Category: News

Shpungin: “We have to learn from this and move forward”

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Yuval Shpungin, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s right defensive back was already switching gears to the 2nd leg Europa League Playoff Round match against Altach on Thursday night at the Netanya Stadium, of course he began by summing up the loss to Beitar:

“It’s not what we expected and it was very disappointing to lose the way we did. There’s nothing we can do now other than learn from this and move forward. We have to sit down and look at where we erred and what we didn’t do well. I’m sure we will do that as now is not the time to say what needs to be improved.”

Thursday night’s match versus Altach:
“It’s a totally different competition and we are professionals. We will learn from our mistakes and recover both mentally and physically. We are entering the second half with an advantage and we want to make sure that we reach our goal.”

About the Europa League experience to date:
“We always know that there are places where we can improve and the clubs that we have faced in Europe are not ones that can be written off. We have a very big squad with many legitimate players that can start in the 2nd leg.”

McCLAREN JOINS MACCABI’S COACHING STAFF

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Steve McClaren is set to strengthen Maccabi Tel Aviv’s coaching staff after the 56-year-old former England Manager agreed to take-up a coaching consultant role at club.

McClaren, who managed England during the EURO 2008 qualifying campaign, will re-join Jordi Cruyff who was a player under him during their time at Manchester United when McClaren was Alex Fergusson’s assistant between 1999-2001. 

Maccabi’s owner Mitch Goldhar, told the clubs’ official website: “Steve McClaren has a wealth of knowledge and is vastly experienced at the highest levels of European football. We are delighted to add a person of his calibre to our staff on a coaching consultant role as we are all sure he can contribute to Maccabi Tel Aviv’s coaching and playing staff”.

McClaren, who watched Maccabi’s Toto Cup victory over Hapoel Ra’anana and was present at the opening league match against Beitar Jerusalem in Netanya, added: “It’s a pleasure to start working with Jordi at his new role as coach at Maccabi from his previous one as Sports Director. I have known him since the time we spent together at Manchester United and we have been in touch over the past couple of years. I have huge respect for such a well known club both in Israel and in Europe and i intend to help Jordi and the players achieve success for the fans this season”. 

Prior to the England job, McClaren won the League Cup with Middlesbrough in 2004 and after his spell as manager of the Three Lions which saw him held to a 0-0 draw by Israel at Ramat Gan before recording a 3-0 victory at the return fixture at Wembley stadium, McClaren, moved to Holland to coach Twente. In his first season at Twente, McClaren guided the team to the runners up spot and Cup finalists only to better that achievement the following season with a first league title for Twente in 2010.

Spells as Manager of VFL Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forrest and a second stint at FC Twente, saw McClaren return to Pride Park to the club he played for and made his first managerial footsteps before manging Newcastle United in 2015 and returning once again to manage Derby County in 2016.

Cruyff: “There are no excuses; we have an important game on Thursday”

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Maccabi opened up the 2017/18 Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al Season with a 3:0 loss to Beitar Jerusalem. The Yellow & Blue Head Coach Jordi Cruyff summed up the match from his point of view:

“We got punished. They were good in transition and in counter attacks and we lost a lot of balls in the first 30 minutes. They made us play the way they wanted us to play. They have a specific way to play and when they are winning they play a certain way. We lost a lot of balls and they played in transition. They smelled blood and they took advantage of that.”

More on the match:
“The first 15 minute we had minutes we held and passed the ball. The first time they countered they scored a goal. We put out the best lineup for the game as we could. Some players have injuries and we have another game and an important game on Thursday against Altach.”

Looking ahead:
“When you lose its sometimes better to lose clearly and then there are no excuses and you move on. We have a very important game in 4 days and if we aren’t aggressive enough then we will have problems.”

Losing as a head coach compared to sports director:
“It’s always hard to lose. As a sports director I didn’t have any easier games than as a coach. Maccabi lost today and either way as a coach or sports director you’re always a part of it.”

About Omer Atzili:
“He overtired. I think when you want to take to much responsibility it also doesn’t always help.”

Improving over time:
“I think we will improve with time. We have a squad and at the moment it’s not full and not fully fit. We will find the right balance.”

New recruits:
“They need some time to adjust. Battocchio has gotten minutes but Susic not yet. You really want to pick the right moments and there are plenty of more games.”

Maccabi falls to Beitar 3:0 to open the season

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The Yellow & Blue opened their Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al season with a disappointing 3:0 loss to Beitar Jerusalem on Matchday 1 at the Netanya Stadium. Itay Shechter starred for the visitors as he put back his own missed penalty for the first goal and scored from the top of the box for his second marker with both strikes coming in the first half. Idan Vered added a late goal to help Beitar to the win. Maccabi will now prepare in earnest for the 2nd leg of their Europa League Playoff Round tie against Altach on Thursday August 24th.

Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI included Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic with a defensive quartet of Yuval Shpungin, Eitan Tibi, Egor Filipenka and Ofir Davidzada. Captain Sheran Yeini was in the defensive midfielder position with Dor Peretz and Dor Micha by his side as Omer Atzili, Barak Itzhaki and Vidar Kjartansson provided the attack.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Sagiv Yehezkel, Avi Rikan, Aaron Schoenfeld, Tal Ben Haim, Cristian Battocchio and Tino Susic.

First Half
Maccabi looked to get onto the scoresheet first as Atzili took an 18 meter shot in the opening minute but Boris Kleiman, the Beitar keeper made the stop. In the ‘7 Peretz’s attempt was parried by Kleiman right to Kjartansson but the Icelander’s weak header went right into the waiting hands of the Beitar shot stopper once again.

Two minutes later Beitar was awarded a penalty as Rajikovic pulled down Itay Shechter in the box and was issued a yellow card. Rajikovic made the initial stop on Schecter’s spot kick but he put his own rebound behind the Maccabi keeper for 1:0 lead. In the ‘17 Peretz was handed a yellow card from referee Liran Liani as Maccabi began pressing for the equalizer.

Atzili’s ‘22 attempt was thwarted by Kleiman while at the other end of the pitch Ezra almost got by the Yellow & Blue defense but was stopped by Shpungin just in time to end the threat. However, Shechter would add to the Beitar lead as he beat a Maccabi player at the top of the box and slotted home the ball past a helpless Rajikovic for a 2:0 advantage.

Two minutes later Shpungin was issued a yellow card while Ezra made Rajikovic work again in the Maccabi goal in the ‘40 as the keeper made the stop to keep the deficit as is. Itzhaki was handed a yellow card just before the break as the sides headed into the half with Beitar maintaining a 2:0 lead.

Second Half
Maccabi held possession throughout the first ten minutes of the half and had a wonderful chance in the ‘55 as Atzili fed Vidar the ball but his attempt went wide of the target. Former Maccabi midfielder Yossi Benayoun came on for Hen Ezra in the ‘58 while Maccabi made a pair of substitutions three minutes later as Aaron Schoenfeld and Cristian Battocchio were introduced in favor of Itzhaki and Peretz.

Atzili’s ‘62 free kick was headed beautifully by Filipenka but his effort missed the target by inches while number 7’s ‘68 minute corner kick found Vidar in the box but his header also missed by a hair as Maccabi came closer and closer to scoring. Micha’s long effort in the ‘75 was collected by Kleiman as Sagiv Yehezkel was introduced for Atzili a minute later. However, it would be Beitar who found the goal late in the match as Idan Vered scored from in close against Rajikovic in the ‘90 to give the visitors a 3:0 opening Matchday victory.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will now prepare to host Altach in the Europa League Playoff Round 2nd leg at the Netanya Stadium on Thursday August 24th.

Yeini: “It infuriates me when they say that another team is better than us”

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Sheran Yeini, The Yellow & Blue Captain joined host Lior Timor on the latest episode of Maccabi-Cast as the veteran spoke all about what to expect from Maccabi this coming season and began by looking at Matchday 1 opponent Beitar Jerusalem:

“It’s just another match, but it’s not just another match. Of course, it’s the first league match and we want to take maximum points and it’s very important not to drop any points especially at the start of the season when we want to set the tone for the campaign to come. So it’s very important for us. It will be the 16th match and we are already rolling with the season, so it’s not really our first match as we’ve already had that. But we are expecting a tough game from Beitar Jerusalem and a team that has caused us plenty of issues over the past few seasons. So we will have to be very focussed and rest properly before the match after a challenging trip away in Austria.”

More on Beitar:
“Beitar is always a tough club for us to play against and after the match in Austria we began to focus on them. So it’s important that we get proper rest after the flight and get physically prepared for the match. We are preparing for a tough contest as they have a lethal attack and we have to be focussed and ready for them.”

Expectations from Maccabi this season:
“A Maccabi who will be tough to play against and will give up few chances. A Maccabi that every player will come to work hard for and where there are no players who place themselves above the team. A club that has teammates who will give everything they have and support one another. This is the Maccabi the fans will see this season.”

Goals:
“Every time you finish second or say that another club is better than us, then that is something that infuriates me and is very hard for me to hear. That is something that we want to change. We are working to be in first place.”

Position Yeini will play this campaign:
“I grew up playing as a midfielder and I enjoy filling that role. I am playing more of a defensive position and my job is to stay back and steal the ball or stop counter attacks. So it’s a role where there is more balance and defense. I will do what I have to for the club and what Jordi asks me to do. I want to improve my play, be it trying to distribute the ball better from a defensive position and I am excited for this challenge. I’m enjoying it and I know that you haven’t seen me in this role at Maccabi for a long time. They were happy and satisfied with me in Holland and I hope that will be the case here in Israel.”

More about the role on the pitch:
“I am working on stopping the counter attacks with the two central defenders and to make sure the players also know where to position themselves and how to get to the ball. There are some cases like against Panionios in Greece where I had to mark a specific player to make sure he couldn’t score.”

About playing for Coach Jordi Cruyff:
“It’s such a treat to work with Jordi. He understands us and takes us to heart. But he also demands a lot from us and demands very high standards. He won’t accept a second rate effort from us and we have to give everything we have. In turn, the staff is giving us a tremendous amount of support and it’s a great combination and cooperation.”

Improving this season:
“We have to be tougher, together and play like men. Not just defensively but knowing what to do with the ball in front of the goal, or to make the right pass. To be confident, aggressive, tackle and to win the first or second ball and of course the 50/50 balls. We have to improve and work on all of that.”

Final thoughts:
“I want to win it all, whether it’s the State Cup, the League, the Toto Cup or the Champions Cup. Everything.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and Special Olympics Begin Second Season of Programming

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Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation and ‘Special Olympics Israel’ are continuing their partnership to promote greater inclusion and raise public awareness about people with intellectual disabilities through athletic competition and other related programs.

By continuing to partner with Special Olympics, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC joins leading international football clubs such as Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic as a Team Ambassador. By taking up the role of a Team Ambassador, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC promoting inclusion, while generating greater public awareness and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. Amongst other things, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and Special Olympics will give these athletes the opportunity to realize their potential, develop physically, mentally and socially through sports.

Ahead of every Maccabi Tel Aviv home league match, a ‘Special Olympics’ athlete will be presented with the Foundation’s Medallion of Honor by the Maccabi captain. The Medallion signifies the value which Maccabi Tel Aviv places on each and every athlete and makes the proud and bold statement attesting to the importance of raising awareness about the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities.

In addition, the “Together as One” Maccabi Foundation bi-weekly training sessions will be conducted by Maccabi Tel Aviv coaches with ‘Special Olympics’ athletes both at the Kiryat Shalom Training Complex and at their centers. The Maccabi players will also take part in the training sessions as special guest instructors and play “Unified” matches with the athletes. After last year’s competition drew over 140 footballers from across the country, Maccabi will also host the Second Annual Special Olympics Tournament once again.

Josh Halickman, Head of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation, said: “It gives me great pleasure to launch the second season of ‘Special Olympics’ programs as we have moved our activities into high gear for the upcoming campaign. Awarding the Foundation Medallion of Honor, holding the “Together as One” football training sessions and hosting the 2nd Annual National Special Olympics Football Tournament will help continue raise awareness of those with intellectual challenges.”

Daniel Benaim, Chairman of Special Olympics Israel, said: “I would like to thank Maccabi Tel Aviv for partnering with Special Olympics once again as we continue to fulfill the dreams of athletes with intellectual disabilities. I hope that more and more athletes will join the organization’s programs and I am certain that our programs together will continue to expand and further impact the Special Olympics community and beyond.”

About ‘Special Olympics Israel’:
‘Special Olympics Israel’ as part of the ‘Special Olympics international organization’ was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in the United States. The organization was founded with the belief that people with intellectual disabilities had many talents and gifts to offer and used sports as a common ground to unite people from all walks of life. Special Olympics Israel has over 3,500 athletes participating in 16 sports while more than 4.5 million athletes in 177 countries take part in programming around the globe.



About Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation:
The Foundation’s mission is to help make an impact on the larger Israeli society using the positive energy of football to effect the lives of those in our community. The Foundation focusses on three main categories of activities: Youth & Education, Multiculturalism and Social Action.

The Foundation is committed to improving the lives of children from various populations in Israel, merge diverse cultures together and to influence the community as a whole using the power of football. Our vision is to make each and every supporter an active player and ambassador of the Foundation, thereby increasing our impact across the nation.

Know Your Opponent: Beitar Jerusalem

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Stadium: Teddy Stadium (31,733)

On the sidelines:
After guiding Beitar Jerusalem to a third place finish last season, Sharon Mimer began the season on the sidelines as Eli Ohana took control of the club from Eli Tabib on a day to day basis. However, just as the league was about to begin, Mimer was relieved of his duties and though he has yet to be replaced, assistant coach Gil Levanda will guide the team.

Comings & Goings:
Beitar had an interesting summer as they lost some key players but added others. Jesus Rueda left the club who was the defense general as did Dan Einbinder. However, Yossi Benayoun and Georginho who starred at Sakhnin joined the team as did Antony Gaetan Varenne, Amir Agayev, Miki Siroshrtein, Tzion Tzemach all joined the side.

So far this season:
The season just began but just like Maccabi, Beitar has played plenty of minutes as the club took part in the Europa League Qualifying Rounds. In this First Round, Beitar faced Vasas from Hungary and won both legs by 4:3 and 3:0 scores. However, their continental campaign came to an end in the second round as they fell to Botev Plovdiv 5:1 on aggregate. In Toto Cup action, Beitar has played three games winning 3:0 at Toto-Turner Stadium against Hapoel Beer Sheva, defeating Ashdod 3:1 while falling 2:1 to Hapoel Ashkelon on Matchday while advancing to the quarterfinal round of the competition.

Under the magnifying glass:
The analysts have said that the while Beitar has a potent offense, their defense is suspect. The 3:0 win over Hapoel Beer Sheva in Toto Cup play showed the best the Jerusalem side can offer as Itay Shechter looks to be the main man on the attack, however, Georginho, Benayoun, Vered along with Ezra and Agayev can all give other teams fits. Antony Varenne who arrived from Beitar Jerusalem (13 goals last season for Hapoel Jerusalem) has scored three goals so far campaign.

WATCH: Nick Blackman’s First Maccabi Training Session

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Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 2017/18 Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al season begins Sunday night against Beitar Jerusalem at the Netanya Stadium, 21:00. Nick Blackman, the Yellow & Blue’s English-Israeli joined his new teammates.

WATCH: Blackman’s first training session at Kiryat Shalom:

Prior to the training session Jordi Cruyff and Dor Micha addressed the press at the prematch press conference.

The season opener will already begin tomorrow morning well before the opening whistle. Make sure to check out the BIG Season Opener Happening!