Maccabi will open up their 18th European campaign since Israeli teams began competing in Europe back in the 1992/93 season. Maccabi has participated 8 times in the Champions League qualification stage, 8 times in the Europa League/UEFA Cup qualification rounds and once in the Cup Winners’ Cup qualifiers.

Maccabi’s European qualification openers: 10 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses. Maccabi advanced past the first round (two legged ties) 13 times while failing to reach the next stage 4 times.

Maccabi’s biggest win in a European opener: 6:0 over Zalgiris Vilnius from Lithuania to begin the 2001/02 campaign. The scorers: Baruch Dego (3), Dedi Ben Dayan, Tal Banin and Eli Biton.

Of the 17 European openers up until this season, only 6 have been at home. Maccabi hosted 3 at Bloomfield, two at Ramat Gan Stadium and one time last season at the Netanya Stadium.

The first European goal was scored by Avi Cohen (The Jerusalemite) in a 2:1 win over Valletta to begin the 1992/93 season.

The opener with the highest attendance: 20K at Ramat Gan Stadium (1996/97) against Fenerbahce.

Maccabi opened their European campaign twice against clubs from Lithuania (Kaunus & Vilnius), Malta (Hibernians & Valletta) and twice against Santa Coloma.

One of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s newest players is Ofir Davidzada who came to the Yellow & Blue on loan from the Belgium club Gent. Of course the left back is familiar with the Israeli league having played with Hapoel Beer Sheva in the past and having also featured on the Israel National Team. But now Davidzada is up for a new challenge arriving at Kiryat Shalom just last week. Let’s find out who helped him choose his new number:

“I consulted with my Rabbi who I have been learning with for a number of years as to which number I should take and he said either 12 or 27. I couldn’t take 12 because that was Meni Levi’s number, so I took 27.”

Ups & downs:
“I was at my peak playing for the National Team and with my domestic club. I felt really good about myself. But all of a sudden I fell all the way down from being so high up, it’s not easy. But I took it the right way and I knew it was only going to be for a short period of time. With hard work and the right results everything would be ok and that’s what happened. I’m really happy to begin a new part of my career and I learnt a lot from what I went through. It made me stronger and I learnt a lot about myself. From a mental point of view I became a different person, more mature and one who now knew how to make sure not to get into the same situation that I had been in.”

Coming to Maccabi on loan for the upcoming season:
“My goal is to give everything that I can on the pitch and to prove to Jordi and to everyone else that I belong here for the next few years. There’s no question that this is the most important season of my career and I’m not afraid to say that. I will work very hard and do everything that I can to prove that I should be here for a number of seasons. This will give me plenty of drive to do what I need to on the pitch.”

Playing with top notch defenders:
“To be able to play with defenders of the highest level gives one a lot of confidence and the feeling that I can help on the attack and not worry since there will someone in the back that can be counted on. Our defense will be very strong this season.”

Taking advantage of his time with Beer Sheva:
“I played for Beer Sheva for a number of seasons so I really know the players and what their strengths and weaknesses are. I’m sure that will help and whatever tips I can give to my teammates I will.”

Toughest Maccabi player to defend:
“The matches that we played were really the “Match of the Season” and I always found it tough to play against Dor Micha because he’s a very smart player and always knew where to stand and find the open spaces. You don’t know if he’s going to stay or go, so it was very difficult, but now that he’s my teammate it will be a lot of fun.”

Expectations with Maccabi Tel Aviv:
“A club like Maccabi Tel Aviv has to win titles and has a very rich history. The expectations are always the same, to battle for all of the titles and to make sure that we win them, because that is why we ultimately play and that is what this club is built on. I hope that we will do just that this season.”

Goals for the new campaign:
“The Club’s first goal is to bring home the league championship which is what is most important and we will work very hard to reach that goal. I’m ready for the challenge. This is a club of winners. Finish in first place, win titles and that’s what the goals of this club is supposed to be.”

WATCH: Ben Chaim & Cruyff bid adieu

Sheran Yeini, the Yellow & Blue Captain discussed the upcoming match against Tirana in the first round of Europa League qualifying at the season opening press conference. Number 13 also spoke about the goals for the season, training camp and winger Tal Ben Chaim leaving for Sparta Prague:

About Tal Ben Chaim’s departure from the Club:
“A good friend left us. He was an important player for us and was a good teammate. Just like others who left us he will also be missed.”

Training camp:
“We worked hard and it was good to meet some young players and those who were loaned who have potential and character. They wanted to prove themselves and I spoke to many of them and I see a bright future for the club in that area.”

On the position he will be playing this season:
“I will play any position that the club wants me to and whatever the club would like me to do, I will. Once I begin playing a position I adapt to it and then try to improve as much as possible in that role. It’s a challenge and it fun to do this at this point in my career. It’s great to be able to learn new things.”

Being an assistant coach on the pitch:
“Jordi and I have a very good relationship and all I want to do is help advance the goals of the club. We have a great assistant coach and I’m not looking to take his job.”

Home grown players breaking into the club:
“It’s hard for players who have been in the Maccabi system to be part of the team when we are always battling for the title. I really hope that they will be a part of the club and be a part of the important future at Maccabi.”

About Tirana:
“As a footballer, I don’t underestimate any opponent that may look weaker on paper. If we do that, we could lose. We come into every match ready to go as best as we can be after two friendlies. We will take this match with all seriousness. I remember the match in Santa Coloma after a very long training camp.”

Goals for the coming season:
“The goal is to fight for all of the titles and advance to Europe. We will battle for it all. Every season there are favorites to win, favorites to be relegated and we were favorites to win also. But I learnt not to deal with these things and just play the best that we can. Kiryat Shemona made some good additions, Beer Sheva is good, Haifa as well as Jerusalem will also be dangerous.”

Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue’s boss addressed the media at the Club’s opening press conference at Kiryat Shalom prior to tomorrow’s match against KF Tirana of Albania in the first round of Europa League qualifying at the Netanya Stadium. The Head Coach spoke about an array of subjects from his role to the status of the Club:

“It’s the same situation and the way we are used to it. We will try to continue the same way as we have in years past.”

On becoming coach:
“The decision was following the Cup final after a discussion with the owner Mitch Goldhar. We discussed what went on the last few seasons and decided that this was a good direction to go. I was Sports Director for 5 years and it was now the right moment to go in this direction. We looked at where we came from and where we were now, we both felt comfortable with it and we went for it.”

Intensity and hunger of the players:
“I don’t analyze everything after losing two cup titles. We did something good to get there, but we came up short. I want to see the players with intensity, desire and the hunger to be back to where we want to be.”

The new role:
“My focus will be more on the field. The CEO will be more involved in player negotiations which will be better. It’s not like I’m starting to work in a new country, so I have an idea as to what players would be a good fit for Maccabi.”

Interest from Barcelona:
“I wanted to be a coach. Barcelona didn’t offer me to be the coach. This was the decision that was made with the owner and I’m 100% on this job and I’m going to go for it. I don’t feel that it was the correct moment for me in January and we now had a longer preparation time so it was a better time to step in.”

Knowledge of the Israeli league:
“If I was new I probably wouldn’t know the players, league or opponents and the types of players that are needed to win titles. Because I’ve been here I know what we need. My focus will be on the training field and more than 80% of the players will be here from last year.”

Match against Tirana:
“It’s the first game with a very complicated type of preparation. It’s very difficult that the players have played for 11.5 months and starting so early was a punishment for not winning the cup. The priority is to get ready and concentrate on our game.”

Tal Ben Chaim leaving Maccabi:
“We will have to find a way to manage. We lost 48 goals from Eran Zahavi and Tal Ben Chaim had an option to leave and did. That’s why we didn’t fill up the 6 foreign spots. Tal was a special player, a different player and now we will have to find a way to fill that void.”

Transfer market:
“We expect some movement. It’s very early in the transfer market and lucky enough we don’t have 6 foreigners since Tal left, so we will have more options to bring in players.”

About youngster Yonatan Cohen:
“I think that the process that he had was a good decision for him to play at Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle and he learnt how to battle. Last year his loan with Bnei Yehuda was very good. So far he’s made a very good impression.”

Dor Peretz:
“Dor Peretz is player who has the Maccabi Tel Aviv DNA and has been fighting for his place. Some players played seven games which is the most in Europe. It’s hard to demand the players to play and take part in every game but we will have a full squad.”

On what his father Johan Cruyff would have thought about him coaching:
“I think he would answer the same as he did 5 years ago when I came to Maccabi Tel Aviv, which was to follow your instincts and everything will be ok. We spoke many times about coaching.”

Sheran Yeini playing as a left back last season:
“We have a few players who can compete at this position. The plan wasn’t for Sheran to play as a left back for 5 months but he came on for an injured player, had a good defensive record and can play well in every position that he is in, when he can give stability than it’s very comfortable.”

About Gal Alberman and the defensive midfield position:
“We were very happy with Gal Alberman who played more than fifty games and was amazing for us.”

Owner Mitch Goldhar’s involvement:
“His involvement has always been strong with the club and he sees all the games, that has never changed in the five years that I’ve known him. Even if he is not here, he is always present.”

Plans:
“In football you never know anything for sure. The plan is not to sell, but in football you never know what happens.”

Final thoughts on tomorrow’s match against Tirana:
“The only focus we have is for tomorrow, our first official match and we won’t underestimate our opponent.”

June 28, 1947 The Maccabiah Stadium, Tel Aviv. In the year that determined the fate of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv advanced to the State Cup Final against Beitar Tel Aviv. Over the course of the season, Maccabi defeated Hapoel Atlit, Hapoel Ramat Gan-Givatayim and Maccabi Petah Tikva on the way to kicking off against their city rival in a Tel Aviv Derby. Beitar in fact had already won one Derby during the campaign defeating Hapoel in the second round. The smell of war was in the air prior to the declaration of independence and only 15K fans had the privilege to watch one of the most dramatic finals of all time with an end that no one had expected.

Maccabi Tel Aviv took the lead in the 23rd minute thanks to a goal by Yosele Merimovitch, but Natan Pantz drew his side even in the 57th minute. Yehoshua Glazer gave the lead back to the Yellow & Blue just one minute later and Meromovitch helped Maccabi to a 3:1 lead with his second of the match in the 64th minute as the final looked like it was all sewed up.

However, Beitar cut the lead thanks to a Shimon Alfasi strike in the 78th minute and looked to have scored with just two minutes left to go in the contest to draw even. But the referee called off the goal and the Beitar fans invaded the pitch as their midfielder Yom Tov Menasherov took advantage of the situation and ran off with the State Cup.

Once the fan situation was under control and due to the fact that the match was stopped, Maccabi Tel Aviv was awarded the title via a technical victory to capture their 6th State Cup.

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Sparta Prague for the sale of Tal Ben Chaim, 27, who joined the Czech outfit.

Maccabi’s coach Jordi Cruyff told the clubs’ official website: “Tal has been an excellent signing for Maccabi Tel Aviv and since joining us four years ago improved himself and helped the club reach higher peaks. We have had interest in him from foreign clubs and knew it will be very hard to keep him if he will be determined to live his dream and move abroad. We thank Tal for his contribution to Maccabi, wish him all the best at his new club as the doors will always remain open for him here”.

The 27-year-old Israeli international winger, who scored 19 goals in all competitions last season and a total of 47 goals since joining Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2013.

Maccabi Tel Aviv opens up the 2017/18 Season with a Europa League first leg first round qualifying match on Thursday June 29th at 21:00 against Tirana from Albania. All season ticket holders other than those in the UPPER EAST STAND will be able to use their season ticket cards. Season ticket holders for the UPPER EAST STAND will need to follow the instructions in the Seating Arrangements due to UEFA Penalty article.

Maccabi fans may purchase tickets in the following sections: Silver Section 105, E+, Reserved seats in the West Stand sections 101-103. All of the sections listed are reserved seats.

Tickets are on sale via the Leaan Ticket Agency located at 101 Dizengoff Street, on their Website and by phone *8780

Tickets may be printed at home

Ticket Prices Leaan Ticket Office
West Stand – 55 NIS
E+ – 125 NIS
Silver Section – 200 NIS

Ticket Prices via Website & Telephone *8780
West Stand – 60 NIS
E+ – 130 NIS
Silver Section – 205 NIS

Ticket Collection

Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office located at 101 Dizengoff Street between Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30.

Tickets may be collected on Matchday at the Stadium ticket windows beginning 3 hours prior to the match until 45 minutes after the start of the match.

The 2017/18 campaign is underway as the Club just spent training camp in the Austrian city of Laa. After pulling down the curtain on this season’s camp abroad, let’s take a look at some interesting stats and facts:

9 – Days that the Club was at their Austrian Training Camp. If we take off the travel day then there were 8 days in total.

2 – There were two preseason friendlies that were played during the training camp – against Terecin and Spartak Trnava both from Slovakia. The record: one win and one draw with a goal differential of 4:1.

810 – Aside from the two friendlies, there were 810 minutes of training over the course of 9 sessions, each lasting an hour and a half.

30 – The amount of Yellow & Blue players that took part in the camp including 5 from the Youth Club. Omer Atzily, Ofir Davidzada and Matan Baltaxa all made their debuts in the friendlies.

3 – The amount of times Maccabi hit the post in their match against Spartak Trnava (Shlomi Azulay twice and Sagiv Yehezkel).

3– Keepers with the first name Daniel: Daniel Lifshitz, Daniel Tenenbaum and 17-year old Daniel Peretz.

4 – Playstations that were brought to camp by the staff.

2 – Dor Micha and Matan Baltaxa were crowned FIFA 17 Champions during the camp.

6 – Minutes it took to get from the Club’s hotel to the training facility by bus. Those who took bicycles made better time, 5 minutes, while those who jogged accomplished the feat in 16 minutes.

24 – Amount of staff that accompanied the players. From Head Coach Jordi Cruyff to the professional staff, doctors, psychologist, kit men and new media personnel.

41 – Rooms taken by the Club at their hotel.

31 – Meals prepared by chef Avi Dadush who made sure nobody went to bed hungry.

2 – Security personnel who ensured the safety of the Club in Austria.