Category: News

First Championship in March: The new records set

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Maccabi Tel Aviv secured their 23rd league title this evening. The Yellow & Blue are still in the middle of an exceptional season one that has been dominant as Vladimir Ivic’s players continue to set new records.

The earliest championship
Due to Maccabi’s dominance in league play this season they have captured the earliest championship in league history. The Yellow & Blue took home the league title in March and bested the previous date of April 2, when Kiryat Shemona captured the 2011/12 championship.

Maccabi also secured the title 8 Matchdays until the end of the campaign which is the most remaining Matchdays after winning a championship. The previous record was 5 Matchdays – also when Kiryat Shemona won the title.

Record gap between first and second place
The current gap is 27 points between Maccabi and the second place team which is an all-time record, the previous high was Maccabi Haifa in 2004/05 – 18 points. The record at the end of the season is 16 points by the 2005/06 version of Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2013/14.

Maccabi joins Maccabi Haifa from 1993/94 and Bnei Yehuda from 1986/87 (their first loss was in Matchday 30) who have gone 28 Matchdays undefeated.

Only three teams in history have gone the full season without a defeat, Maccabi Tel Aviv from 1953/54 & 1957/58 (22 Matchdays in the season) and Maccabi Haifa from 1993/94 (39 Matchdays in the season).

Conceding the fewest goals
Maccabi has completed 28 Matchdays without conceding more than one goal in a match. Beitar Jerusalem from 1978/79 is the only team who have gone 28 Matchdays with giving up no more than one goal, until Matchday 30 when they conceded 4 goals. There has never been a team that has gone a full season without giving up more than one goal in a match.

Distance from Beer Sheva
The gap between the incoming and outgoing champion, Hapoel Beer Sheva is 27 points. The record at the end of a season is 32 points which occurred in 1986/87 – The incoming champion: Beitar Jerusalem, the outgoing: Hapoel Tel Aviv.


Tibi, Micha and Yeini’s accomplishment
Eitan Tibi won his 6th Israeli Championship (4 with Maccabi, one at Kiryat Shemona and Beitar Jerusalem). Only four Israeli footballers have more, Arik Benado and Alon Harazi 9 each, Yaniv Katan and Nir Davidovic with 7 a piece.

In addition to Tibi, Dor Micha and Sheran Yeini also have a pretty full trophy cabinet with 4 league titles, all with Maccabi.

Ivic’s historical stat
72 points – 85.7% success rate: The coach with the highest success rate in league history belongs to Vladimir Ivic of 270 coaches who have managed at least 10 matches.

MACCABI TEL AVIV ARE CHAMPIONS!

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Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 1:0 to win their 23rd League Championship. Aron Schoenfeld scored the lone goal of the match in the second half off an Omer Atzili corner to take the 3 points and wrap up the title. The Yellow & Blue will now prepare for the State Cup semifinal against Bnei Yehuda on Wednesday night, at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem at 20:45.

Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Maor Kandil, Sheran Yeini, Jair Amador, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Dan Glezer, Ruslan Barsky, Omer Atzili, Eliran Atar, Aron Schoenfeld.

Available on the bench: Daniel Tenebaum, Eli Dasa, Itay Shechter, Eitan Tibi, Yonatan Cohen, Ophir Davidzada, Shahar Piven.

First Half
The match began in driving rain as both sides played tentatively for the first ten minutes. Neta Lavi had the first chance for Haifa in the 12’ but Rajikovic made the stop while 8 minutes later Atzili’s 18 meter blast missed the target.

Peretz and Barsky each had chances in the 26’ and 28’ but couldn’t put their shots on goal and then Barsky received a yellow card in the 29’. Atar’s 31’ opportunity was parried by Greens keeper Guy Haimov and in the 39’ Saborit’s attempt was caught by the shot stopper as the sides went into the break goalless.

Second Half
Maccabi found the first goal of the contest in the 55’ when Atizli’s corner was sent into the goal off of Schoenfeld’s shoulder as the Yellow & Blue took a 1:0 lead. Atar almost doubled the lead but Haimov made the stop in the 60’ and five minutes later Shahar Piven came on for Atzili.

Yonatan Cohen entered the match in the 75’ in favor of Atar and 3 minutes later Schoenfeld’s chance went out. Yarden Shua almost drew Haifa even but his attempt missed the target in the 81’ while Cohen’s opportunity for Maccabi four minutes later went out. Itay Shechter came on in the 87’ for the goal scorer Schoenfeld as the Yellow & Blue took the win and their 23rd League Championship.

Maccabi “Shachar” and Hapoel Beer Sheva draw 2:2

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Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv hosted Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 24 of the Israel Youth Premier League and entered the contest 4 points off the top of the table while the visitor’s found themselves in 4th place.

Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glezer (Tal Yagudaev 84’), Tomer Mahluf, Ido Shahar, Omri Ram (Gil Ben Shalosh 60’), Yoav Hofmayster (Nadav Nidam 46’), Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen (Rave Assayag 69’) Eyal Hen (Mufleh Shalata 46’).

First Half
Maccabi’s first chance came in the 8’ but Ram’s header went out but 4 minutes later Beer Sheva found the back of the goal following a corner as Daniel Karadi gave the visitors a 1:0 lead.

In the 18’ Beer Sheva grabbed a 2:0 advantage when Nir Itzkovic scored via a header. Maccabi had a chance to cut the lead in the 29’ but Hen’s attempt was saved by the keeper.

Second Half
Tzarfati made 3 substitutions at the break to freshen up the attic and in the 52’ Chilaka’s header missed the target and 11 minutes later Gil Ben Shalosh’s opportunity came up short.

In the 66’ Shalata’s attempt missed and in the 73’ Ben Shalosh’s chance went out. Finally in the 80’ Maccabi pulled a goal back via a 20’ shot from Shahar that skipped into the goal, 2:1 Beer Sheva.

The Yellow & Blue pressed for the equalizer and in the 87’ Ben Shalosh’s chance was saved by the keeper. However in the 90’ Yagudaev pounced on a rebound and scored from 8 meters out to draw even and split the points.

Yeini: “You have to work hard all season long to win the championship”

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Sheran Yeini, the Maccabi Tel Aviv captain is looking forward to Saturday night’s (21:00) Championship Playoff clash at home against Maccabi Haifa on Martchday 28 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika

“We work every season for this type of moment, we have a tough match against an opponent that will play hard and is challenging. They will produce opportunities and hopefully fulfill what’s expected of us.”

Celebrations:
“Maccabi Tel Aviv is an organized club and those who make the decisions do so with thought and purpose. We the players have to make sure we come and give our best performance.”

Possibly winning the title against Maccabi Haifa:
“You have to work hard all season long to win the championship. The last match is always the sweetest especially when you are battling against a club head-to-head and then it goes to the last game where the title is decided. Similar to the State Cup Final. Most of the time this doesn’t happen and you have already celebrated against another club. But that’s part of sports. What’s most important to me is to just win the title.”

The fans who are thirsting for a title:
“We all want to win the title and at the moment of truth it doesn’t matter when or against who. The most important thing is to win titles.”

About the match:
“Haifa is in great shape and they have made some changes. They are dangerous and we will have to be focused throughout the 90 minutes and we have been waiting for a match like this. It’s fun to be challenged and to see what level we can bring ourselves to.”

Ivic: “This is similar to a Derby between the two best teams in Israel”

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Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach spoke ahead of his side’s Championship Playoff match against Maccabi Haifa on Saturday night (21:00) at the Netanya Stadium:

“There are no easy games. It’s similar to a Derby between the best two teams in Israel. Every game is important and it demands that we stay focused 100% of the time. We are playing a quality team who have played well over the last few months. They have shown that they play a number of styles and we have to prepare ourselves for this match and just concentrate on taking the win and the 3 points and nothing else.”

About the possible celebrations:
“We will decide at the end of the match. I don’t want to think about that now, just the game and the opponent. That’s my vision and that is what I ask of my players. That’s the way we want to work.”

Bringing in new players for those who are injured:
“We have another couple of months until the summer with many games. To say now what will be in the summer? That doesn’t seem to be serious.”

Nikolic’s injury:
“It occurred in a practice game a few days ago.”

The possibility of Haifa being Maccabi’s main rival next season:
“You can’t know what will be next season as it is still early for that. We are just concentrating on the next match. I respect them, and they are the second biggest club in Israel – in titles and on the table today. It will certainly be a tough game and the previous games don’t mean anything right now. This is a new game, a new story and everything will be different.”

Playoff stats and facts against Haifa

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The upcoming match will be the 158th against Maccabi Haifa. The record: 63 Maccabi wins, 46 draws 48 Maccabi Haifa wins. Goal differential: 225:197 in favor of Maccabi.

Maccabi has hosted Haifa 80 times in League play: The record: 39 Maccabi wins, 23 draws, 18 Haifa wins. Goal Differential: 123:75 in favor of Maccabi.

Avi Nimni has made the most appearances for Maccabi against Haifa in league action with 33. Eli Driks and Sheran Yeini are second with 31 a piece.

This is the 16th season that there are playoffs in the league while Maccabi and Maccabi Haifa have played in them 14 times, all of which in the Championship Playoffs – the most by any two teams in the league.

This season marks the second time that the two sides have ended the regular season in first and second place. The first time was in 2012/13 when Maccabi was first and Haifa was second.

The two squads have met 17 times in the Championship Playoffs: The record: 8 Maccabi wins, 5 draws, 4 losses.

The biggest win: 6:0 in the 2015/16 Playoffs. Goal scorers: Eran Zahavi (3), winger Tal Ben Chaim, Carlos Garcia and Haris Medunjanin.

The latest match winning goal scored against Maccabi Haifa: 2013/14 – Gal Alberman in the 92’ (1:0 Maccabi).

Maccabi have won 22 championships (17 after the founding of the State of Israel, 5 prior).

The most championships were secured against Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Petah Tikva and Hapoel Haifa (3 championships a piece).

The Yellow & Blue have yet to secure a championship against Maccabi Haifa and at the Netanya Stadium.

Youth Academy ID Card: Ron Partok

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One of the goals of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Avi Cohen Youth Academy is to help the young players improve and advance to the first team. Behind the scenes are many coaches, assistants and staff that are there to provide the next education along the way. One of those people is Ron Partok, the Under-9 South Coach who tells us about his time to date in the world of football and the work he does at the Youth Academy.

Ron Partok (24) – Under-9 South
Ron Partok began at the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy last season and was an Assistant Coach for a variety of teams. Currently he’s the Head Coach for the Under-9 south squad.

“I began to coach due to my love for sports and football and I’m very interested in the tactical and mental side of the game. My start in the area was a bit different than others because I wasn’t an active player at a youth department but I’m continuing to improve, develop and learn thanks to the Academy staff. My goal of to help the players to develop both on a personal and professional level.”

Arrival at Maccabi
“A few months ago I receive pd the chance to coach the Under-9 tea at the Maccabi Youth Academy and it’s a very challenging position. I’m able to implement the Academy philosophy while helping the players learn the Maccabi mentality.”

Connection to Maccabi
“As a Maccabi fan I’m very proud to wear the training uniform. It’s a great feeling and in that gives me motivation to keep working hard in order to reach both personal and team goals.”

Continuing education
“I am finishing a training course about athletes mentality. It’s a course that has given me a lot personally and one that will help advance my career.”