Israel’s 70th Independence Day – Yom Ha’atzmaut is certainly a moment to celebrate both across the country and around the world as their are many who love Israel and of course Maccabi. There were plenty of foreigners over the years ago fell in love with both country and club and on honor of Israel’s 70th Year we asked them to send us their greetings for the nation and you the fans. Some of the players include, Rada Prica, Nikola Mitrovic, Juan Pablo Colinas, Oscar Garcia, Peter Bosz, Guillermo Israilevich, and others. Enjoy!
Category: News
ID Card: Get to know the Youth Department Coaches
One of the Youth Academy’s goals is to help players grow and develop into players who can contribute and play on the First Team. Behind the scene there are plenty of coaches and staff who work day and night who give their all to the Yellow & Blue youngsters in their quest to be the best that they can be. Let’s meet some of those important people:
Ori David
Coach: Under-15 South
Years as football coach: 10 years all at Maccabi
Why did you decide to become a coach: “Passion for the game”
What are your thoughts about the changes in the Youth Department? The new philosophy and the use of technology: “The change has been great with a good and clear philosophy. I believe we will see that the players who will come out of the Youth Department will be at a vey high level.”
What do you think is the most important thing to impart in young players in order for them to develop into professionals? “Training, character, quality and continuation.”
How do you work on improving both yourself and your training ability? “I live in the world of football 24/7. Books, matches, stats, video and more. It’s never ending.”
Is there a player that trained under you who has succeeded in Israeli football? “There have been a number including Dan Glazer, Matan Hozez, Yonatan Cohen and others.”
Role Model: “Nelson Mandela”
Favorite club in the world: “Barcelona”
Unforgettable match: “Liverpool vs Milan, Champions League Final.”
Something that we don’t know that’s untreated to football: “Amateur aviator.”
Where do you see yourself in 10 years: “Head coach in the Israel Premier League or even better than that.”
Adi Somekh
Coach: Under-13 Nouth
Years as football coach: 20 years, 15 at Maccabi
Why did you decide to become a coach: “The love of the game and working with youth. I also was able to be close to the game through my brothers who played.”
What are your thoughts about the changes in the Youth Department? The new philosophy and the use of technology: “It’s very professional and professional up to the smallest details. It’s very interesting and challenging.”
What do you think is the most important thing to impart in young players in order for them to develop into professionals? “Hard work!!!”
How do you work on improving both yourself and your training ability? “Learn and soak in they information from professional education.”
Is there a player that trained under you who has succeeded in Israeli football? “Dor Micha.”
Role Model: “Dor Micha because of his hard work”
Favorite club in the world: “Frieburg. I was in the city and saw a number of matches that turned me on. A small club with an incredible atmosphere in the stands.”
Unforgettable match: “Manchester United vs Bayern Munich, Champions League Final 1999. 3 minutes and it turned into a 2:1 win for United.”
Something that we don’t know that’s untreated to football: “I love to travel throughout the country and around the world where I can see new places and culture.”
Where do you see yourself in 10 years: “Maccabi Tel Aviv youth department.”
David Etzioni
Coach: Under-10 North
Years as football coach: 4 years, 1st at Maccabi
Why did you decide to become a coach: “My father needed an heir”
What are your thoughts about the changes in the Youth Department? The new philosophy and the use of technology: “The introduction of professionalism and a work ethic that had never been here before. You’ll only be able to see the fruits of our labor a few years down the road and not just yet as we implement the philosophy.”
What do you think is the most important thing to impart in young players in order for them to develop into professionals? “The joy of the game and personal habits.”
How do you work on improving both yourself and your training ability? “Reading, watching and trying new things from various people in sports.”
Is there a player that trained under you who has succeeded in Israeli football? “You’ll hear about them in 5 years.”
Role Model: “David Beckham”
Favorite club in the world: “Barcelona”
Unforgettable match: “3:3 Classico with a hat-trick from Messi. 1:1 Barcelona vs Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals with the equalizer from Iniesta.”
Something that we don’t know that’s untreated to football: “I never leave my house without making sure my hair is perfect.”
Where do you see yourself in 10 years: “Doctor working in brain research.”
MITCH GOLDHAR’S GREETING FOR ISRAEL’S 70th ANNIVERSARY
ברכת מיץ’ גולדהאר ליום העצמאות
We Declare: The biggest Maccabi Announcements
The 90’s: Photo Finish Championship
The start of the 1990’s saw a rejuvenated Maccabi Tel Aviv take to the pitch. After the considerably less than spectacular decade of the 1980’s, it would take until 1991/92 when the Yellow & Blue would lift another piece of hardware when they won the league title. Two more championships would be won in back-to-back seasons, 1994/95 and 1995/96 the latter also being the year that Maccabi would take home the Double. This time we’ll focus on the 1994/95 campaign which was one of the most dramatic in club history and all of Israeli football.
It’s impossible to remember the Maccabi of those seasons without looking at their #1 rival, Maccabi Haifa. Just like the Yellow & Blue, the Greens had plenty of quality players including Eyal Berkovic and Haim Revivo – two of the greatest Israeli players ever. Maccabi had some stars as well in Avi Nimni, Itzik Zohar (who also went off to play for Antwerp in Belgium), Avi Cohen The Jerusalemite, Nir Klinger, the Brumer Brothers, Amir Shelach, Eli Driks and of course foreigners such as Shura Uvarov and Alexander Polukarov. The result was a neck and neck battle for the league championship.
Maccabi went into the 1994/95 season with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. In 1993/94 the club recorded 88 points but watched as Haifa lifted the championship trophy after 39 Matchdays without a league loss. The Yellow & Blue players also kept hearing the commentators of the day crown Haifa as the top team, however the unity, strength and quality along with character were traits that Maccabi had under Head Coach Avram Grant and would be needed to win the championship. At the end of the day every team knows that in sports when the title battle is tight it will always be decided by the small details which will write history.
One of those moments came on Matchday 26 (of 30 MD). Avram Grant’s side enjoyed a 4 point lead over Haifa on the eve of the match. The Greens played earlier and defeated Bnei Yehuda 2:0 as they now waited to see if Hapoel Beit Shean, a heavy underdog, the same club that the famous movie “Beit Shean: War Movie” would be filmed, would steal some points from Maccabi Tel Aviv. For 95 minutes Beit Shean kept the Yellow & Blue in check as the comets seemingly headed to a goalless draw. But that’s when Yuri Shukanov played hero. Deep into injury time the foreign midfielder lifted his foot for an attempt that looked like it would not go anywhere near the goal but a mistake by the second choice keeper Shlomi Maman proved that sometimes a champion needs a little bit of luck. 1:0 for Maccabi, as they kept the 4 point lead atop the table intact.
Watch: Shukanov’s Goal
נס גדול היה פה: שוקאנוב מול בית שאן
The story’s over? Not quite. Ironically after the win over Beit Shean, Maccabi lost points due to a pair of draws over their next two matches as they went into the final Matchday with a slim 2 point lead over their Haifa rivals. The championship would go right down to the wire.
To add a bit more intensity, the last Matchday saw Maccabi visit Hapoel Beer Sheva in a tricky away tie as they were thought to be the third best team in the league. The phrase, “The Championship goes through Beer Sheva” was never more true. Maccabi Haifa hosted the same Beit Shean at Kiryat Eliezer who were fighting for their relegation lives as the entered the final day of the season and any result other than a win would see them drop a league.
On May 27, 1995 the opening whistle was sounded at both Wassermil and Kiryat Eliezer at the exact same time. After roughly 30 minutes, the first update came from the north as a quick brace by Ofer Shitrit had given Haifa a 2:0 lead and were now in first place putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the Maccabi Tel Aviv players.
All season long, the Yellow & Blue players had that little bit extra that a champion needed and they proved that once agin when their backs were against the wall. Just before the end of the first half, Nir Klinger sent the ball right on the money to Alon Brumer who headed it into the back of the goal from a tough angle. The championship goal and another 1:0 win which sent Grant and his players for a victory lap around the stadium in front of thousands of fans at the southern stadium.
At the break, Haifa heard that Maccabi had taken the lead and quickly lost all hope as Beit Shean made a miraculous comeback to take home a 3:2 win and ensured themselves another season in the top league.
Watch: The Championship Goal against Hapoel Beer Sheva
1994/95: הפועל ב”ש – מכבי ת”א 1:0
Yom Hazikaron marked at the Youth Department
All across the State of Israel, Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day is being marked and of course the same was done at the Club’s Youth Department where those who fell in the line of duty were remembered at a ceremony that took place at Kiryat Shalom. Youth Department players, professional staff along with many parents took part in the event while Liran Baruch and Omer Levi, fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv who were injured during their service lit the memorial candle together with Gideon Brickman, father of Shachar z”l whom the U19 club is named after.
In addition, Arik Sviatkovsky, brother of fan Ilan Sviatkovsky z”l who was killed by terrorists by the Gaza Strip was present as well. Dvir Zivan from Achim L’Semel read the names of Maccabi fans who fell while serving their country. Students from the Mandel School in Cleveland, Ohio, USA performed the opening song to mark the beginning of the ceremony.
Representatives of the Youth Department players read about the following who fell defending the country:
Oz Tzemach z”l who at 20 years of age fell in the Second Lebanon War when his tank took a direct hit. He along wit three others were killed. The Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-12 side is named after Oz as he was major Maccabi supporter.
Shachar Strog z”l son of Koby and Michal and brother to Adi was born in Giv`atayim and was a massive supporter of Maccabi and never missed a match. He fell on March 20, 2018 at 19:52.
Staff Sergeant Ariel Harush z”l graduated with honors from the Kiryat Sharet High School in Holon in the Biotechnology track. As a child he would accompany his father to Maccabi Tel Aviv football matches. When he completed his studies he enlisted in the Artillery Corps and enjoyed serving in the military. On November 15, 2017, about two months before his long awaited release from the army and a week after celebrating his 21st birthday, Ariel was killed in an accident on a road in the north during an operation near Kibbutz Yiftah.
Ilan Sviatkovsky z”l was born in Uzbekistan, immigrated to Israel with his family in 1994 and settled in Rishon Le’Zion. Already at an early age, he became a huge fan of the Club together with his brother Arik Sviatkovsky. There was no other fan like him. In March 2010, Ilan was killed in a clash with terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Dvir Zivan from Achim L’Semel read the names of Maccabi fans who fell while serving their country: Natan Peretz, Adam Goren, Yaron Pickholz, Amit Itzhak, Beniya Rubel, Matan Gottlieb, Omri Levi, Tomer Hazan, Gil Oz, Doron Lev, Shimon Rouimi, Oshrat Pinto, Hagay Giorno, Ilan Sviatkovsky, Eldad Regev, Oz Tzemach, Shachar Strog, Ariel Harush.
“He always made sure there was a joyful atmosphere” – The story of Shilo Siman Tov
It is said that God takes only the best of the best and Shilo’s goodness was well known by all those around him. In his youth, Shilo, who was born in Zofim in the Shomron would spend his summer vacations volunteering for organizations that worked with special needs children and was one of the main reasons for the joyful atmosphere that is so important to create at these types of places.
Following high school, he decided to go to Yeshiva before his military service and he prepared himself both in the religious and physical spectrums for the army and his life ahead. After three years at Yeshiva, he was drafted into Golani and was very motivated to serve in the brigade where he became a mainstay in his platoon. Knowing that sometimes life is short, he made sure that there was always a joyful atmosphere around him which became contagious to others. Following his service, his commander wanted him to continue on, but Shilo wanted to remain as part of his platoon since that is where the real missions lie.
Shilo loved sports and as a child it played a significant part of his life as he was an active participant in the tournaments held in the Shomron where he was an excellent player. Maccabi Tel Aviv football and basketball clubs were a central part in his life and the success of the team was extremely important to him. Shilo noted that the 4:0 Derby win in 2012/13 championship season was one of Maccabi’s greatest matches. Despite the strong rain that fell, the atmosphere the fans created was second to none as they pushed the Yellow & Blue to victory which was memorable as the club won the title at the end of the campaign.
However, this February Shilo’s life was cut short as he along with two of his friends were killed in a horrific truck and Hummer collision on Route 6 as he went with his squad to provide security to the settlements in the Shomron.
As fate would have it, the day of the accident, Shilo received a bonus from his commander that he would be able to travel by himself from his home to the base. But Shilo knew that it was important or one of his friends to have the ability to do that and he let him go by himself while Shilo would go in the Hummer with the rest of the squad; ultimately this was his last trip.
Even after his death, Shilo continued to give as he donated his organs to 6 different people who were given a new lease on life.
The writer is Shilo’s cousin Neriya Abudraham.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fixtures through the end of the season
The Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al published the dates and times of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s fixtures through the end of the season, Matchday 33-36. Please note that the last two matches will be confirmed closer to the actual date.
Matchday 33: Monday May 7, 20:30 – Maccabi Tel Aviv – Maccabi Netanya
Matchday 34: Saturday May 12, 21:00 – Hapoel Beer Sheva – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Matchday 35: Tuesday May 15, Time TBD – Maccabi Tel Aviv – Beitar Jerusalem
Matchday 36: Monday May 21, Time TBD – Bnei Yehuda – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Atzily: “We have to lift ourselves up and do everything to get into Europe”
Omer Atzily returned to the pitch for Maccabi Tel Aviv and scored a first half penalty for the Yellow & Blue against his former club, Beitar Jerusalem. Number 7 looked back at the contest ad focused on the importance of getting into the Europa League qualifiers:
עומר אצילי לאחר המשחק נגד בית”ר י-ם
“First off I really missed being on the pitch and I waited a long time to return as I was out for five months. I felt good, but it means nothing as we lost our 4th match in a row and we have to get ready for the next match and be positive.”
4th place and the European spot:
“We’ve been thinking about it for sure as it’s only a 3 points gap. I think we have to take how we played in the second half into the match against Bnei Yehuda because that is a must win game. We have to understand that there’s no way back and that we can’t even think about losing the European spot. We have to do it and I believe we will.”
Confidence:
“We came into the playoffs with confidence and then one thing led to another and it snowballed. You can see that in the big games throughout the season we took the points and it’s disappointing but that’s what there is right now.”
Mental factor:
“It happens and we have to work on that and I hope that it will change by the end of the season.”
Going from fighting for the championship to fighting for a place in Europe:
“It’s strange for all of us but right now there’s no choice, if we don’t make it into Europe it will be a huge disappointment for everyone at the club.”
Returning to the pitch:
“I wanted to get back to playing so badly. It was good to be back at Teddy after a long time and there was a good atmosphere for the match.”
The effect of Jordi Cruyff leaving at the end of the season:
“We knew about it before the media and then we began the playoffs on the wrong foot and things just went from there. One loss and another. We have to lift ourselves and do everything to get into Europe.”
Cruyff: “We have to fight on; we have an objective”
Jordi Cruyff the Yellow & Blue Head Coach spoke about his squad’s 3:2 defeat to Beitar Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium on Matchday 30 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al:
ג’ורדי קרויף לאחר המשחק נגד בית”ר י-ם
“We conceded three goals in 45 minutes and we made it an uphill task almost an impossible mission. I stick with the positive of the second half and we pushed Beitar back. We played with character in the second half. They had 3-4 shots and they scored three goals. It’s unbelievable that we have no points in the playoffs. We have to continue, fight on and we have an objective, not what we had at the beginning of the season but we have to adjust to the reality and I’m happy that some players who haven’t played in awhile played with chapter and a fighting spirit. We have to get positive momentum anyway we can. Every game is important if we want to play in Europe.”
Changes in the lineup:
“We played with a back 4 as we have in the last few games and that has cost us a lot of goals. Over the last three games we had 6-7 shots on target and we’ve given up 6-7 goals. Deflected goal, a free kick goal from a player you know that he has it. We’re in the wrong place at the moment and the only way to get out is to fight, work hard and show character. You get nothing if you don’t show character. The first half was nothing but the second half I saw a team with character and the players who came on today and didn’t play for a while were hungry and that showed in the second half.”
Mental toughness:
“Mental has a lot to do and it’s frustrating when Beer Sheva has one shot on target and we lost 1:0. Today there shots and we conceded three goals. All in all we’re in the wrong place and nothing works for us. To get out we have to work, fight, stay united and leave the season in the highest place that we can and the club can do what they need in the summer.“
Possibly falling to the 5th place:
“I don’t want to think about that, but with our momentum it’s a sad possibility. We have to take the positives and we’re not as bad as we were over the last four games. We’ll get back.”
