Exactly 5 years ago today the love affair between Rada Prica and Maccabi Tel Aviv began. The Swede who arrived during the January 2013 transfer window was a significant signing on the way to the title as he made his debut against Hapoel Beer Sheva. Prica’s addition had an immediate effect as he took part in a 5:0 whitewashing of the southern side that resulted in the beginning of a slew of titles. Even after he departed we haven’t forgotten his contribution to the Club. In honor of the 5th anniversary of his arrival, we went back to look at some of his greatest moments in Yellow & Blue. WATCH:
Category: News
Peretz: “We went back to the basics”
Dor Peretz, the Maccabi Tel Aviv looked ahead to Monday’s contest against Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Matchday 18 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al:
“I work hard to help the team in any way that I can. There are positions that I like especially where I am now and I’m happy to help the club.”
Players coming up from the Maccabi youth system:
“Anything can change in a second and from game to game, but it’s good that there are Maccabi youth that can play for the first team.”
Being prepared:
“Being in first place in the middle of the season doesn’t give us the title. But we have to go into every game prepared and ready to go and give everything that we have to get the win.”
Going back to the basics:
“We began to understand that we have to be aggressive and win our battles not just playing fancy football that Maccabi Tel Aviv wants to, but to go back to the basics.”
Struggling early on:
“It’s the first time that I was struggling and that was the case with the whole team, but the fans supported all of us and I’m thankful for that. I will give everything that I have to help the club.”
Giving it all for his teammates:
“Every time I go onto the pitch I play for my teammates and I’ll be there for them as long as they need me.”
Cruyff: “Playing Haifa is a game of adrenaline, the past, present and future”
Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach addressed the assembled press prior to Monday night’s match against Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 18 of that Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al at Sammy Ofer Stadium, 21:00:
“We’re focusing on the game tomorrow, continue game to game and not think about the one that comes after. We have to focus on how we can get our points tomorrow. No sense of thinking ten days ahead and we have Ashkelon before the Cup match against Haifa.”
Not easy to defeat a club two matches in a row:
“It’s been proven that it’s difficult but we have to focus on our objective and there is no benefit to think about a game so far ahead.”
The Israel Classico:
“It’s two big clubs in an amazing stadium with great supporters who are behind their team. It’s a game of adrenaline, the past, present and the future. The day of the game will decide who will win the game. There are no favorites.”
Playing with character:
“Focus on ourselves and play with the same mentality and character just like we did away at Beitar Jerusalem.”
About Mo Allach at Haifa:
“I like Allach and how he works. There is always thought behind his decisions and I believe that Maccabi Haifa are in good hands.”
Playing Dor Peretz in place of Jose Rodriguez in the number 6 position:
“Rodriguez had surgery and we needed strength, win duels and character in the midfield and that’s what Dor Peretz has been giving us.”
Egor Filipenka and Matan Baltaxa going out on loan:
“Players will play more minutes and it’s both beneficial to the player and the club. We have a big squad and the European campaign is over so it’s a chance for them to get minutes. We thought Filipenka would play more, but he had injuries and didn’t have a run. We want to see him prove that he is a at level that we want and he will have a good run.”
Dor Micha playing as a left wing:
“I think Dor is a player that you could put in a position but he gets all over because that’s part of his football intelligence, he has been crossing the same amount from the right and the left.”
About Dor Peretz:
“We signed a new contract with him and that says all about the confidence we have in him. He can play in a number of positions, where he may want to play at one, he can play multiple positions. He’s a player with personality, character and intelligence. The team has hugely benefited from him winning duels. I believe that he can also be an excellent central defender. He combines the physical, tactical and intelligence to be a European player.”
On Avi Rikan:
“I have played him in many positions and places on the pitch, so I’m happy with him.”
Maccabi “Shachar” defeats Kiryat Shemona 3:1
Matchday 15 of the Israel Youth Premier League saw Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv visit Kiryat Shemona as the young Yellow & Blue began the day in 4th place with 5 wins out of their last 6 matches, while Kiryat Shemona entered the contest in 11th place. Guy Tzarfati’s attack included Eylon Almog, Or Dasa and William Agada.
Starting XI: Daniel Peretz, Noam Cohen, Alon Shtrozberg, Fadi Najar, Yoav Hofmayster, Tamir Glazer, Tomer Altman (C), Prince Thomas, Or Dasa, Eylon Almog, William Agada.
First Half
Maccabi opened the match up well and had their first chance in the 3’ when Almog lifted a cross into the box to Agada, but his header went out while 4 minutes later Thomas was all alone in the area but his attempt went over the bar.
In the 18’ the young Yellow & Blue had two more quality chances when Almog sent a magnificent through ball to Altman but the midfielder put the ball over the goal while Glazer’s opportunity was parried away by the Kiryat Shemona keeper as the match remained goalless early on. However, it didn’t stay goalless for much longer as the host’s took a 1:0 lead after they took advantage of a Maccabi defensive error in the midfield.
But in the 43’ the Yellow & Blue drew even thanks to Almog’s scorcher from just outside of the box as the contest went into the break at 1:1.
Second Half
Mufleh Shalata who came on as a second half substitute had a wonderful chance to start the half when he went one on one with the Kiryat Shemona keeper, but the midfielder couldn’t find the back of the goal in the 46’. Four minutes later, the host’s almost took advantage of a defensive lapse by Maccabi but the were unable to beat Peretz as the score remained as is.
Altman found Agada with a neat through ball in the 52’ but he couldn’t find the goal, however, three minutes later the striker took a throw in off of his chest, dropped it down and blasted the ball behind the Kiryat Shemona keeper for a 2:1 lead. In the 60’ Glazer tried his luck from 25 meters but couldn’t find the target, but nine minutes later Shalata did just that from 20 meters out to take a 3:1 advantage.
As the contest hit the 73’ Almog sent a cross to Dasa but his header from the middle of the box was caught by the opposing keeper while in the 82’ Glazer’s long distance attempt went out. Just before the final whistle, Eyal Hen, who entered the match as a substitute was alone in the box but is 92’ chance went over the bar as the young Yellow & Blue took home the 3:1 win and the 3 points back to Kiryat Shalom.
One in a Thousand: When Maccabi scored 10 goals in a match
תקציר: מכבי תל אביב – עירוני ראשל”צ 1:10 (2001)
Retro in 360
72 hours have gone by since the 1995/96 Double Season Retro Kit was unveiled and the excitement is still in the air. Now’s it’s time to look back at how the whole idea came about a number of months ago at the Club’s office.
360 של FLASHBACK
How did the magical night end? WATCH
The idea to launch a Retro shirt was already in the air for a while and in order to make the decision the club held a number of focus groups back in October of 2016 where we learnt how much the idea meant to you, the fans.
We then posted a fan survey in March 2017 about next season’s kit where we also alluded to the Retro idea. For the final “Stamp of Approval” we held another survey a couple of weeks ago asking which kit was your most favorite and from the thousands of responses we knew that or decision without a doubt was the correct one.
And it didn’t end there >
Just like the best players in the world: Robin van Persie
Just like the best players in the world: The Brand New Youth Department Project
אימון תנועה: ואן פרסי
Youth Department Saturday Action January 13, 2018
Hapoel Kiryat Shemona – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 11:30 Kiryat Shemona Synthetic (U19)
The Under-19 side travels to Kiryat Shemona on Matchday 15 of the Israel Youth Premier League Ligat Ha’Al. The young Yellow & Blue currently find themselves in 4th place with 5 wins in 6 matches while the host’s sit in 11th spot with only 1 win in their last 6 contests.
Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Kalfo” Petah Tikva, 10:30 Kiryat Shalom Synthetic (U17)
Maccabi “Oded” welcome Maccabi Petah Tikva on Matchday 14 at Kiryat Shalom as Eliezer Ben Aharon’s squad is still undefeated in league play with 12 wins and 1 draw and are in 1st place. The visitors are in 2nd, 6 points off the top of the table.
Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, 12:30 Kiryat Shalom Synthetic (U16)
The Under-16 club are undefeated in 7 straight matches as Bnei Yehuda stops by Kiryat Shalom for the Little Derby on Matchday 15. The Yellow & Blue sit in 5th place with a match in hand while the visitors are in 9th position with 6 league losses.
Beitar “Gadi” Jerusalem – Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv, 8:45 Bayit Vegan 2 Upper Synthetic pitch (U15 South)
The capital city side will welcome Maccabi “Eldad” for a Matchday 13 clash in Jerusalem. With one match in hand, the U15’s are in 1st place and are undefeated while Beitar is in 7th with only one league loss this season.
Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Tel Aviv North, 008:30 Kiryat Shalom Synthetic (U15 North)
With 5 straight league wins, the U15 North side will look to continue their fine play and gain more ground as they sit in 3rd place, just 3 points off the top of the table while Hapoel is currently in 15th, sporting one win.
DOR JAN SIGNS NEW 3 YEAR DEAL AND JOINS ASHDOD ON LOAN
Dor Jan extended his contract at Maccabi Tel Aviv after signing a new 3-year-deal which would keep him at the club until the end of the 2020/21 season.
The 23-year-old striker who scored 11 goals in all competitions for Beitar Tel Aviv Ramla this season and a total of 33 since February 2016 – will join Ashdod on loan together with Shachar Fiban who extended his contract by another season. 
Maccabi’s CEO Ben Mansford, told the club’s official website: “We have been impressed with how Dor and Shachar have progressed during their time with Ramla. Dor is one of the most consistent goal-scorers in Israel and is now deserving an opportunity to play in the top flight. We are therefore pleased to sign Dor to a new 3-year-contract and continue to watch him develop. Shachar has proven himself over an extended period at Ramla and now also needs to compete at the highest level in Israel. As part of the loan transaction to Ashdod, I am pleased he has signed a one year extension to his current contract
Yeini: “I’d be happy to wear them again”
Sheran Yeini, the Yellow & Blue Captain looked back at his side’s 3:0 win over Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 17 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al:
“Defeating Maccabi Netanya is not the easiest thing to do. They are an excellent team, attractive, strong, physical and dynamic. They are a team that you can say many wonderful things about. But we battled like lions and we had many opportunities. I’m proud of my teammates.”
Creating chances:
“We had some chances early, them the penalty and a Vidar header plus Rikan, we had plenty of opportunities. They are a very difficult side to play against with very strong and quick players.”
Closing in on Beer Sheva:
“I’m not looking at Beer Sheva and I’m not concentrating on them, just on ourselves. We have gotten into a good groove and we have momentum which we need to continue and to improve on.”
About the throwback kits:
“We’re not wearing them all the time, it’s a one-off thing. I really enjoyed wearing them and I even played with the same kit back in 2005 I believe when I made my debut. It was fun and I’d be happy to wear them again.”
