Category: News

Good first step: The Under-19 squad takes home a 3:1 win

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Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv has their first test of the young season when they met the first team of HaKoach Ramat Gan in a friendly at Kiryat Shalom. The Yellow & Blue win by a score of 3:1 on goals by Or Dasa, Prince Thomas and Mufleh Shalata. The senior staff of the Youth Department including Performance Director Patrick van Leeuwen was also present at the match.

The Starting XI: Haviv Ohayon, Alon Strosberg, Fadi Najar, Ran Vaturi, Tomer Mahluf, Prince Thomas, Tomer Altman, Omer Brami, Or Dasa, Adir Hardon and Sahar Barami. During the second half the following players also took part: Roie Man, Tamir Glezer, Amit Mordehayev, Mufleh Shalata, Yoav Hopemeister, Riki and Kadira Avis.

Match Summary:
The 38th minute saw the Yellow & Blue take the lead as Or Dasa took a rebound and volleyed the ball home to give the hosts a 1:0 advantage. Four minutes later, Ramat Gan drew even after a nice team effort, however, Prince Thomas helped Maccabi retake the lead after collecting a nice ball from the right side and found the back of the visitor’s goal. Mufleh Shalata increased the Under-19 side’s advantage in the 75th minute as he beat two defenders to give his squad a 3:1 victory.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati summed up the contest: “This was a friendly which featured many good things, but of course there are plenty of things that need improvement. Two items that stood out today was the club’s determination and method of play. Those are both things that will be emphasized this season. I enjoyed the way we won as well as the attitude of the players and the style of the game itself. Of course, this is just the beginning of the path and there is plenty of work ahead.”

Blast from the Past: Great Third Round Matches

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There have been plenty of great moments for Maccabi Tel Aviv in European competition. Tonight at the Netanya Stadium, the Yellow & Blue will kick off against Panionios of Greece in the Third Round of Europa League qualifying and we’ve decided to take you back to some of the biggest matches that the Club has played in the third round of continental action. You’ll find both Champions League and Europa League contests. WATCH

2015/16 Season: Viktoria Plzen 0:2 Maccabi Tel Aviv (3rd Round Champions League Qualifying)

2011/12 Season: Maccabi Tel Aviv 6:0 Željezničar (3rd Round Europa League Qualifying)

2013/14 Season: Maccabi Tel Aviv 3:3 Basel (3rd Round Champions League Qualifying)

Shpungin: “When Maccabi wants you, you don’t say no”

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Yuval Shpungin, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s right defensive back was present at the Club’s press conference prior to Thursday night’s clash Europa League clash against Panionios. The veteran discussed staying with Maccabi, playing time and making sure to be ready when called upon:

“Every player must be ready for they when they are needed and not just me. There are times when you don’t play but you have to be ready.”

Taking advantage of the opportunity to play:
“I’m am optimist and I take everything in proportion. It’s a challenge at Maccabi and it’s good that we have a large squad. I did have some bad luck but I am working hard to make sure that I am ready and play well when I’m needed.

The Israel National Team:
“I’m really not thinking about that and it’s really not relevant right now. I’m concentrating on Maccabi and playing here the best that I can.”

Staying with Maccabi:
“Maccabi had the option and of course if you don’t play you may look to play elsewhere. But when Maccabi wants you, you don’t say know. I’ve been here since I was 6 years old.”

The squad’s status:
“We have an excellent dressing room with a bunch of youngsters. We have character and we want to play the best that we can.”

Improving:
“There is no secret that we are trying to continue to improve and move our game forward.”

Responsibilities on the pitch:
“I am trying to do the best I can on both ends of the pitch. But my first responsibility is defense.”

Playing time this season:
“Jordi said in his first meeting with us that everyone will get a chance if they prove themselves. The squad is big and we all have to be in good shape and ready to go.”

Cruyff: “We will for sure give 100%”

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Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach addressed the media prior to the final practice before tomorrow night’s match against Panionios in Europa League third round qualifying. The boss discussed the player market, playing Schoenfeld and Vidar together and about the opponent:


“The Greek league is decent and their coefficient shows that as does the national team. We can’t show that we are favorites. We have to play this game as seriously as we can and show our best. I do think that the team is improving and we will for sure give 100%.”

Injury update:
“Micha hasn’t played a single minute this season and we are missing a few players. You will see who is in the squad tomorrow.”

Chance that Cristian Battocchio will feature in the Starting XI:
“Normally you would think that it’s too early, but he played well and we will see.”

Iranian players not with Panionios in Israel:
“It’s not a problem that I have to suffer with. I don’t know how they manage these situations and I am not into politics at least not yet. But I remember against Basel there was a similar situation and in the end the player played and he was their their best player.”

Playing both Aaron Schoenfeld and Vidar Kjartansson together:
“I think it will happen more often this season. Every game is different and I believe in a rotation. If you have a squad of twenty some players, I will use them. Some games we will need the strength of both of them together and other games not. But you will see them together for sure.”

The player market:
“The club is trying hard and I have no complaints about what we are putting on the table. Sometimes it just takes time as we are looking for certain profiles. We need them for not only next round but for years. I know which players we are trying to get. We all wish that it will go quicker and faster but most important is to get the right players.”

Finding quality players:
“Clubs don’t like to lose good players and we are trying to find good players. The market is a bit slow but it will begin to pick up. Our intention is to buy players.”

About Yuval Shpungin:
“The fact that he was the first player we renewed shows how much we value and appreciate him. Sometimes he has had a bit of bad luck. But I am quite sure Yuval will get his games this year.”

A Good Year: Maccabi Foundation Facts & Stats from the First Season

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The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation had a very successful first season in serving both the local community and beyond. Together with the fans, the Club’s non-profit organization uses the positive energy of football to make an impact on the lives of those in our community and beyond.

Here are some Stats & Facts from the Foundation’s debut season:

  • 400+ Chinuch L’Psagot, Educating for Excellence At-Risk children took part in training sessions at Kiryat Shalom
  • 20 Special Olympics Athletes were honored prior to the team’s games
  • 200+ Lone Soldiers attended matches last season
  • 500+ Hospitalized children were visited by Maccabi players around the country
  • 150+ Special Olympics Athletes took part in the First National Tournament in conjunction with the Foundation
  • 2500+ Winter coats were donated by the Club’s fans to those in need
  • 700+ Disadvantaged youth attended Maccabi games
  • 600+ Food packages were prepared and delivered to Holocaust Survivors
  • 1000+ New immigrants and tourists participated in an educational presentation about Maccabi Tel Aviv & Israel along with taking part in a practice session

To get involved with the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation please contact Josh Halickman: jhalickman@mtafc.com

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Now it’s their turn/ Under-16’s begin training

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The third Youth Department Club began training for the 2017/18 season as Head Coach Alon Brumer will remain with Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv for an additional campaign. The squad will be made up of many new players coming from the two Under-15 sides that will now be combined into one. Leon Asraf will be the assistant coach after spending last season with the Under-17 team while being aided by the Club’s Performance Director Patrick van Leeuwen and Raymond Atteveld who is the Director of the Under-11 through Under-16 teams.

Brumer spoke about the excitement of beginning a brand new season, “It’s always exciting to work with a brand new team and it’s always great to get back onto the pitch and see how the Maccabi youngsters are beginning to grow up especially at this age. We have a big challenge ahead to make sure that they advance and of course it’s always a challenge to combine two clubs into one. This is just the early preparatory stage as we will begin to put together the club and start to head into first gear. I believe that this will be a very good squad, one that the players will enjoy being a part of and where they will work together. With hard work they will be able to move forward both as individuals and as a team.”

Assistant Performance Director Raymond Atteveld who also serves as Director of the Under-11 through Under-16 clubs also spoke about getting back to training: “This is a team that has been combined from the two Under-15 teams. At the end of last season we had already put them together into one side for an international tournament in Vienna. It will be interesting to see how they have prepared over the summer and if they are ready for the opening of training camp. We started off slowly today, however we still demanded the quality that we require to see from them all season long.

The players will be working with a new coaching staff with excellent football knowledge and a tremendous amount of motivation that’s perfect for this age group. At this age we will see how their physique will change from being a child to becoming an adult. Some of them came back from vacation and have grown up as well so we have to be careful about physical injuries since the body isn’t used to the changes just yet. It will be challenging for the players to find their place and work with new coaches. The players have gotten older and the demands will now be increased. They have plenty of time to prepare themselves and take part in the process. There will be plenty of top level competition going forward and they are aware of that. It will be up to them if they want to be part of the team or not. We are here to help them, instruct them and give them advice.”