Category: News

Fabulous Five: Jean-Sylvain Babin

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Keeper: Iker Casillas
“He’s like a panther. He is very flexible with amazing instincts. I believe he’s the best keeper that I have played against. He was so important for the great Real Madrid teams along with the National Team that won the World Cup.”

Central Defender: Sergio Ramos
“He is very strong and fast. He knows how to build up a game. Another big plus is the important goals that he has scored. I had the opportunity to defend against him on corners as he tries to get to the ball. You can feel his strength and it’s very hard to defend against him. Fortunately he was never able to score against me.”

Defensive Midfielder: Sergio Busquets
“He knows how to hold the ball, helps in building up the attack and reads the game very well. He also knows where to place himself on the defensive line. In addition, his character helps the team and he plays very intelligently. That’s why he’s the best at his position.”

Attacking midfielder: Lionel Messi
“It’s much easier to select him for this position as he plays more like a number 10 now than as a striker which he did more so in the past. He has it all, dribble, vision, passing and finishing. He is like a machine and in my opinion the best player in the world, perhaps in the history of the game. I never saw Maradona, Pele, Cruyff or Di Stefano when they played so I can’t really opine, but over the last decade, Messi is the best player in the world.”

Striker: Luis Suarez
“Firstly, he scores plenty of goals. I played against him and he always scored against the teams I played for, Granada and Gijon. His movement is tremendous. He’s not the fastest, but he’s strong and very physical. He’s aggressive and presses the ball well. He’s a killer in the box and it’s very difficult to play against him.”

Maccabi “Shachar” picks up a pair of wins against Paris & Beitar

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Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv scored a pair of victories on the second day of the Club’s Under-19 International Tournament. The day began with a 6:0 win over Red Star Paris while Guy Tzarfati’s squad also defeated Beitar Jerusalem 5:0 in their second match.

Tournament Table following Day 2
Maccabi Tel Aviv – 7 points
Bayer Leverkusen- 5 points
Maccabi Haifa – 3 points
Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion – 3 points
Beitar Jerusalem – 3 points
Red Star Paris – 1 point

In Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first match, Head Coach Guy Tzarfati chose the following Starting XI: Daniel Peretz, Tomer Machluf, Alon Shtrozberg, Yoav Hofmayster, Noam Cohen, Tamir Glazer, Prince Thomas, Mufleh Shalata, Eyal Hen, Eylon Almog, William Agada.

The young Yellow & Blue controlled the pace of play over the first half and took a 4:0 lead into the break thanks to goals by Eyal Hen x2, Mufleh Shalata and William Agada. Maccabi added to their lead in the second half with goals by Netanel Peretz and Eylon Almog to wrap up a 6:0 win.

The second match featured the same starting lineup and the result was almost identical as well. Maccabi played quality football and took advantage of their free kicks and pace of play which resulted in goals by William Agada and Eyal Hen. The Yellow & Blue found the back of the goal there more times in the second half as Netanel Peretz x2 and Yunes Jabarin scored to complete a 5:0 victory and a perfect day.

Day Two Results and goal scorers:
Bayer Leverkusen 3:1 Beitar Jerusalem
Leverkusen: Atakan Akenek, Klaus Song
Jerusalem: Uriel Predo

Maccabi Haifa 2:2 Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion
Haifa: Dolev Bore, OG
Rishon: Ron Ben Basat, Dolev Belulu

Red Star Paris 1:1 Maccabi Haifa
Paris: Fadi Amaroc
Haifa: Gil Hadad

Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion 1:1 Bayer Leverkusen
Rishon: Yaniv Bazini
Leverkusen: Govan Yelsin

The International U-19 Tournaent Official Opening

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The Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club officially opened the International Youth Tournament with a ceremony held on Saturday at the Kiryat Shalom training facility. The Youth Department Manager, Guy Zuckerman welcomed all of the participating clubs.

The teams participating in the tournament are Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bayer Leverkusen, Red Star Paris, Maccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion.

Tournament Schedule:

Maccabi Tel Aviv joins the #WeRemember Campaign

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On January 27, the world will commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Maccabi Tel Aviv is joining the millions of citizens from around the world and the World Jewish Congress by taking part in the #WEREMEMBER campaign who’s whose purpose is to raise awareness and perpetuate the memory of this important day.


The players were photographed with the hashtag #WEREMEMBER and are asking you, the fans to join the effort to strengthen awareness of the Holocaust and heroism throughout the world and to take part in the campaign.

What do you need to do?

Take a pen or marker, write the words: “We Remember” and photograph yourself with the sign. Then upload the photo to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #WeRemember.
We are obligated as the Jewish nation to remember the Holocaust. Together let’s spread that message so that the Holocaust will never again be repeated.

Maccabi draws 1:1 with Rishon Le’Zion to open up the MTA International Tournament

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The Club’s Under-19 team opened up the Maccabi Tel Aviv International Youth Tournament against Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion. Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s attack included Mufleh Shalata, Eylon Almog and William Agada.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT CLICK HERE
The full Starting XI included: Daniel Peretz, Noam Cohen, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glezer, Tomer Mahluf, Tamir Glazer, Netanel Peretz, Prince Thomas, Mufleh Shalata, Eylon Almog and William Agada.

The young Yellow & Blue had a number of quality chances in the first half, however, they couldn’t find the back of the goal. Rishon took a 1:0 lead early on in the second half but were able to draw even thanks to a William Agada strike. Maccabi tried to find the winner but the match ended in a 1:1 draw.

On Saturday, Maccabi will face Red Star Paris at 11:00 and will then play Beitar Jerusalem later on that same day at 13:30.

Results Friday January 19, 2018
Beitar Jerusalem 1:0 Red Star Paris
Jerusalem Goal Scorer: Niv Badash

Bayer Leverkusen 2:2 Maccabi Haifa
Leverkusen Goal Scorers: Sam Sarchak, Atakan Akenek
Haifa Goal Scorers: Gil Hadad, Guy Dahan

Meet Representatives from Bayer Leverkusen and Red Star Paris

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Maccabi Tel Aviv’s International Youth Tournament is underway until Sunday January 21 and we spoke with representatives of the two foreign clubs that are taking part in the competition; Patrice Haddad the owner of Red Star Paris and Slawomir Czarniecki, Bayer Leverkusen’s Sports Coordinator. The pair discussed their expectations for the tournament as well as the importance of the 6 team competition in the middle of January.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT CLICK HERE
Slawomir Czarniecki began working at Bayer Leverkusen in the year 2000 and served as the club’s youth coach. In 2006 he moved into a management role as the assistant to the sports director (responsible for all first team matters), and is currently the sports coordinator, a position that combines youth coaching and management in one role.

“We are combining this year’s tournament with our annual training camp, and arrived in Israel one week before the beginning of the tournament. The tournament offers us the perfect opportunity to combine our long-planned winter training camp with the opportunity to play against the best Israeli teams. We decided on Israel as the location, due to our long-standing good relationship with football federation.”

Thoughts about taking part in the International Tournament taking place in Israel:
“As a club, we regularly play in international tournaments and friendly matches as we believe these are valuable for personal player development. We are looking forward to being in Israel this winter and to take on the challenges that await us. Furthermore, the exchange of ideas between coaches and clubs provides an opportunity for to grow and improve. Additionally, the cultural and historic aspects of Israel offers our players a further opportunity to broaden their horizons and develop further off of the pitch.”

Relationship with Maccabi Tel Aviv:
“Our first contact with Maccabi Tel Aviv occurred last summer, during the Bundesliga Football School where Bayer 04 Leverkusen and myself were involved. Since then we have enjoyed a friendly and professional exchange, especially with Patrick van Leeuwen and hope to continue to do so in the future.”

Expectations for the tournament:
“According to our own experience and that of DFB (German Football Association), we expect to enjoy a comfortable and well-organized trip and tournament.”

Other activities that the club will do while in Israel:
“We will encourage our players to see and experience as much of Israel’s culture and history as possible, in their free time from the camp and the tournament. We are definitely planning a trip to Leverkusen’s sister city Nazareth Illit and are planning to visit other places of interest.

Patrice Haddad, the owner of Red Star Paris also commented on the opportunity to take part in the Maccabi Tel Aviv International Tournament:

“Our objective is to win the tournament as well as allowing the young players the chance to experience a competition of this magnitude which they normally don’t have the chance to do.”

Feelings about the importance of taking part in the tournament:
“There are no borders in sport.”

Relationship between Maccabi and Red Star:
“The relationship between the clubs began due to a contact that put the two sides in touch which eventually led to taking part in the International Tournament in Israel.”

Expectations of the trip as a whole:
“As a club, we want to play at the highest level possible thanks to the Maccabi Tel Aviv organizing committee. Israel is a beautiful country and there is much to see.”