Category: News

Peter Bosz meets the corporate sponsors

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After coaching his first four matches with the club, Peter Bosz had the opportunity to meet with the club’s business partners. The Head Coach along with his assistant Hendrie Kruzen arrived at the Mexican restaurant, “La Otra” for an evening dedicated to Maccabi’s sponsors. Representatives from HP, HISENSE, UNICEF, KOPELL, Nivea, Adidas and MSN were all at the Imperial Hotel restaurant for a Mexican experience with lots of alcohol.

The club’s CEO, Martin Bain welcomed the honored guests and invited them to try preparing cocktails under the staff’s guidance. Even Head Coach Peter Bosz rolled up his sleeves with a “Bloody Mary” and a mixture of the “Martinez” cocktail. At the end of the evening each guest received a personal gift package by Indigo from HP that included a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky and concluded that: “We will carry the memories from this evening for a long time and we’ll open the bottle when the club gives us a good reason to do so.”

Transfer Window Maccabi’s first ever acquisition

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The January transfer window is officially underway as Maccabi Tel Aviv came to terms with Portuguese striker Orlando Sa last evening. Since Sa became the first acquisition of 2016, the time is right to take a look back at Maccabi’s first ever player acquisition that took place many, many years ago.

Itzhak Shneor Z”l was born in Poland during the year 1925 and moved to Israel when he יצחק שניאורwas seven years old. He began his footballing career with Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle who at the time was the top club in the country. Shneor also won the State Cup with the team before the British Army disbanded the competition. The reason that it was disbanded was because many of the players were part of the Etzel organization, including Shneor himself who took part in covert operations.

In 1949, Shneor moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv and became the first ever transfer acquisition by the club. During those times, the players weren’t full time professional footballers and had to work other jobs in order to make a living. As part of the transfer, the club also helped Shneor get a job as a driver with the “Dan” Bus Company. The former Maccabi plaיצחק שניאורyers from that era still remember him as a driver on the #4 route and the fans used to come out and give him all of their love and support.

Shneor played with the Yellow-and-Blue for seven seasons and won four League Titles along with two State Cups. Not only was he an all-time footballing great, Shneor also won a Championship as the coach of the club before becoming part of iconic coaching duo of Shneor & Grundman who led the Israel National Team between 1988-1992.

Itzhak Shneor passed away at the age of 86 in 2011 and will always be remembered as one of the best ever to don the Maccabi Tel Aviv kit.

Holocaust Survivor Zvi Mel speaks to Youth Department

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Today, Wednesday, marks the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, when the world looks back at the terrible tragedy that befell all of mankind and especially the Jewish People. The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department took the opportunity to educate the players about the horrors that occurred during this very dark time in history. The Under-15 side of Ran Elias were honored to hear from Zvi Mel, a Holocaust survivor and longtime Maccabi Tel Aviv fan talk about his own experiences.

Mel discussed his difficult upbringing as a child when his German friends became his enemies, his family’s travels, losing many friends and acquaintances along the way and the incredible survival of a little boy who lost his whole world.

The young players were fascinated by his personal journey and at the end of the presentation asked what helped him survive the Holocaust and how he felt making it through the inferno to begin a family in Israel. Following the program, the players presented Mel a gift who emotionally thanked the children. Zvi Mel’s life story can be found in his autobiography.

  • מאמנה של נערים ג'2 רן אליאס

  • נערים ג' מקשיבים לסיפורו של ניצול השואה צבי מל

Meni’s Cup

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A typical season of football has many ups and downs. For Maccabi Tel Aviv the 2001/02 year was definitely a season that shared many difficult moments plus also had some times of joy but it will always be remembered as the year when Meni Levi collapsed on the Teddy Stadium pitch.

Fourteen year have gone by since Meni Levi collapsed in Jerusalem on January 26, 2002. One of the most amazing things that occurred during that year was how the players, staff and fans all came together joining in support of the defender. Levi was honored at every match that season and when the Yellow-and-Blue advanced to the State Cup final against Maccabi Haifa at Ramat Gan Stadium, there was one mission that had to be accomplished – win the cup for Meni.ניר לוין

Nir Levin coached the 2001/02 side and spoke about what feelings he experienced during the year: “It was a very emotionally charged season. With Meni collapsing in Jerusalem and with the problems that we had all year, the club really suffered as a whole.”

Levin also recalled the moment when the team advanced to the State Cup final: “The team began to play well near the end of the season and defeated Hapoel Petach Tikva 5:1 in the State Cup semi final match and met Maccabi Haifa in the final that probably featured that franchise’s best squad of all time.” Levin reflected back on the match and remembered how difficult it was to celebrate: “We were happy that we won the cup, but something was missing without Meni being there with us. It didn’t have the same feeling like it did last year. Before the match, Meni’s name was everywhere and after the victory we went to visit him at Beit Loewenstein. It was such a drastic change going from the joy of winning the cup to the sadness of seeing our teammate. It was very difficult.”

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Baruch Dego also spoke about the tough times he experienced that season: “We’re going a long way back. Before the match we really thought a lot about Meni. It was a traumatic experience that every single one of the layers had to deal with the whole season. When we played in the State Cup final we wanted to to take the title. That way the whole Levi family could come together and give strength and a bit of happiness to try and damper the sadness that we all had felt during the year.”

Dego also spoke about the transition between winning the cup and then going to visit Meni at the rehabilitation center: “Beit Loewenstein is not an easy place to visit. It was very emotional to be there with him and the cup, but it was also very painful. It was such a crazy change from one minute to the next. His family was hurting and broken and when we arrived we forgot all about the celebrations we had just been having.”

The striker continued to talk about the perspective he gained that same day: “You understand that good health comes before everything and that the win was just a small thing that we could do to help relieve a bit of the family’s pain as well as the team’s and the club. The match that wasn’t easy, the penalties, celebration, it was all forgotten in an instant. I hope that no team, club or person ever has to deal with the challenges that we had to face during that season.”

Meet Orlando Sa

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The Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club is happy to announce that Portuguese striker Orlando Sa has agreed to terms on a 3.5 year contract. The 27-year old arrives at Maccabi after a half a year stint with English club, Reading of the Football League Championship.

The Yellow-and-Blue’s new striker began his career at S.C. Braga from Portugal. In 2007, Sa advanced to their First Team and went on loan to Maria Fonte of the Portuguese third division. The following year, 2008, Sa made his full debut for Braga playing in the Primeira Liga. Maccabi’s new striker them moved to Porto in 2009 and subsequently played for Nacional, AEL Limassol, Legia Warsaw and Reading where he scored five goals this season.

Watch the new striker in action

Sa came into his own while playing in Cyprus with AEL Limassol where he scored 25 goals. In February 2014 he transferred to Poland and scored one goal in seven appearances helping his new side to the league championship. The following season Sa played in 35 matches and scored 14 goals while winning the Polish State Cup. That same year he was voted Legia’s MVP and attracted the attention of Reading who purchased him on a three year contract. Sa made 15 appearances for the English outfit and scored five goals before arriving at his next destination in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

ORLANDO SA SIGNS A 3.5 -YEAR-DEAL AT MACCABI

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Maccabi Tel Aviv FC completed the first new signing of the January transfer after Orlando Carlos Braga de Sa (188cm) successfully underwent a medical, signed a three and a half year-deal this morning and received the number 70 shirt.

The 27-year-old Portuguese striker who joined Reading in the summer from Polish side Legia Warsaw scored 5 league goals in 19 appearances for the Royals in the Championship.AQ7A0024

Maccabi’s CEO Martin Bain told the clubs’ official website: “Our owner Mitch Goldhar is committed to continuing to develop the club across all levels so it is especially pleasing to note that our recent success and European participation is helping to attract players such as Orlando”.

Maccabi’s Sports Director Jordi Cruyff added: “Maccabi’s forward line is an area which everyone agrees needs strengthening and Orlando’s proven goal-record speaks for itself. He is a strong player with presence and we believe he will be an asset for Maccabi Tel Aviv”.

The 27-year-old striker told the clubs’ official website: “I am happy to be joining a club such as Maccabi Tel Aviv. I heard a lot about the atmosphere at home matches and hope to help my new teammates win as many titles as possible”.

Sa, who has 1 appearance for the Portuguese national side as well as 10 goals in 15 appearances for the U-21’s and U-20’s national sides, began his playing career at Sporting Braga’s youth department.

He joined Braga in 2004 aged 15 and made his step up youth to senior level in 2007 making his senior debut in 2009 on his return from Maria Fonte where he had spent the 2007/08 season on loan. Sa, then joined Portuguese Champions Porto for EUR 3 million in 2009 where he was loaned to C.D Nacional for

Ticket Sales Beitar Jerusalem Away Match

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Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Beitar Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium on Matchday 21 of the WINNER League. The match will take place on Monday night, February 1st at 20:55. Maccabi fans will be seated in the South stand and tickets may be purchased at the Maccabi Tel Aviv Team Stores.

Tickets will go on sale at the Team Stores on Tuesday January 26th at 15:00 on a CASH ONLY basis, while ticket sales on the Leaan Website will begin this evening. Tickets may also be purchased at the Leaan Ticket Agency 101 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv or by phone*8780.

To purchase via the Leaan website, click here

Ticket prices:

Ticket price at the Leaan Ticket Office and the Official Team Stores

Adult: 99₪

Child/Soldier/Woman: 49.5₪

Ticket price via telephone/Internet

Adult: 104₪

Child/Soldier/Woman: 54.5₪

Hours:

Official Team Store, 147 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv, Sunday-Thursday 10:00-20:00, Friday 09:30-15:00

Official Team Store, Cinema City, Rishon Le’Zion, Sunday-Wednesday 10:00-23:00, Thursday-Saturday 10:00-00:00

Official Team Store, Kiryat Shalom Training Facility, Sunday-Thursday 10:00-20:00, Friday 10:00-15:00

Leaan Ticket Office 101 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv: Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:30-13:00

“It’s a privilege to contribute to the community”

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As part of the ongoing activities of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department, the players from various age groups participate in bi-weekly events with the “Educating for Excellence” organization.

The non-profit organization helps reduce the social gaps and creates equal opportunities for children with potential for excellence who reside within Israel’s social and geographic periphery. Together with the Maccabi Youth Department, children from all age groups participate in joint programming led by coaches from the various teams.

Kfir Alfonte and Eliran Mizrachi who coach the Under-12 and Under-11 clubs spoke about the activities that they do with the organization’s children and what the Maccabi youth gain from the experience: “It’s a program where 10 children of different ages come to the Youth Department, “ Elfonte explained. “We bring our Under-12 and Under-11 sides and we have a tournament that features both the organization’s children and those from our youth department. We all enjoy it very much, and our kids also understand the importance of these programs.”

The coach also discussed what the “Educating for Excellence” children gain from the activities: “I believe that the children from ‘Educating for Excellence’ feel that they are doing something that at first they believed they couldn’t do and it gets them closer to their dreams. These children are very special and there are even two kids that perhaps could join Maccabi in the future.”

Eliran Mizrachi who also leads the joint programs, commented about the activities from his point of view: “We began these activities 2-3 years ago with the youngest age groups in the department. This year we’ve done a number of groups with them and it’s been a lot of fun. We are teaching them what Maccabi Tel Aviv is and we are giving them the opportunity to play with children who are terrific players at their same age.”

Mizrachi continued talking about what the Maccabi children gain from the experience as well: “This imbues patience in their understanding of other children, the fact that there are others who aren’t as fortunate as them and don’t have the opportunities to obtain the tools succeed. Working together with them on the pitch, with players of different levels gives them the chance to enjoy the programming and this is the message that we also want to send to their schools. We want them to understand that they are role models even at this young age and to grasp what it means to be a player with Maccabi Tel Aviv and not take that fact for granted.”

In terms of the importance of these activities for the coaches, Mizrachi said: “We as coaches know and understand that it’s not just about being a professional on the pitch but off of it as well. Respect and good values come before everything else. It’s a privilege to contribute to the community and we do so with pride and joy.”