Category: News
Lazetic ahead of Ironi Tiberias
‘Talking Maccabi’ with Ben Mansford, Dominic Price, and Yoav Ziv
The 2025/26 season is already here, as yesterday (Wednesday) we held another ‘Talking Maccabi’ event for members of the FOREVER supporters’ club. Fitting for the first event of the season, about 100 FOREVER members met with CEO Ben Mansford, Technical Director Dominic Price, and Team Manager Yoav Ziv.
The fans enjoyed an engaging conversation that also included their own questions to the panel on a wide range of topics that concern them and are on the club’s agenda.
Match in Memory of Barak Davidi
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s veterans team met the ‘Nova Tribe’ team last Tuesday in a moving friendly match in memory of Barak Davidi, a devoted supporter of the club who was murdered at the Nova festival.
The game, which ended with the veterans winning 6–2, was held at Kiryat Shalom with the participation of Barak’s family and close friends. The ‘Nova Tribe’ is a team composed of Nova survivors, established with the target of helping them rebuild through sport and providing ongoing support.
The Maccabi Tel Aviv Foundation joined at the family’s request, assisting in organizing the event and contributing to its production, together with the ‘Nova Tribe community association’. The event highlighted the power of community to build resilience and continuity, even out of deep pain, and served as a reminder of Barak Davidi and all the victims of the Nova massacre.
Reef Peretz, chairman of the ‘Nova Tribe community association’ and a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player, said:
“The association’s football team is a symbol for remembrance, legacy, rehabilitation, and hope. The team meets every week, going through moving processes of healing and recovery together. This memorial match for Barak Davidi was especially meaningful for me, as it brought together two teams I am deeply connected to, The Nova tribe and Maccabi Tel Aviv Veterans. On a personal level, there’s also a profound layer: Barak was a passionate Maccabi fan, and I myself grew up in this club from a young age. I closely followed the efforts to commemorate him and the ways his family and friends have coped. In my eyes, sport is a powerful tool that connects people.”
Barak Davidi (28) , the youngest son of Nitzchia and Hertzel, brother to Sharona, Tamar, Avi, and Tomer. He arrived at the Nova festival early in the morning, danced and enjoyed himself for about an hour before the alarms began. Barak left for his car and drove until the “Olamim” junction, where he reached a police checkpoint. The officers told him to turn back towards the festival. On his way back, he reached the deadly shelter, where a police car was parked outside. A policeman told him to enter the shelter (the one marked with the drawing of a dog) to protect himself.
Barak was among the first to enter the shelter before terrorists arrived and murdered him in cold blood.
Barak was a magical soul who loved life, loved to laugh, travel, enjoy, and always brought people together. From a young age, he was a devoted Maccabi Tel Aviv fan, insisting on attending every match, even if it sparked funny sibling quarrels with his sister Sharona, a fan of the rival team. They would always accompany each other to matches, but he would always say, “One day I will get you to sit in Maccabi’s stands.”
After the horrific tragedy, he truly did, Sharona now attends Maccabi’s matches in his memory”.
Maccabi Tel Aviv announces merger with ASA Tel Aviv WFC
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is proud to officially announce the merger with ASA Tel Aviv Women’s Football Club, one of the pioneering forces in Israeli women’s football. This historic move marks the re-establishment of Maccabi’s women’s team, which will now compete in the Israeli Women’s top-flight.
Following approval from the Israel Football Association, the newly formed Maccabi Tel Aviv Women’s Team began training at Kiryat Shalom, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Club and for women’s football in Israel. In addition, another senior women’s team which will play in the second division and seven youth teams, at U-19’s, U-17, U-15 U-13 girls, and U-10 pre-junior teams, will also compete under the name Maccabi ASA Tel Aviv.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Owner, Mitch Goldhar said: “This is a proud moment for Maccabi Tel Aviv as we return to the women’s game. The merger reflects our commitment to growing women’s football and using the power of sport to inspire. Re-establishing the women’s team, originally active between 1998 to 2002, reinforces Maccabi’s role as a leading club on and off the pitch. Welcome to the Maccabi family”.
ASA Tel Aviv WFC brings a rich legacy of success, with 8 Israeli Championships and 5 Women’s State Cups, along with a long-standing contribution to the development of the women’s game. Maccabi Tel Aviv is honored to continue and build upon that legacy, guided by the club’s core values of hard work, professionalism, ambition, and community.
Friendly: Maccabi beat Hapoel Ramat Gan 5–2
Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic exploited the absence of the players who are on international duty to let his squad get some valuable playing time against Hapoel Ramat Gan who are coached by former Maccabi U19’s coach Michael Zandberg.
Maccabi took the lead early in the 4th minute as Elad Madmon headed an Itamar Noy free kick to beat Ramat Gan’s goalkeeper Itamar Israeli from close range.
In the 26th minute, Maccabi doubled their lead after Avishay Cohen, playing at left-back, burst into the box and cut the ball back for Yonas Malede who clinically finished with one touch.
Three minutes after the half-hour mark Maccabi increased their lead to 3–0. Cohen, was instrumental once again as he won the ball deep inside Ramat Gan’s half before slipping it to Madmon who found the bottom far corner for his second of the match.
In the 40th minute, Maccabi’s new signing Kervin Andrade scored a stunning goal, firing from 30 meters straight into the top corner.
The visitors cut the deficit in the 55th minute, when Adar Retner slotted home from close range past Yoav Gerafi. Eight minutes later, Maccabi added a fifth as Maccabi’s U19 midfielder Yoav Junio volleyed a Ben Lederman cross with a clinical finish of his own.
Ramat Gan scored their second in the 70th minute, when Omer Senior struck from the middle of the box into the bottom right corner to seal the score at 5-2.
Maccabi: Roi Mishpati (Yoav Gerafi 46), Tyrese Asante, Ali Camara, Heitor (Itay Ben Hemo 46), Avishay Cohen, Itamar Noy, Ben Lederman, Yoav Juino, Kervin Andrade (Rani Rival 65), Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon (Yahli Danor 65).
Peretz voted as August Player of The Month
August is already behind us as over the past few days you voted for Dore Peretz as the Maccabi Player of the Month.
Peretz scored 2 goals in Europe against Dynamo Kyiv and added a brace in the League against Maccabi Netanya. The Maccabi captain was facing tough competition from Roy Revivo and Kristijan Belic who came in second and third, respectively.
Voted for Peretz? Now comes the part you have been waiting for.
Whoever voted for Peretz should receive a text message containing the prize question by 17:00 today (Sunday). The first person to send a correct answer will receive an official Maccabi shirt and scarf.
Varela joins Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC has reached an agreement with Belgian side KAA Gent for the transfer of Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela. The 23-year-old Cape Verde international forward successfully completed his medical and signed a three-year deal, with an option to extend by an additional season.
Varela (176 cm), born in Almada, Portugal, spent the majority of his career in his home country before moving to Belgium. Since joining Gent from Portimonense in August 2024, Varela made 18 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals.
After completing his medical and signing his contract, Varela, who will wear the number 29 shirt at Maccabi, told the club’s official website: “I’m really happy to join this great club. From the moment Maccabi showed interest, I could feel the power of the club and the amazing fans. This is a big step for me and I’m proud to take it. I can’t wait to wear the yellow jersey and play for our supporters.”
Varela began his footballing journey in the youth academies of Charneca Caparica, CD Cova Piedade, and Vitória Setúbal, before joining Amora, where he made his senior debut in a cup match at the age of 18 years and seven months. In January 2021, he moved to SU Sintrense, scoring five goals in 26 appearances. His performances earned him a transfer to Portimonense SAD, where he scored four goals in 26 matches for the U23 team before being promoted to the senior squad. At Portimonense’s senior side, Varela went on to score six goals and three assists in 38 appearances in all competitions.
On the international stage, Varela has earned 16 caps for Cape Verde since making his debut in October 2023 in a friendly against Algeria.
Kervin Andrade joins Maccabi Tel Aviv
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!
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.
