Juan Torrijo, is set to leave the club at the end of the season after five seasons as Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Head Fitness Coach.

The 49-year-old Spaniard former Valencia fitness coach who joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer of 2012, was a pivotal figure in the clubs’ transformation.

Torrijo, helped guide the team to two League Championships, 1 State Cup, 2 Toto Cups as well as qualification to the Champions League group phase and 2 appearances in the Europa League Group stages.

Torrijo told the clubs’ official website: “It was one of the hardest and toughest decisions I had to take. After seeing the way of the club, I think we are leaving the club in a good way. We did a good job and now is the time to leave and give the club the opportunity to bring in people with fresh blood and bigger motivation. I would like to thank Mitch Goldhar, Jack Angelides for giving me this opportunity and always remember Jordi’s first call which took almost two hours because I wasn’t convinced I wanted to come and he gave me the last push to come and join Maccabi and I would like to say huge thanks for that. I would like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who was working with me, many staff members, people at the offices, everyone at the club and especially the fans who made me feel at home in every game. Thank you and goodbye”.

Maccabi’s coach Jordi Cruyff, added:  “It is sad to see Juan leave Maccabi Tel Aviv but I understand his motives and reasons. Juan has been a vital integral and important figure in the clubs’ transformation to a professional football club of the highest level. Personally I thank him for his loyalty and dedication towards both the club and myself and wish him all the best in the future”.

Jose Rodriguez ended his loan period at Maccabi Tel Aviv as the Spanish midfielder was granted permission by the club to travel back to his native country.

The 23-year-old Spaniard who scored 2 goals in 23 appearances since joining Maccabi this summer from Mainz, and served a one-match suspension in last night’s 3-1 victory over Beitar, travelled back home with his wife who is expecting their second baby.

Maccabi’s CEO Ben Mansford, told the club’s official website: “Jose is a young promising player with great potential who would have probably helped us more if not the injury he suffered in mid-season. We would like to thank him for his contribution to Maccabi, wish him all the best for the future and extend our greetings ahead of their forthcoming arrival”.

Let’s look back at when we followed Rodriguez against Hapoel Haifa:

Barak Itzhaki played the last match in his career against Beitar Jerusalem and was honored by the fans time and time again throughout the evening. But that’s not all as his teammates also showered him with love on their Instagram accounts:

יצחק היקר… כמה תחסר לאוהבי הכדורגל ולכל החברים בקבוצה. מכירים המון זמן ולא יצא לנו לשחק הרבה יחד אבל עברנו כל כך הרבה 😜… בטוח שתצליח בתפקיד החדש אוהב אותך 💙💛

A post shared by @ eliranatar16 on May 14, 2018 at 12:28pm PDT

תודה על כל רגעי הקסם 🙌 תודה על 7 עונות ביחד שתמיד היית שם בשבילי . הראשון שתמיד מפרגן. שתמיד תומך ומעודד גם ברגעים הפחות טובים . מאחל לך המון הצלחה בדרך החדשה . נתגעגע אח יקר 💛👑 #Legend 🙏 @barakitzhaki

A post shared by Dor Micha (@dormicha) on May 14, 2018 at 11:04am PDT

רונאלדיניו הישראלי! לא סתם כולם מודים על הזכות לראות אותך אבל עוד יותר מודים אלו שזכו לראות ולחוות אותך יום יום. החיוך השובב והשובה אחרי עוד צ׳יפ לא הגיוני או ״סתם״ מספרת לחיבור . אבל מעל הכל הרצון שלך להפוך את כל הסובבים אותך לטובים יותר בלי טיפת אגו ולעיתים גם על חשבונך. אבידה ענקית לכל אוהבי הכדורגל אבל בקרוב כולם יגלו את מה שכל מי שמכיר אותך מקרוב יודע- הגאונות שלך היא לא רק על המגרש 😉. אוהב אותך ומאחל לך שהדרך החדשה תהיה לא פחות מאתגרת וסוחפת מהקודמת 🎩 @barakitzhaki #magician ⚡️

A post shared by •snapchat👻: elidasa2• (@eli_dasa2) on May 14, 2018 at 1:35pm PDT

יצחק היקר..שיחקנו 7 שנים ביחד וזאת היתה חוויה! פשוט כוכב כדורגל! מאחל לך המון הצלחה בדרך החדשה ובטוח שתצליח 💛 @barakitzhaki

A post shared by Eitan Tibi (@eitantibi) on May 15, 2018 at 3:15pm PDT

אח יקר שלי, על היותך גאון כדורגל אין ספקות בכלל וכולם יעידו על זה, אבל אני רוצה להגיד לך תודה ענקית! על העזרה, התמיכה, העצה הנכונה, על השיחות הארוכות בכל שעה ביום! ועל כך שתמיד היית אמיתי איתי בייחוד בשלוש שנים האחרונות שלנו יחד, תחסר לי כשותף לחדר אבל מאחל לך המון הצלחה בדרך החדשה ובטוח שתעשה את זה כמו גדול! אוהב 💛

A post shared by Avi Rikan (@avirikan) on May 14, 2018 at 11:12am PDT

וכך זה נראה בסטורי של ג’ורדי קרויף ושחקנים נוספים:

Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach looked back at his squad’s 3:1 win against Beitar Jerusalem on Matchday 35 as well as the last season:

“I’m happy with the energy over the first 60 minutes and then we tired but they gave it all and it’s not easy to fight for second position when the objective was to fight for a Championship. I do appreciate that they wanted to give a good game for Barak Itzhaki and he deserves all the love he gets. We started off in a difficult decision but I felt I had to do it, but since then he’s been the most loyal people I’ve had at the club and I wish him the best in his job and he will grow to be a very good one. I’m happy with the performance and the love that I received at the club. Little by little it’s the moment to fly home.”

Looking back and looking ahead:
“I feel that we could have done something more. We weren’t regular enough and lost points against teams that we should have taken the points. The two times we took first position the pressure was on us and we weren’t able to win. We still lack somethings and if the club makes the right analysis it’s something that can be repaired and I’m quite sure Maccabi will be where they need to be. The stadium hasn’t helped us and you could feel it. All in all Maccabi has a good base for the future and in all my heart I hope that they do.”

Decision to become Head Coach:
“It’s about a long journey of learning, I took a risk and I could have also taken the easy choice and sit on the chair. The players knew me and the system and something about Israeli football after so many years and with the owner we thought that it was a good moment. He supported me from A to Z and he is supportive now as he knows that I’m a guy that takes challenges, gambles and a risk. It’s a process and it’s my responsibility as I put this group together. Some games you make tactical choices when you may be right or may be wrong. It’s part of my learning process. I’m super grateful for the six years that I’ve had from the coaches to the players and have given me everything and I appreciate that.”

Celebrating later on:
“I still think we have to focus and there is still work to do. We wanted to have a good performance. When the moment is right in September or October when the stadium is full and I’ll be a little disconnected it will be the right time. That will be a much more emotional time, when you want to win you have to be more focused.”

The next stop:
“I don’t know yet. I’m really in need for a some time without football and I’m longing for it. I don’t know if it will be months or weeks and I need the moment to analyze and see what I did both good and bad and to try to learn for it, when the batteries are charged up I’ll be ready for it.”

In Barak Itzhaki’s final match as an active player and Jordi Cruyff’s last home match as coach, Maccabi Tel Aviv took home a 3:1 win to move into second place on the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al table with just one Matchday remaining. Three first half goals by Avi Rikan, Ofir Davidzada and Nick Blackman via a penalty sewed up the win as Tal Kahila scored for Beitar Jerusalem.

Jordi Cruyff’s last home match Starting XI featured keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal along with Eli Dasa, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Tal Ben Haim, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Peretz, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Avi Rikan, Nick Blackman and Vidar Kjartansson.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Omer Atzily, Aaron Schoenfeld, Gidi Kanuk, Eitan Tibi, Dor Micha and Barak Itzhaki who was playing in his last match before retiring.

First Half
Maccabi took control of the pace of play early on and in the 4’ Dasa sent the ball to Yeini, but his tough angled shot went out for a corner while two minutes later Beitar had their opening chance of the contest when Siroshstein’s header went out. However, the next chance the Yellow & Blue had they put the ball behind the visiting keeper Stav Shushan.

Golasa began a break downfield when he found Ben Haim who in turn handed the ball off to Rikan on the right wing as the midfielder went a blazing shot into the left hand corner of the goal for a 1:0 Maccabi lead in the 7’. Rikan almost recorded a brace two minutes later but Shushan was in place while Peretz’s attempt to double the lead in the 11’ just came up short.

Rikan’s 14’ minute opportunity off a give and go with Dasa was also saved by Shushan and one minute later Rajikovic had to be alert to stop Yakov Brihen’s attempt. Rikan continued to be active with chances in the 20’, 24’ & 25’ but Shushan made the save each time to keep Maccabi at bay.

But Beitar couldn’t keep the Yellow & Blue off the scoresheet for too long as Davidzada took a Golasa pass to beat Shushan and give Maccabi a 2:0 lead in the 31’. Blackman was then pulled down by Shushan in the box earning himself a yellow card and handing Maccabi a penalty kick from 11 meters which the Englishman scored to give the Yellow & Blue a 3:0 lead after 37’.

Second Half
Beitar replaced Shushan with Boris Kleyman to begin the second half as Kjartansson tested the new keeper early on but he was up to the task and in 55’ Vidar again threatened the Beitar goal once again but Tal Kahila cleared the ball away from danger.

Barak Itzhaki entered the match for the final time as an active player to a standing ovation as he replaced Nick Blackman in the 59’ as Sheran Yeini handed the captain’s armband to the striker. Gidi Kanuk came on for Rikan three minutes later but Beitar then pulled a goal back when Kahila took a Jakub Sylvestr pass from the right side and beat a diving Rajikovic to cut the Maccabi lead to 3:1.

Vidar’s tough angled attempt in the 64’ was parried away by Kleyman while Kanuk’s long distance scorcher from 30’ meters went over the bar in the 69’. Omer Atzily entered the match in the 77’ for Vidar Kjartansson as Cruyff’s third substitution. Atzily and Itzhaki’s give and go in the 83’ minute came up empty. Sykvetr’s attempt hit Dasa’s hand good for a Beitar penalty but Rajikovic made the key save off of Arik Sabo’s spot kick as Maccabi Tel Aviv moved into second place with the win.