The Yellow & Blue’s new Head Coach, Lito Vidigal arrived in Tel Aviv this evening and immediately made his way to the training facility at Kiryat Shalom. Owner Mitch Goldhar and owner’s representative Jack Angelides accompanied Vidigal as they watched the final training session prior to tomorrow night’s match at Maccabi Petach Tikva. Of course, the new coach met with the players and staff.
Category: News
Dasa: “When the team is doing well, it’s easier for me to succeed”
Maccabi Tel Aviv will take on Maccabi Petach Tikva on Matchday 22 of the Ligat Ha’Al at the Moshava Stadium in Petach Tikva on Monday night at 21:00. Following the 1:0 State Cup win, Eli Dasa looked ahead to the their next encounter: “I didn’t have a great start to the season but as the team began doing well, it was easier for me to succeed as well. Our confidence returned and we’ve been successful in collecting points over the last few matches, so things are looking up.”
Playing on the wings:
“I’m a defender and not an attacking type of player. We have enough offensive players but I am happy to help out on the attack over the last couple of games and assist on a pair of goals. I hope that this can continue, but my main priority is on the defensive end of things.”
His defense on Tony Nwakaeme of Hapoel Beer Sheva:
“Tony is one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league. We were very careful defensively for this match and Dor Micha along with the central defenders helped me out. You can criticize my efforts, but I listen to the professional staff and they are the ones who comment on my play.”
Arrival of the new coach:
“Jordi isn’t going anywhere and the new coach will bring new ideas. We’re not in kindergarten here. We’ll make the necessary adjustments to the demands of the new coach.”
Cruyff: “This is a very important game”
Just five days after facing Maccabi Petach Tikva in the State Cup, Maccabi Tel Aviv will take on the same club yet again but this time in Ligat Ha’Al Matchday 22 action where they will look to make it two wins in a row over the same side.
Watch Sports Director Jordi Cruyff’s Press Conference prior to tomorrow night’s match:
ג’ורדי קרוייף במסע”ת לקראת המשחק נגד מכבי פ”ת
Yellow & Blue Saturday – Match Results February 11, 2017
Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 1-2 Bnei Yehuda
The young Yellow & Blue were ahead 1:0 at the break thanks to a goal by Fadi Najar, however, the visitors came back to defeat the Under-19 side. For the full match report, CLICK HERE
Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv 1:0 Maccabi “Yoni” Netanya
Eliezer Ben Aharon’s squad maintained their 5 point lead atop of the Under-17 Ligat Ha’Al table. It wasn’t easy, but in the 82nd minute Adir Hardon scored the winner for the Yellow & Blue.
Maccabi Jaffa Kabilyo 0:3 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv
The Under-16’s continued their fine play and kept their 1 point lead atop the table. Bar Cohen scored in the 2nd minute while Gil Ben Shalosh (45) and Tashgar Dego (64) found the back of the goal for coach Alon Brumer as the club has now won 16 of 18 contests this season.
Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 3:1 Hapoel “Dani” Jerusalem
Ori David’s team are now within 3 points of the top of the table after defeating the capital city side. Stav Nachmani scored in the 5th minute, but Shachar Racahmim evened the game up just one minute later. llay Hadad and Nehorai Bitton added 58th and 82 minute goal respectively to help decide the match.
Beitar “Oren” Tubruk 3:3 Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv
Plenty of goals were scored in Netanya as Eli Belachson found the back of the goal in the 24th minute for Maccabi, but the hosts evened the score at 1:1 in the 43rd minute. Niv Berkovic scored a second half brace (64, 70) to give the young Yellow & Blue the advantage, but a 74th minute strike by Tubruk split the points as the match ended in a 3:3 draw.
When the Maccabi & Beer Sheva Legends faced Goalstar
משחק הראווה בין ותיקי מכבי וב”ש לכוכבי גולסטאר
Bnei Yehuda defeats Maccabi “Shachar” 2:1
Prematch
After being eliminated from State Cup play, Guy Tzarfati’s squad hosted Bnei Yehuda in the Little Derby at the Ramle Stadium on Matchday 18 of the Youth Ligat Ha’Al. The Head Coach made a number of changes to his Starting XI as Daniel Peretz, Amit Rosenboim, Peleg Moshe, Eden Kartzev and Netanel Peretz all featured on the pitch to begin the match. Their opponent, Bnei Yehuda began the day in 13th place.
First Half
The Under-19’s got off to a good start and had their first chance in the 12th minute. Or Dasa sent Netanel Peretz a nice ball on the right side that he shot from 14 meters out, but his effort went off of one of the defenders. Three minutes later, Eylon Almog tried his luck from 18 meters but his chance was caught by the keeper. In the 19th minute, Bnei Yehuda had their first opportunity but their effort was blocked by keeper Daniel Peretz and sent out for a corner. Or Dasa tried to take matters into his own hands but his hard liner was saved by keeper Yuval Sade as the contest remained goalless.
In the 29th minute, Dor Galili sent a ball to Almog’s head, but his effort was again blocked by the keeper. However, Maccabi “Shachar” would finally find the back of the goal three minutes later when Kartzev lifted a free kick into the box and Fadi Najar headed it hard into the goal for a 1:0 advantage that the Yellow & Blue would take into the break.
Second Half
Bnei Yehuda came back into the match when they were awarded a 52nd minute penalty. Daniel Avital stepped up to the spot and put it home to draw the visitors even. Tzarfati decided to make a change up top and inserted Mahmoud Awesat in favor of Almog but the move didn’t stifle the Orange’s momentum as they took the lead in the 60th minute. Garia took the ball and put it behind the Yellow & Blue keeper to take a 2:1 lead. Prince Thomas and Neal Goldberg both came into the match and looked to find the tying goal, but in the 90th minute, Amit Rosenboim picked up a red card as the score stayed as is, sending the Under-19 side to the loss.
Africa, Portugal, Israel: Get to Know Lito Vidigal
A new era is upon the Yellow & Blue as Lito Vidigal has been appointed Head Coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv. In honor of his arrival, we’ve decided to give you a first look at the man who was born in Angola, Africa but whose career has primarily been in Portugal.
José Carlos Fernandes Vidigal or better known as Lito was born Luanda, Angola in 1969. Vidigal played as a central defender for most of his career in the Portuguese league primarily for Campomaiorense and Belenenses where he took part in 144 matches over seven seasons. He also made 16 appearances for the Angola National Team including the 1998 African Cup. For the trivia buffs out there, his brother Jose Luis Vidigal played for the Portugal National Team.
Immediately following his retirement, Vidigal decided to begin his coaching career in 2004. The Angolan began at the bottom of ladder and worked up to the top Portuguese league over the past decade. Starting at Pontassolense and Ribeirão in the second division, he moved up to the top tier in 2008 where he led Estrela da Amadora and União de Leiria, ending the 2009/10 campaign in 9th place.
In January 2011, Vidigal was named the Angolan Head Coach and guided the Palancas Negras to the African Nations Cup. Unfortunately, the campaign was cut short as the team couldn’t make it out of the group stages, finishing in 3rd place even on points with Sudan who continued on. Lito’s next stop was AEL Limassol of Cyprus in 2013 while the following season he returned to the club at which he made his mark as a player, Belenenses.
Following the 2014/15 season in which he led the squad to Europe, Vidigal left for Arouca where he also guided the side to a historical European appearance following a 5th place finish in league action. He will now begin to write the next chapter of his fascinating career in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Good luck Lito!
LITO VIDIGAL TO BE APPOINTED AS MACCABI COACH
Maccabi Tel Aviv is pleased to announce the appointment of Lito Vidigal as its new Head Coach. Lito, 47, former national team player and coach of his native Angola, joins Maccabi from FC Arouca of Portugal where he has been coaching since 2015. Lito, is set to land in Israel in the coming days and sign a 1.5-year-deal with an option for another season.
Sports Director Jordi Cruyff told the clubs’ official website: “Lito has been on our radar for some time. He brings with him a level of tactical nous, work ethic and ambition which fits ideally with our culture. I believe that with the support of the whole Maccabi family, Lito, will be able to help Maccabi fulfill its ambitions.” 
Lito, added: “I am excited and happy to be joining this fantastic Club. I would like to thank everyone especially the Owner, Mitch Goldhar, for their confidence in me and I assure everyone that I will work tirelessly for success”.
Club owner, Mitch Goldhar, said: “We have a lot of work ahead of us and I believe that Lito has the right qualities and is the right fit for our Club. Together with all our fans wish him the best in his new role.”
Immediately after retiring from a playing career at the age of 35 with Santa Clara of Portugal, Lito, began his coaching career with Pontassolense in 2004.
Since then he been coaching Ribeirao, Estrella Amadora, Portimonense, Uniao Leirra, the Angola national team, AEL Limassol of Cyprus, Belenenses which he 
guided to European qualification before joining Arouca as coach in 2015. Having won promotion to the Portuguese top flight, Lito guided Arouca to fifth place in the league and European berth.
After knocking out Dutch side Heracles in the 3rd qualifying round, Lito and Arouca missed out on the Europa League group stage with a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Olympiacos in the Playoffs. Lito has since guided Arouca to 9th in the Portuguese table with 28 points from 21 matches.
Recreating Great Goals: Tal Ben Chaim tries to recreate Avi Cohen’s brilliant strike
שחזורים ושערים: בן חיים מנסה לכבוש כמו אבי כהן
Youth Department action, Saturday February 11, 2017
Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Bnei Yehuda, 13:00 Ramle
After being eliminated from State Cup play, Guy Tzarfati’s side will want to get back onto the winning track against Bnei Yehuda in the Little Derby on Matchday 18 of the Youth Ligat Ha’Al. The young Yellow & Blue have 31 points and sit in 4th place while their opponent comes into the contest with 14 points in 13th place on the table.
Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Yoni” Netanya, 10:00 Kiryat Shalom
With a five point first place lead, Eliezer Ben Aharon’s players will look to keep the status quo atop the table against the 10th place team.
Maccabi Jaffa Kabilyo – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, 14:30 Neve Golan
Alon Brumer’s side enjoy a one point lead atop of the table and will look to continue their fine play as they take on their neighbor who have collected just 4 points this season on Matchday 18 of the Arzit South League.
Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Hapoel “Dani” Jerusalem, 08:30 Kiryat Shalom synthetic
The Under-15 squad of Ori David will look to pick up the win after succumbing to defeat last Matchday. This Saturday, Maccabi “Eldad” will kick off against a team that has won two matches in as many weeks.
Beitar “Oren” Tubruk – Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv, 08:30 Tubruk
Amir Sofer’s club may have been eliminated from Cup action last week, but they did win the Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv last League Matchday. The young Yellow & Blue will attempt to close the gap at the top of the table as they find themselves 7 points out of first place.
