his place seriously, both physically and mentally. We need to take care of ourselves. The staff is working to prepare the team in the best way possible. At the end of the day, the league is the most essential thing; from here we reach the European stage. We always have to remember that, to come to every league match and give our very best.”

On his role on the pitch which saw Peretz play at the top of the midfield trio and closer to the frontline, Peretz summed up: “I felt that I played in the middle with relative freedom, which allowed me to step up closer to the second striker. Fortunately, it worked today, and I hope it continues to work.”

On the expectations for the rest of the season, Peretz, the most experienced player in the squad, said: “I think we are building the team properly. The squad is coming together, and we are shaping what we want to see. In my opinion, more players will arrive before the window closes. Our goal is to gel as a team and be as prepared as possible for the rest of the season and for Europe, to show our very best football.”

Maccabi beat Netanya 4-0

Posted on

Preview

Following the postponement of the league match against Hapoel Petah Tikva due to the European campaign, Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium to host Maccabi Netanya for the match that will open the 2025/26 league season.

Zarko Lazetic made several changes from the side that secured qualification to the Europa League against Dunamo Kyiv on Thursday as Raz Shlomo partnered Ali Camara as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Tyrese Asante and Roy Revivo on the right and left respectively completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Ido Shahar was named alongside Issouf Sissokho in Maccabi’s engine room with Dor Peretz captaining the side at the top of the midfield trio. Osher Davida and Elad Madmon supplied the width on both flanks with Ion Nicolaescu leading the line as the Moldovan international striker still seeking his first official goal in a Maccabi shirt.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Heitor, Sagiv Jehezkel, Denny Gropper, Kristijan Belic, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy and Saied Abu Farchi.

First Half

Prior to kickoff a minute of applauds was held in memory of Dan Margalit, a journalist, media personality and Maccabi fan who died last week at the age of 87. Backed by an almost full to capacity Bloomfield stadium, Maccabi began the match with pressure on Netanya inside their own half. Ali Camara was cautioned by referee Ohad Asulin inside the fourth minute while Netanya’s Hriberto Tavares followed shortly after. It took Maccabi 20 minutes to open the score as Dor Peretz continued his league form from last season. Tyrese Asante split Netanya’s defense open with a perfect pass into the path of Maccabi’s captain whose darting run saw him shrug off a challenge and lift the ball over the hapless Omer Nir’on. Two minutes later Maccabi’s blitz continued as Issouf Sissokho fed Ion Nicolaescu who curled a right foot shot beyond the reach of Nir’on to double the score with his first competitive goal since joining Maccabi in the summer. Netanya’s coach Yossi Abuksis reacted with a double substitution as Amit Cohen and Lucas Fraizu replaced Tavares and Wilson Harris.

Nicolaescu came close to increase his tally on the night in the 36th minute as Peretz picked him unmarked in the middle of the area. The Moldovan striker couldn’t keep his flick down as it sailed over the crossbar. Two minutes later Nicolaescu came even closer as he rose above Netanya’s defense to meet Roy Revivo’s pinpoint cross with a powerful header which Nir’on managed to claw off his line. Inside injury time Elad Madmon who worked tirelessly through the first half saw yellow for a tackle on Netanya’s Seba Hawadajiani.

Second Half

Maccabi’s coach Zarko Lazetic made two changes after the interval as Heitor came on for Ali Camara while Sagiv Jehezkel replaced Madmon at the restart. Just like the first half, the second half began just like the first one with a Maccabi player booked by Asulin – this time it was Peretz who saw yellow. In the 50th minute a Netanya free kick almost cut Maccabi’s lead only for Ido Shahar who somehow managed to hook the ball over for a corner.

Asante came close to open his account as he headed Shahar’s corner from the goalmouth over the crossbar on 58. A minute after the hour mark Maccabi scored the third as Peretz picked the ball just inside Netanya’s half charged forward and drilled a low powerful drive that beat Nir’on to make it 3-0. Peretz could have completed a hatrick within a minute as he chested the ball and sent a shot wide. Lazetic introduced two more players as Shahar and Nicolaescu bowed out to a standing ovation as they were replaced by Itamar Noy and Kristijan Belic. In the 71st minute the two substitutes combined as Belic dribbled down the left, squared to Noy who blasted a powerful left foot shot that rocketed past Nir’on for his debut Maccabi and fourth on the night.