Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Sports Director addressed the assembled media prior to the 1 vs. 2 matchup on Saturday evening, 21:00 at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 21 of the Ligat Ha’Al. Cruyff discussed winger Tal Ben Chaim staying with the Club, the transfer window and of course about the match against Beer Sheva:

“I think all of the games for us are important. This game is being played against the first position team and it’s important, but this is a marathon and a long season. The league is not finished on Saturday and there are 3.5 more months.”

Will Beer Sheva look for a draw:

“A draw if I were the coach of Beer Sheva would be acceptable. But I have our own plans at Maccabi which is what we concentrate on.”

Still being the coach:

“If I was disappointed I would change it.”

Players come and players go:

“That’s part of the transfer period.”

Transfer window rumors:

“I didn’t read anything on the website about these things and it’s our policy not to comment until we have an official statement. It’s awkward that we have a huge game on Saturday night and the transfer window closes tonight.”

Last match against Beer Sheva:

“Ball possession is vital to our game, but we gave up the ball in Beer Sheva and gave up some soft goals.”

The new Brazilian players:

“We will see in the trainings if they are ready but because they are foreigners they are still adapting. They also had three weeks off so they are also getting back into shape.”

Injured players status:

“We’re still assessing the situation with the injured players and hope that some will be available for the game.”

The Tal Ben Chaim situation:

“I can imagine this was a difficult situation for Tal. But we felt that it wasn’t the appropriate time for us. If I look at the stats, he had the most mileage after Eyal Golasa. If he was a player thatdidn’t want to be here, he wouldn’t have put on the effort that he did. If I felt that the didn’t have his mind in Maccabi I wouldn’t have started him. His stats have always been very good and they were good against Haifa and the fans should know that. He risked himself in the Haifa match and he wouldn’t have done that if he felt differently. He celebrated the goals and he’s happy to be here.”

More about Ben Chaim:

“I explained the situation very clearly to his father and this is part of football. Everything has a logic to it and no player has a buyout clause in January at Maccabi. We are a club that sells players to Europe and our history shows that. His buyout clause at this moment is his main clause and I’m not sure if there will be a new contact.”

A 6th foreigner for Maccabi:

“You’ll know tonight.”

Barak Itzhaki, the club’s veteran striker spoke to the media prior to Matchday 21 of the Ligat Ha’Al as they will kick off against the first place side, Hapoel Beer Sheva. Itzhaki looked commented on the dressing room, winger Tal Ben Chaim and about the transfer window rumours:

“I think Jordi said it correctly before. If there is something to say it will be on the Official Website.”

Playing with Vidar Kjartansson:

“It’s true that we play well together and sometimes it takes the foreigners time to adapt to the team. This was also the case with him.”

Playing time:

“I’m just like any player when I get minutes, my confidence is up and I can produce as I’ve been doing the last number of weeks. Right now we are looking forward to the match on Saturday night against Beer Sheva.”

Tal Ben Chaim remaining with team:
“I am very happy he’s still here but I also understand when someone wants to continue their dream.”

Contract extension:

“I’m not the type to start looking for a contact extension just because I played well the last few weeks, but management will see as time goes by. Right now I’m only looking ahead to the game against Hapoel Beer Sheva on Saturday night.”

Upcoming match against Beer Sheva:

“I’m not even thinking about losing and we have to come prepared as ever. Remember there are two more games against Beer Sheva.”

The dressing room and the new players:

“There are new players here but the dressing room is still an amazing place. Just like Nosa said about how good and friendly a place it is. We accept everyone and we try to get everyone acclimated as soon as possible.”

Watch and rank the goals and HP will award one of the voters a prize of 300NIS worth of personalized Maccabi products. So what are you waiting for? On Friday 02/03 at 12:00 the ballot boxes will be closed. Yalla!

February 2nd – Thursday – Transfer Window Deadline:
Sheran Yeini, Marcelo and Ramon have joined the squad so far this winter, but does Jordi Cruyff have more up his sleeve before the transfer window closes until the summer? All the latest updates, news and first looks will be available right here on the Official Maccabi Tel Aviv Website and App. To download the App CLICK HERE http://bit.ly/MTAFCAPP

February 4th – Saturday, Netanya Stadium: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Beer Sheva (21:00)
“Match of the Season” Take 2. The two top teams in Israeli football over the past few seasons will kick off in a huge clash on Matchday 21 of the Ligat Ha’Al and may have a huge impact on the future of the campaign. Last round, Beet Sheva defeated the Yellow & Blue by a 2:0 score at Turner Stadium, but this time Maccabi will be the hosts and have their massive crowd behind them for the full 90 minutes. You can listen to the match “LIVE from the Stadium” via the Official Website and App.

February 8th – Wednesday, Moshava Stadium: Maccabi Peach Tikva – Maccabi Tel Aviv (21:00)
Maccabi will be taking on Kobi Refuah’s side a number of times over the next few weeks. The opening game will be the first leg of the State Cup quarterfinals in a home and away round. The two clubs have played each other just once so far this season and that match ended in a goalless draw.

February 13th – Monday, Moshava Stadium: Maccabi Petach Tikva – Maccabi Tel Aviv (21:00)
Did you miss Petach Tikva already? Don’t worry. Just five days after their first contest, the two squads will play again, this time on Matchday 22 of the Ligat Ha’Al as Petach Tikva still hasn’t lost a home encounter this season.

February 18th – Saturday, Netanya Stadium: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Kiryat Shemona (20:30)
Yet another tough match is on tap for Maccabi as they face the Northern Capital side, welcoming Kiryat Shemona for a Matchday 23 Ligat Ha’Al game. Last time the two teams met, Vidar Kjartannson scored a dramatic late game winner to complete a brace for the Yellow & Blue. However, since then Tomer Kashtan’s crew has moved into the top 6 of the league.

February 25th – Saturday, Netanya Stadium: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Bnei Yehuda (20:30)
The Hatikva Neighborhood Club may be near the bottom of the table, but Maccabi must be very careful with this tricky Matchday 24 encounter. For those that don’t remember, Bnei Yehuda defeated the Yellow & Blue both in the first round of league play and the Toto Cup.

Winter Collection Sale 1+1! (1/2-28/2)
The transfer window may be about to close, so now’s a great time to check out this amazing sale. Coats, jackets, vests, hoodies and more are 1+1 throughout the month of February. Get going to the nearest Official Maccabi Tel Aviv Club Store or the Online Shop and find the items that you really want!

Don’t say we didn’t tell you: Get your Maccabi Purim Costumes this month!
The most colorful holiday of the year is coming up in March, but why wait until the last minute. Get your Maccabi Tel Aviv costumes, 2016/17 jerseys and shorts plus official socks and a mask of one of your favorite Yellow & Blue stars. And don’t forget to send us your pictures!

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Turkish club Rizespor for Nosa Igiebor’s sale for EUR 500,000.

The 26-year-old Nigerian midfielder who joined Maccabi in July 2014 from Real Betis scored 6 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions and a total of 16 goals in 109 appearances. 

Igiebor  told the club’s official website: “I would like to thank everyone at Maccabi Tel Aviv for the support I received during my time at the club: the owner Mitch Goldhar, Jordi Cruyff all the coaches I played under and the teammates I played alongside. A big thank you to the medical staff as well the Maccabi fans. Today I am ending a happy period in Israel but also starting in new one in Turkey which is not too far away. I am going to miss Tel Aviv, Israel and all my friends but as I will be about an hour flight away I promise to come and visit when I can. I wish Maccabi all the best for this season and the future as the battle is far from over. Keep fighting as you all know it is still possible. I am super proud to have worn the Yellow jersey of Maccabi a club”.

Sports Director Jordi Cruyff added: “We would all like to thank Nosa for his contribution to Maccabi Tel Aviv. His contribution was very important especially in the European qualifying campaigns of the past two years scoring important goals for us. As well as being respected by his colleagues in the dressing room, Nosa was highly regarded by all the coaches who trained him at the club. I am happy for the deal he received which is good both for Nosa and the club especially as his contract at Maccabi runs out in four-months-time”.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will take on Maccabi Petach Tikva in Israel State Cup quarterfinal first leg play on Wednesday February 8th at 21:00 at the Moshava Stadium. Tickets are now on sale and Maccabi fans will be seated in sections 10-14 (Unreserved).

Tickets may be purchased at the Leaan Ticket Agency Office located at 101 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv, via telephone *8780 and the at the Leaan Website.

Please note:
Home Printing is available for this match

Ticket Prices

Leaan Ticket Office 101 Dizengoff Street – 55 NIS

Telephone *8780/Website – 60 NIS

On Matchday should tickets remain – 50 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.

Vidar Kjartansson’s brace brought his league scoring total to 10 goals, which means the Icelander is now Maccabi’s goal scoring leader this season.

In addition, he now sits in second place amongst the league’s leading goal scorers tied with Ben Sahar while Tony Nwaekame is in first place with 11 strikes.

Kjartansson has scored 7 goals throughout all competitions in the month of January out of a total of 13 he’s scored for the Club to date.

Dor Micha assisted on Kjartansson’s second goal of the match for his 8th helper this season in all competitions.

Egor Filipenka started all of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s matches during the month of January.

Eyal Golasa ran the most for the Yellow & Blue against Haifa going 11km during the contest. Yossi Benayoun, who played 120 minutes just last Wednesday against Hapoel Raanana in the State Cup checked in with 10.5km while Kjartansson was third with 10.4km.

Omri Ben Harush was the fastest on the pitch at any one point in the game pacing himself at 33.6kph. Winger Tal Ben Chaim came in right behind him with 33.5kph.