Category: News

When the stars align: Records set by Maccabi players this season

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Maccabi has scored 14 goals of their 64 from outside of the box. Eliran Atar scored the furthest goal on a free kick against Bnei Sakhnin from 23 meters.

Omer Atzili scored the fastest goal this season when it took only 28 seconds to find the back of the goal against Maccabi Netanya. His was Macacbi’s third fastest goal of all-time.

Atzili scored the latest goal, in the 94’ against Ashdod. The Yellow & Blue has scored 3 goals after the 94’ in their history.

Atzili has also scored 5 braces in league play this season (the most in league play this campaign). Only ten other Maccabi players have recorded braces in a season.

Atzili scored his last brace after coming on in the 70’ last matchday against Maccabi Netanya when he found the back of the goal twice via a penalty. He was the first Maccabi player and 4th all-time in league history to have scored two penalties as a substitute.

Maccabi’s undefeated streak is now 35 matches which is an all-time record for the club. Predrag Rajkovic is the only player to take part in all of the matches.

Eitan Tibi took part in his 6th Israel league title – 4th with Maccabi, one with Kiryat Shemona and Beitar Jerusalem. Only Alon Harazi (9), Arik Benado (9), Yaniv Katan (7), NIr Davidovic (7) have more championships than Tibi.

The central defender is also Maccabi’s all-time European appearance leader with 60. Predrag Rajkovic holds the record for most keeper appearances with 42.

Dor Micha is ranked second with 58 appearances and holds the Maccabi record for most assists with 9 helpers.

Test Yourself: Which Maccabi Hero Are You?

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Now the fun begins

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Every year we dream and imagine about this ceremony, lifting the championship plate and flying the Yellow & Blue flag high above the nation.

This time around it didn’t happen so quickly. One year and another and yet another went by. 108 opening and final whistles by the referee each lasting 90 minutes plus injury time until we won again. Until we returned the long awaited title from Beer Sheva back to Tel Aviv.

Thanks to all, Coach Vladimir Ivic and the pool of players who started and came off of the bench and some that even went back to the bench as well. To owner Mitch Goldhar who did not despair even when the color yellow faded. To the organization and management who allowed the footballers to reach such a wonderful achievement. In IDF terms they are called combat supporters.

This season was extraordinary. We followed the Yellow & Blue bus to all parts of the country and sang “You’ll never walk alone” to the club – and it was amazing. In the second playoff match when Aron Schoenfeld scored against Maccabi Haifa we weren’t contenders for the title but we were the champions.

There is no mathematical way to deny us of the title. And so with eight matches remaining before reaching the finish line, we have already crossed it in practice, formally and computationally. The final eight matches may just be a ton of fun for the championship which is already in our pocket. Now the fun begins. 

There was nothing like it before. Many of the hawk eyes said, “It was no big deal” because the “the league is weak.” This was the same league in which we couldn’t make our way to the top and we couldn’t prevent Beer Sheva from winning the championship. Why didn’t people say, “the league was weak” when Beer Sheva won? Because when it’s not in our favor they like to snoot and when it is, they want to spoil our joy. It won’t help them.

I will add a vague memory that relates mainly to members of my generation, who are already 80 years old and beyond. Only in the 1950s did this happen: there were 12 teams in the league, we played only two rounds and each win was worth two points. It was the Maccabi of Sheya Glazer, Eli Fuchs and Yitzhak Shneor who passed away, and Noah Reznik who has been blessed with long life. Maccabi had already won 21 games, but the football court disqualified the 22nd match against Hapoel Ramat Gan and ordered it to be repeated without the players who had participated in the contest in question. And that’s how the match ended up being a draw and Maccabi lost their only point on the way to the championship. This season we can sing that history has repeated itself.

Tzahov Oleh. Every season and if possible just like this season.

Yellow & Blue Youth Academy Results – April 13, 2019

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Maccabi Netanya 0:3 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv (U19)
Matchday 26 of the Israel Youth Premier League saw Guy Tzarfati’s squad record the win and pick up 3 points. Eduardo Guerrero scored a brace thanks to a pair of assists from Bar Cohen while the third goal saw their roles reversed. The Yellow & Blue are in 2nd place, 3 points off the top of table. For the Full Match Report Click Here.

שערי השבת באקדמיית הנוער 13.04.19


Hapoel Haifa 1:2 Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv (U17)
The Under-17 side headed to an away match at the Carmel Reds on Matchday 26 and came away with the 3-points thanks to goals by Yali Lazar and Niv Berkovic. The Yellow & Blue are in first place and hold a double digit lead. A win next Matchday will crown the U17 champions. Head Coach Eliezr Ben Aharon summed up the win: “Any match at Kiryat Haim is difficult not just because of the quality of the opponent but also the condition of the pitch. The players understood quickly that we couldn’t play our regular style of football and put in place out game plan from the very first minute. The instructions were to take the game to the Haifa side of the pitch quickly and force them to make mistakes close to their goal in order to get closer to the championship. I hope we can do the job next match, Derby.”

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv 1:0 Maccabi Petah Tikva (U16)
The Under-16 team won a dramatic match with ten men on Matchday 26. Eran Sassi’s side are in 2nd place just two points off the top of the table thanks to Rotem Grama’s free kick goal just two minutes until the end of the match. Head Coach Sassi summed up the encounter, “This was a match between two quality sides and began with a high pace of play. However, we had a player who was sent off in the 20’ which influenced our game plan. The players showed character and fight as we continued to create chances while making sure our opponent stayed at bay. The second half was almost like the first and the players tired over the last twenty minutes. All of the substitutes did a great job and gave strength to the team. Thankfully we scored a goal near the end of the match and we knew how to maintain the result until the final whistle. It’s important to note that Ofek Sasson a U15 player was in the starting XI, was fantastic throughout the match and didn’t make a mistake. He played a mature game with a lot of confidence.”

Hapoel Ramat Gan 1:0 Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv (U15)
The U15 squad fell to Ramat Gan on Matchday 27. The Yellow & Blue were left with 9 players by the end of the match and are still in first place with a 2-point lead. Head Coach Ori David spoke about the match: “This was not a match where we saw a lot of football due to the poor pitch. We gave up a goal on a set piece and it was difficult for us to come back after having lost two players to red cards. Our sights are now on to the Derby which takes place in two weeks.”

Yeini: “We have plenty of goals ahead”

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Sheran Yeini, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Captain looked ahead at the club’s upcoming match against Hapoel Beer Sheva on Monday night (21:00) at the Netanya Stadium:

“We are playing a good quality team coming up and some of the players are on the National team. Usually the matches against Beer Sheva are good.”

Goals ahead:
“We have plenty of other goals ahead of us this season and we’ve already had a terrific season to date. We want to end the season with the most points ever in league play and also go undefeated but it’s very difficult. We are preparing in earnest for each and every match.”

Playing attractive football:
“We want to play attractive football and that’s the ideal. But we can’t take anything for granted and we have to ready ourselves as best as possible.”

About Jair Amador:
“Jair acclimated with the club from day one and he is very well respected. He’s strong and he’s an athlete. He has been playing more recently, but everyone on the team has to battle for their place.”

Playing central defender:
“I really enjoy being a central defender and I’ll do whatever is best for the team. I am happy yo do whatever the professional staff wants of me.”

Elite Training at the Youth Academy

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Over the past few years, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Avi Cohen Youth Academy has seen a dramatic change thanks to Performance Director Patrick van Leeuwen who introduced and imbued his football philosophy throughout the department. This season also saw the introduction of the Individual Elite Training program headed by Raymond Atteveld, van Leeuwen’s assistant, with the goal of developing the Academy’s players.

The Individual Elite Training program runs in conjunction with the regular training program and is designed to suit the individual needs of the players who are part of the project. The program includes additional resources for better living, video, physical and tactical sessions for individual players.

During the course of the week, the next week’s program is already being designed. Some are more individualized while other sessions can be with players at the same specific position or with players that they will play with in the future. The players are under the tutelage of Raymond Atteveld as well as the mental coach, fitness coach, video analyst, technical and tactical coaches who are tasked with working on all of these elements with the individual.

The experts meet prior to every training session in order to make sure that certain elements are worked on in order for the player to continue to improve. The staff lets the players and their coaches know what specific activities need to take place and why. The player receives the necessary information and specifics of where they need to improve while the coach also receives that same information so they can continue with their regular team training session as well.

Raymond Atteveld, the head of the program spoke about the idea behind the project: “In some cases the improvement is in small elements like how to move your foot when you are shooting or passing, or your body stature while defending. Other times it can be working on timing between players, so they would be together during the training session. The players receive plenty of information that will contribute to their progress.”

Atteveld summed up the project to date: “The project has begun well. We will make improvements in places where we feel that is needed but so far the project is very promising based on the players’ reactions and how they have applied it their game. Football is a team sport but personal attention contributes to the how the players think during the individual training plan and in specific elements of that training. At the end of the day the club will benefit from this program and they will gain a lot of knowledge about the game which will ultimately have a positive impact on the progress of the home grown players in the Academy.

Beer Sheva, summer plans and injury status: Ivic updates ahead of Monday’s match

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Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed the assembled media at the prematch press conference ahead of Monday night’s contest against Hapoel Beer Sheva:

“For us each and every game was the game of the season. We are going to play the 2nd place team and in this case and they took the last three championships. They deserve respect and they have a lot of quality players. We will prepare to take the 3-points.”

Having already wrapped up the championship:
“It’s a pleasure to be in this moment in the middle of April. For the players, the staff and everyone in the Club. The players have worked hard for 8-9 months to get here and they are biggest part of the club’s success.”

Competition for playing time:
“All of them will play and we are using all of the players. Some have played more, some less and it depends also on the position that they play. They are professionals and they work hard even when they are out of the squad. It’s very important to me how they train during the week.”

Playing in Europe:
“I spoke with all of them and the club’s board. I made suggestions but that’s for inside the club. I am satisfied with all of the players. But if the club wants to be successful in Europe and play in Europe they are obligated to do some things. I told them what I believe needs to be done and what types of players we need.”

Injury status of Dor Micha and Chico Ofoedu:
“Micha may return for next game, but Chico is still out and has a ligament issue in his ankle. We have to make a decision and hopefully we will know in the next few days as to what we can do with him. It’s a serious problem because he has been out for a month.”

Ahead of the Hapoel Beer Sheva Match

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This isn’t just any match against Beer Sheva. Maccabi Tel Aviv welcomes Hapoel Beer Sheva on Monday April 15th at 21:00 on Matchday 30 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. The atmosphere around the stadium will be hot even before the match and there will be some pretty cool Tifo in the stands.

The club will also wear the special Championship patch on the home kit for the first time as everyone from the opening whistle will be concerned about one thing – continuing an incredible season.

Due to requests that the club received from those who can’t come to the match as well as the many requests for tickets, the club has decided to allow season ticket holders (Upper and Lower East/West) that can’t come to the match the opportunity to sell their tickets via the club. Should the ticket be sold a credit of 40 NIS will be refunded to their credit card.

How does it work?
A season ticket holder who can’t come to the match may send an email to maccabi@leaan.co.il up until 18:00 on Sunday and a representative will be in contact to verify the identity of the season ticket holder requesting the resale.

After the identity has been verified the season ticket holder will be asked to give the representative their credit card number (the card when they want the credit to appear, Israeli card only) should their ticket be sold.

The credit card will be credited 40 NIS by Thursday April 18th in the evening.

Please send your requests to sell your tickets to maccabi@leaan.co.il by Sunday December 23 at 12:00 at the latest. Should your ticket not be sold the representative will return the match to your season ticket.

If your ticket is sold, you may not receive your seat for this match.

Please note:
* Should a season ticket holder offer his ticket for sale, the match against Hapoel Beer Sheva on April 15th will be taken off of their season ticket card and cannot be used.

* Once the ticket is sold the seat may not be returned to the season ticket holder.

* Season ticket holders may send in a resale request until Sunday April 14th at 18:00. Requests sent after this time will not be honored.

*Credit can not be made in cash.

Maccabi “Shachar” defeats Maccabi Netanya 3:0

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The Under-19 squad, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv visited Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 26 of the Israel Youth Premier League and began the day in 2nd place just 3 points off table leader Maccabi Petah Tikva while the hosts were in 11th place.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Daniel Peretz, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Yoav Hofmayster, Tomer Mahluf, Tamir Glezer, Omri Ram, Nadav Nidam, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen, Tal Yagudaev.

First Half
In the 10’ Netanya had the contest’s first chance when Ram Johaja’s Chance from the right of the box went out while ten minutes later Ram found Cohen on the left of the box but his left footed attempt was saved by Netanya keeper Amit Merigin.

Guerrero tried to find Ram in the area in the 28’ but the ball was blocked at the last minute while Cohen’s rebound attempt hit the outside netting of the goal. Four minutes later Guerrero’s opportunity was blocked by a Netanya defender as the score remained as is.

However, in the 35’ Maccabi took a 1:0 lead when Cohen flicked the ball elegantly over a pair of defenders right to Guerrero who found the back of the goal. Three minutes later, Tzarfati’s crew doubled their advantage when Cohen once again sent Guerrero a through ball that he unleashed behind the keeper for a 2:0 lead. Just before the break Yagudaev sent a magnificent cross to Cohen but he missed the target as the Yellow & Blue took a 2:0 advantage into halftime.

Second Half
Netanya had the first chance of the half when Johaja’s shot was blocked by Shtrozberg and in the 65’ they once again threatened to cut the lead when Amit Yakov sent a through ball towards the Maccabi goal but Peretz was able to cut off the play.

Ten minutes later, Tzarfati’s squad added a third goal when Cohen took care of a Guerrero assist for a 3:0 lead. In the 78’ Netanya tried to cut the lead when Eyad Hagi’s attempt went out. Rave Assayag’s 84’ chance came up short as Maccabi wrapped up a 3:0 victory.

Youth Academy Matches – Saturday April 13, 2019

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Maccabi Netanya – Maccabi “Shachar “ Tel Aviv, 12:00 Netanya (U19)
After defeating Bnei Yehuda in the Little Derby, the Yellow & Blue head to Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 26 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Last match, the Yellow & Blue won 1:0 thanks to a goal by Gil Ben Shalosh. Guy Tzarfati’s squad are in 2nd place, just 3 points off the table leaders Maccabi Petah Tikva while the host’s are in 11th place.

Hapoel Haifa – Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv, 11:00 Kiryat Haim (U17)
The Under-17 side plays at the Carmel Reds on Matchday 26. Eliezer Ben Aharon’s squad is in first place with an 11 point lead while the host’s are in 10th. Last match between the two saw Shaked Navon and Nehorai Bitton score in a 2:0 win for the Yellow & Blue. Should Maccabi win and their rivals for the league title they will secure the title.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Maccabi Petah Tikva, 9:30 Kiryat Shalom 1 (U16)
The Under-16 team host’s Petah Tikva on Matchday 26 of league play as they find themselves in 2nd place just two points off the top of the table. The visitor’s are in 4th place just two points away from the Yellow & Blue. Last match Eran Sassi’s squad win by the score of 2:1 on goals by Ariel Belhassen and Orel Azarzar.

Hapoel Ramat Gan – Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv, 8:30 Ramat Gan Safari Asi (U15)
The Under-15 squad faces Ramat Gan on Matchday 27 of league action, the young Yellow & Blue are in first place with a 5 point lead while the host’s are in 10th. Last match Maccabi won 2:0 on goals by Oskar Gluch and Nir Levi.