Category: News

Final Preparations: Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Maccabi Netanya

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Maccabi Tel Aviv continues Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika action this evening when they visit Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 4 at the Netanya Stadium (20:30). On Wednesday September 26th the Yellow & Blue will face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final and the following Monday Hapoel Tel Aviv will be the opponent in the first league derby of the season.

השערים הגדולים נגד מכבי נתניה

Vladimir Ivic’s squad enters the match in 1st place after defeating Hapoel Raanana 4:1 last week while they won their season opener against Maccabi Haifa and drew at Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Maccabi Netanya have one point to date and are in last place. On Matchday 1 they fell at Hapoel Haifa 5:0 while the following week they drew 1:1 against Bnei Sakhnin. Last week Kiryat Shemona defeated Slobodan Drapic and Shay Barda’s side 1:0. The Diamond City side lost the services of Dia Saba who moved to Beer Sheva but brought on board Guy Melamed, Moti Barshatzky and Stav Finish.

Last season, the Yellow & Blue also met Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 4 and picked up a 3:2 win. Over the course of the season the team’s faced each other 3 more times in league play as the Yellow & Blue won twice and fell once.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic spoke ahead of the contest at the prematch press conference: “I’m happy we have a lot of games to play ahead of us.” As he referred to the upcoming matches against Netanya, Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv.

He also talked about the keys to victory: “We prepare for every game and we have the same goal which is to take 3 points. We must fight, concentrate and be ready to improve and to take responsibility during the games and have possession in order to win the game. Netanya has played well over the past couple of seasons and even though they changed some players, they are still a good team and we have to be prepared from the first to the last second of the game.”

Veteran midfielder Eyal Golasa also looked ahead to the contest: “We are preparing well and we expect a tough game on Saturday. Netanya is always a hard matchup, but we know how to get ready for them.”

Competing for a place in the Starting XI:
“It’s a great thing that there is competition and it brings out the best in us as we fight for a spot in the starting XI.”

Changes at Netanya:
“Netanya is going through some changes and even when they were without Eran Levy and Dia Saba last season they were a good team. They are always competitive no matter who is playing for them.”

U19 Derby: A look back at Derbies of the past

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Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv and Hapoel “Nisanov” Tel Aviv will meet in the first Israel Youth League Derby of the season as the Yellow & Blue host’s the Reds at the Ramle Stadium at 12:40 on Matchday 4. Just ahead of the big contest, Head Coach Guy Tzarfati spoke about the match while we’ve also looked back at some of the Under-19 Derbies of the past.

Tzarfati has been a part of plenty of Derbies whether it’s been as a player in both the Youth Department and with the first team along with manning the sidelines as he did last campaign: “There’s always a great atmosphere and a lot of feelings surrounding the Derby and only those who have experienced it can understand. Derby matches are always interesting and there is always a desire to succeed which makes all of us even more focused on the task at hand. The player’s preparations have to be implemented during the actual match itself and I hope and believe that my squad will have a successful Derby and one that will be a wonderful experience.”

Under-19 Derbies of the past
Over the past ten years there have been 20 League Derbies. The record: 10 Maccabi wins, 4 draws, 6 losses. The Yellow & Blue have actually collected more points at away Derbies (18) than at home (16).

The biggest win belongs to Maccabi and occurred in the 2014/15 season when the Reds hosted the Derby at Bloomfield Stadium. Ziv Arie was the Head Coach and took the side to the championship. The final score was 4:0 in favor of the Yellow & Blue as Yonatan Cohen (x2), Stav Ben Aharon and Sohil Armeli scored.

Some of the top Derby goal scorers include:
Eylon Almog – The striker who now plays for Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle featured for the Under-19 squad between 2015-2018 and played in 6 Derbies while scoring 5 goals.

Yonatan Cohen – The striker played with the U19 side between 2013-2915 and scored 5 goals in 4 Derbies,

Gael Margulies – Was with Maccabi “Shachar” between 2011-2013 and scored 3 goals in 5 matches.

The most goals scored by a player in a single Derby is 2 and has been done by Yonatan Cohen (14/15), Dor Jan (13/14), Matan Hozez (13/14), Eliel Peretz (13/14).

The longest undefeated streak stands at 7 matches from 2009/10-2011/12. In 2010/11 the squad won the Double and beat their Tel Aviv rivals in the State Cup Round of 16. 2011/12 was also a successful campaign as the Yellow & Blue took home the league title.

Under current Head Coach Guy Tzarfati, the Under-19 side has a Derby record of 3 wins and a draw. Last season, the Yellow & Blue won 3:1 at home while the return leg was a 2:2 draw. Tomorrow, Maccabi “Shachar” will look to continue their positive momentum so far this season and write a new chapter in the history of the Tel Aviv Derby.

Golasa: “The competition for a place in the Starting XI brings out the best in us”

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Eyal Golasa, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s veteran midfielder looked ahead to the club’s Matchday 4 encounter at Maccabi Netanya on Saturday night, 20:30 at the Netanya Stadium as he spoke about the teams preparations:

“We are preparing well and we expect a tough game on Saturday. Netanya is always a hard matchup, but we know how to get ready for them.”

Competing for a place in the Starting XI:
“It’s a great thing that there is competition and it brings out the best in us as we fight for a spot in the starting XI.”

Changes at Netanya”:
“Netanya is going through some changes and even when they were without Eran Levy and Dia Saba last season they were a good team. They are always competitive no matter who is playing for them.”

Training sessions:
“The pace of our training sessions is excellent and the staff is always looking for us to push harder. I’m happy that we have been training well and I hope we can continue this way.”

New things at training:
“The training sessions have new and different things that we are learning as the midfielders are always looking to improve and so far we are feeling good.”

Players who have returned from loan:
“The players who returned from loan have been playing and adapting well. Glazer and Barsky have been terrific and it adds a lot to the team especially when there are injuries.”

Ivic: “I’m happy we have a lot of games ahead of us”

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Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue boss addressed the assembled media prior to Saturday night’s (20:30) Matchday 4 contest at Maccabi Netanya:

“I am just thinking about the next game and our games and I am not focussing on the national team games. We are playing Netanya on Saturday, the Toto Cup on Wednesday and the Derby the next Monday and we have 22 players that are ready. I’m happy we have a lot of games to play ahead of us.”

Injury status of Enric Saborit and Jair Amador:
“Saborit’s had a muscle injury but he is ready and we can use him. He will train the next two days and we will follow his progress. Jair had a shoulder injury and I think he could have played last match but just before the game he felt strange and we didn’t want to take a chance. We can use him.”

Being prepared:
“We prepare for every game and we have the same goal which is to take 3 points. We must fight, concentrate and be ready to improve and to take responsibility during the games and have possession in order to win the game. Netanya has played well over the past couple of seasons and even though they changed some players, they are still a good team and we have to be prepared from the first to the last second of the game.”

Not signing a striker just before the transfer window closed:
“We didn’t move for the striker because I am someone who likes to make a move for someone who can help us. If there aren’t any players that can, then it’s better that we stay with the squad we have and we will continue to work with them.”

Improving game to game:
“We are still at the beginning of the season and this is only our 4th league game. Some of the teams who didn’t play in European qualification matches still need time to improve. We work hard every day and our goal is to play better from game to game and fix the mistakes we had in past games.”

Competition to be in the Starting XI:
“We will have the State Cup tournament at the end of the year and it’s good for me that there are players who can compete for each position. There are 21-22 players and they have to work hard, fight and concentrate in order for them to play. This is what I asked from them at the start of the preseason.”

Being in Israel for the High Holidays:
“It’s interesting and nice. Each religion offers something new. You have a lot of interesting holidays and I tried to understand them.”

About Matan Hozez:
“Matan Hozez signed a new contract with us a few weeks ago and it was our decision to do so. He is a quality player and there are a number of good players at his position. If he continues to work and show the good attitude that he has been, then I am sure he will play. You need time to give everyone a chance and I am happy with him as he works extra everyday and tries to improve himself. He is the future of Maccabi.”

Players must show they deserve to play:
“Every one is a Maccabi player and no one has a contract that says they need to be in the Starting XI. They must fight and show they deserve to play. If someone tries to make a problem then they will be out.”

Youth Academy Saturday Action – September 22, 2018

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Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Hapoel “Nisanov” Tel Aviv, 12:40 Ramle (U19)
The Tel Aviv Derby is back as the Yellow & Blue Under-19 side host’s Hapoel on Matchday 4 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Last week, Maccabi was held to a goalless draw at Kiryat Shemona after winning their first two matches while the Reds picked up their first victory after a pair of losses.

* Tickets are limited for the Under-19 Derby on September 22 at the Ramle Stadium. Tickets will not be distributed on Matchday and fans without tickets will be turned away from the stadium.

SC Ashdod – Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv, 9:00 Ashdod 1 (U17)
First place Maccabi “Oded” heads to Ashdod for a top of the table contest on Matchday 4 and has a record of two wins and a draw. The host’s have the identical record and are in 3rd place.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Raanana, 10:00 PenguinPickUp Training Ground Kiryat Shalom 1 (U16)
After an away win last week at Maccabi Herzliya, the Under-16 squad will host Hapoel Raanana on Matchday 4. The young Yellow & Blue come into the contest with two straight wins (3rd place) while Raanan is in 2nd with two wins and a draw.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Bnei Yehuda, 8:30 PenguinPickUp Training Ground Kiryat Shalom Synthetic (U15)
Following last week’s 13:0 win last week over Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle in State Cup action, the Under-15 team welcome Bnei Yehuda for the “Little Derby” on the first Matchday of the season. Head Coach Ori David will look to march towards the championship just as he did last campaign.

WATCH: 22 Youth Department Goals

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שערי השבת באקדמיית הנוער 15.09.18


Hapoel Kiryat Shemona 0:0 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv (U19)
After a pair of wins to begin the season, the Under-19 side was held to a goalless daw at Kiryat Shemona on Matchday 3 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The Yellow & Blue missed a number of quality chances and couldn’t come back with the 3 points. For the full Match Report Click Here.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv 6:0 Hapoel Kiryat Shemona (U17)
The Under-17 squad picked up the win on Matchday 3 and moved into first place with 7 points. Goal scorers for Maccabi included, Shaked Navon (x2), Yonatan Imberg, Nehoray Bitton, Shachar Rosen and Tal Torjman. Head Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon summed up the victory: “Right from the start of the match the staff and players identified the weak points of Kiryat Shemona due to playing with 3 central defenders and we could have speed even more goals in the first half. The goals scored were quality strikes and a team effort. The squad is improving from match to match and the key point in this contest was that we didn’t concede a goal after giving up 6 over the last two matches. This shows the players that we can achieve our goals if we focus and put an emphasis on what we continue to learn. Next week, we play Ashdod and the goal is again to record a clean sheet and I believe if we don’t give up any goals we’ll win. Congratulations to everyone including those who didn’t dress and didn’t play, they’ve been true professionals.”

Maccabi Herzliya 0:3 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv (U16)
After picking up a win last week over Hapoel Beer Sheva, the Under-16 side continued its positive momentum against Herzliya on Matchday 3. The young Yellow & Blue won their second match in a row and moved into 3rd place, just one point off the top of the table. The goal scorers included, Ener Oshmandi, Rotem Grama and Zin Shalata. Head Coach Eran Sassi spoke about the win: “This was a one sided game for us as the opponent didn’t even try to score and just defended their goal. It was difficult to break through their defense but we still were able to create some good scoring chances in the first half that didn’t result in any goals. However, we picked up the pace and made a number of substitutes in the second half which made all the difference in the match.”

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 13:0 Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle (U15)
The Under-15 team got off to a good start as Ori David’s squad defeated the Ramle based side in the State Cup. The Yellow & Blue found the back of the goal 13 times while also recording a clean sheet. Goals scorers: Oskar Glok (x5), Adir Cordoba (x2), Ari Marnstein (x2), Roie Nawi (x2), Ben Gold and Orel Baia. David commented on the win: “This was a typical game in the early stages of the State Cup and after we scored the first goal the game opened up as the players did what they needed to and followed directions. I’m very content with that.”

Dasa, Golasa & Atar: The numbers behind the win over Raanana

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Eliel Peretz joins Hadera on loan

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Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Hapoel Hadera as 21-year-old midfielder Eliel Peretz joined the newly promoted side on a season long loan.

Peretz, a product of Maccabi’s youth department, made his senior debut for Maccabi in a State Cup match against Hapoel Kfar Sava back in March 2016. Last season Peretz scored a goal in 25 appearances in all competitions during a season long loan spell at Bnei Yehuda.

Maccabi CEO Ben Mansford told the clubs’ official website: “Eilel is a young player with natural talent and the potential to play at the highest level. After a frustrating last season and a strong pre-season, we feel it is right for him to play regularly.”