Maccabi Tel Aviv faces Viktoria Plzen at Bloomfield Stadium on Tuesday night at 20:30 in the first-leg of UEFA Champions League third round qualifying matches. One of the central and veteran players on Plzen is midfielder Daniel Kolar who has graced the pitch for the Czech Champions since 2008.

Kolar (29), played most of his youth career with Sparta Prague before moving to their senior side in 2003. His big break occurred when he transferred to Viktoria Plzen in 2008, then coached by current Czech National Team manager, Pavel Vrba. Kolar developed into an integral part of the club and helped Plzen become a dominating force over the past 7 seasons. In over 175 appearances for Plzen, Kolar has registered 55 goals while also representing the Czech Republic on 23 occasions.

The Club's Official Website had chance to have an exclusive discussion with Daniel Kolar about his upcoming trip to Israel, his expectations and what Maccabi can look forward to in Plzen.

Q: What do you know about Maccabi Tel Aviv?

A: Maccabi Tel Aviv is a traditional team from Israel. They won three titles in the last few years and have very good players as well as some members from various national teams. Maccabi have a very good team and it will be a very tough fight against them. What I do know from our scouts is that the atmosphere at the stadium was amazing last week – but fair at the same moment. I'm looking forward to playing there.

Q: Viktoria Plzen has visited Tel Aviv in the past and played Hapoel Tel Aviv. What was your impression of the city and Bloomfield Stadium?

A: We have really good memories of Tel Aviv. Of course we saw basically just the airport, hotel and stadium but just from the bus the city looks very nice, historical and friendly. Bloomfield Stadium is a nice stadium, we had everything we needed and the atmosphere was very impressive – but I suppose this time it´s gonna be ever better. And first of all – we won both matches against Hapoel that´s why the memories are good for me.

Q: Will the fact that you are playing the first leg away and the return leg at home be an advantage for Plzen?

A: I hope so. We love to play at our stadium, our fans are going to help us a lot. But both matches have the same importance. I have played rounds when we started away and we didn't go through. We will see what happens on the pitch.

 Q: Similar to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Plzen has also dominated the Czech league with 3 titles in the past five years – what is the secret?

A: Both teams have good players and the clubs try to do their best to stay at the top. I think for both teams the biggest motivation is to play in Europe – and therefore you need to be successful in the domestic league. It´s a very interesting comparison between Czech and Israeli football.

Q: Both Maccabi and Plzen have a similar amount of national team players (5-6). How signifiant is that?

A: It just confirms the quality of both teams. It´s a big honor for the players to be part of the national team – and it´s a big honor for the teams to have so many players represented. Even from this point of view it´s going to be a very interesting game.

 Q: Even the two stadiums seem to be the same, at least as far as the size, (14,000 capacity). What type of atmosphere should Maccabi players and fans expect at the Doosan Arena?

A: We have great fans who support us even when things go wrong. The atmosphere in Plzen will be stormy, but I expect the same in Tel Aviv. I can't wait for the matches!

Maccabi Tel Aviv has a critical week ahead of them as they will go up against Viktoria Plzen toe-to-toe in UEFA Champions League third round qualifying. After the first-leg at Bloomfield Stadium on Tuesday night, the club will fly to the Czech Republic for the return-leg the following week and you can win the opportunity to join them on their flight as the "12th player" and see your heroes up close at the Doosan Arena.

How do you enter the contest?

 Go to one of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Team Stores at either 147 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv or at Cinema City Rishon Le'Zion or the Online Store on Maccabi Tel Aviv's Official Website between July 26-August 1 and purchase a brand new official 2015/16 jersey. Fill in all of your details at the store or online including your phone number and email address and make sure you hold onto your receipt and you'll be entered into the contest!

On Sunday August 2nd at 14:00 we'll send an SMS with a Maccabi Tel Aviv trivia question to all of those fans who purchased an official jersey at one of the Team Stores or through the Online Store between July 26-August 1, 2015. The first fan to answer the trivia question correctly will win a "Trip for Two" to cheer on Maccabi against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic! The prize package will include flights for you and a guest to the Czech Republic on the team charter airplane, hotel accommodations for one night in Plzen and of course a pair of tickets to the Champions League qualifying match to support Maccabi in your new official match jersey at the Doosan Arena!

Participation in the competition is subject to the official rules and regulations

Welcome to the brand new program hosted by Yarden Appleboim that will bring you all of the pictures, interviews and scoops from the past week while getting you ready for the week ahead! Check out Episode 1 of "The Locker Room"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkOOEVkrPDo

For mobile, Click here

 

 

 

 

This coming Tuesday, Maccabi Tel Aviv will face Viktoria Plzen at Bloomfield Stadium in the first-leg of the UEFA Champions League third round qualifying matches

Prior to Plzen's arrival in Israel, The Sports Rabbi Josh Halickman spoke to three reporters who intimately cover the Czech League and gave a rundown about what to expect from the League Champions.

Jan Vacek a reporter for Denik Sport, iSport.cz will accompany Viktoria Plzen to Israel for the match on Tuesday and thinks that Plzen is going to be a very tough opponent for the Yellow-and-Blue: "Viktoria Plzen is the best team in the Czech Republic and not only did they win the league but they won the Super Cup as well. They have some of the top Czech players and also happens to be the best team that chairman Adolf Sadek has ever assembled.

The club has many young players who have been together for a number of years and they also have a very experienced midfielder in Daniel Kolar who is a fantastic playmaker, with great skills and vision and is the heart and soul of the club. Plzen plays a 4-2-3-1 with five midfielders and will play with one striker who will most probably be Bosnian Aidin Mahmutovic with Jan Holenda coming off of the bench."

Ian Hunt, an Englishman living in Prague attended 127 matches last season spread over the various divisions and leagues and feels that the key this year will perhaps be hardline coach Miroslav Koubek: "The manager is not afraid to drop players if they aren't performing and always makes sure to have proper backups as replacements. He's very astute and has been a veteran coach in the league for many, many years."

Chris Boothroyd who runs the CZEFOOTBALL.COM website took a step back to former coach Pavel Vrba, who is the current Czech National Team boss and the architect of Viktoria Plzen between 2008-2013: "Vrba took a mid-table side and turned them into a contender by bringing in players who had been underutilized at other clubs. He is a very forward thinking coach and his philosophy is similar to that of Bayern Munich and Barcelona. Because of that, Plzen now plays very attractive and modern football. Vrba felt that the league had been stagnating tactically and he brought something different to the table. Once money from advancing in European competitions began coming in, the ball just kept on rolling from there."

Though the side doesn't feature any stars, there are a number of players to watch out for, says Hunt: "The team's best defense is their offense as they have two fantastic backs with left back David Limbersky and right back Roman Rajtoral. They can cross extremely well, defend when called upon and they are a threat from both sides of the pitch." Boothroyd concurred and also added that: "Jan Kopic who came over from third place side Jablonec will be the number 10 and one to watch out for."

However, there are positions that will be vulnerable to a Maccabi Tel Aviv attack explains Hunt: "Central defenders Vaclav Prochazka and Roman Hubrik are good, but suspect as they can be beaten. Plzen may concede some goals but they will score too. If the strikers Mahmutovic and Holenda can't get service from the backs and midfielders then they will have problems scoring on their own." 

Another factor that Hunt feels will help Plzen is that they will be hosting the second-leg at home in Doosan Arena: "The stadium seats 12,000 and it will be loud, raucous and intimidating for the visiting side, but by no means unpleasant. There won't be fan trouble but there will be a lot of noise and displays by the Plzen Boys to help the team as the 12th man."

Expectations are high for Viktoria Plzen to advance to the group stages this season after being knocked out of Europe last year and Hunt feels we are about to witness two great matches: "This is a fascinating tie. The games will be good and close between two excellent teams with no heavy favorite. Plzen has a certain confidence, but they are not arrogant. They are confident from previous performances and how Koubek has the team working together. But by no means will this be easy."

 

The Maccabi Tel Aviv captain is celebrating his 28th birthday today. Instead of telling you about his great moments in the Yellow-and-Blue, you can watch them all right here. Congratulations Captain! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPml_sz1me0

For mobile, Click here

Maccabi Tel Aviv's newest player Avi Rikan was at the Team Store in Cinema City, Rishon Le'Zion where he met with supporters and signed his brand new jersey with his name and number for those fans who purchased it!

Since landing in Israel early Thursday morning and signing with Maccabi, Rikan has been extremely active: "Yes it's been a very busy 24 hours since I've been back in Israel and I already participated in a practice today. It's been a lot of fun to meet my friends and the professional staff at Kiryat Shalom."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BojlGKGro9c

Rikan also talked about why he returned to play in Israel: "I came back to Israel because Maccabi Tel Aviv is a European club in every way, shape and form as they want to advance in European competition. In Switzerland I played for a big team but the current situation was one where I couldn't continue with the club and I needed to find a new home and new challenge for myself. I'm really happy that I came to Maccabi Tel Aviv, a club that has a lot of ambition and wants to go to the next level.

I was away for a couple of years and it's great to be back. I received a bunch of messages from Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and it's fun to be back, but I'll need to rest a bit in order to work even harder and to be the strongest that I can be."

On getting the number 22 jersey and the pressure playing for Maccabi, Rikan commented: "Every number that I would've gotten at Maccabi comes with great responsibility. There have been a lot of players who have worn many of the numbers and if I can give a third of what (Rada) Prica gave to the club everyone including myself will be happy.

I'm not afraid of the pressure or the expectations. I came to Maccabi Tel Aviv too give the maximum that I can. On Tuesday (against Viktoria Plzen) and throughout the season I'll be available to help with whatever needs to be done. It's a long season and once I get more used to the system and I get to know everyone I'll be to lend a hand even more.

 

It's not easy to succeed here as there are many good players at Maccabi. But I will work my hardest to achieve the targets and goals that we all have ahead of us."

 

This afternoon Maccabi Tel Aviv announced the signing of Avi Rikan to a three-year contract after undergoing a medical examination as the club reached an agreement with FC Zurich on his transfer

Just minutes after signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Avi Rikan spoke to the club's Official Website about his return to Israel, his time in Switzerland, expectations and what to look forward to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47O2Vw8xuEE

For mobile, click here

"I'm happy to join a big club like Maccabi Tel Aviv and it's a great feeling. Even though I played in Switzerland the last two years, as an Israeli I always kept up-to-date with the Israeli League. I saw how the club has advanced including winning all of the titles over that period of time. There are a lot of expectations but I know where I've come and I feel great about it!

Obviously the upcoming match on Tuesday is what we're all focusing on, but we can't forget that the league is going to begin soon and there are a lot of goals that we want to achieve. Maccabi Tel Aviv is club that has won so many titles including the league and Israel State Cup last year so we will have to try and keep those with us as well so I'm here to help."

Rikan talked about his time away from Israel: "Although I was in Switzerland the last two years, I'm the same height and I have the same smile. I've worked on my game and I won a Swiss Cup as well as played in the Europa League group stages. I gained a lot of experience and I know that I'm no longer a boy.  I come here as a 27 year-old and I understand the expectations that the club has put on me. It's very exciting and it's a big honor that Maccabi wanted to bring me to the team and I'll have to work very, very hard to make sure I do my best."

Some of the Yellow-and-Blue players are familiar to the multi dimensional Rikan: "I played with Maccabi players in the past, when I was with Beitar Jerusalem and the Israel National Team, including Eran, Tal Ben Haim, Dor Micha whom I've gotten to know a lot better recently. Of course Gal and Yoav I know from Beitar Jerusalem. Great guys.

On having to wear number 22 and playing in front of the Maccabi faithful, Rikan explained: "I know I'm wearing number 22 but there weren't many numbers available to choose from and I'm aware that there are expectations even related to that. Every number on Maccabi Tel Aviv has a responsibility that comes with it.

I played at Bloomfield Stadium against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the past, but now I'm on the same side as the supporters and it's a great feeling. I'm looking forward to my first match" 

 

Avi Rikan signed this afternoon on a three-tear-deal at Maccabi Tel Aviv having successfully undergone a medical after the club reached an agreement with Swiss outfit FC Zurich on his transfer.
Rikan, 26, joined FC Zurich from Beitar Jerusalem at the start of 2013/14 and in his first season won the Swiss Cup. In two seasons in Switzerland, the left footed midfielder who can also play as a wing-back made 49 appearances scoring 10 goals and adding 8 assists.

After his signing, Rikan, who received the number 22 shirt at the club’s official new store in Kiryat Shalom, told the club’s official website: ”I’m delighted to join such a big and glorious club as Maccabi Tel Aviv. I am very excited from the return to Israel, meeting my new teammates some of whom I already know very well from my time in Beitar Jerusalem and the national team. I played at Bloomfield stadium on several occasions but with the visiting team so I have quite fond memories from Maccabi’s fans. I am certain, that this time, when they will be behind me the experience will be much more exciting. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s first training session, and even more than that, the first match at Bloomfield”.

 Sports Director Jordi Cruyff told the club's official website of the new recruit: "We are delighted to sign a player with Avi Rikan who enjoyed a successful career in Switzerland and will certainly strengthen the squad on the left, giving us both experience and versatility".

Maccabi Tel Aviv advanced to the third round of UEFA Champions League qualifying matches and will face Czech side Viktoria Plzen next week at Bloomfield Stadium after a 5:1 victory over Hibernians

The Yellow-and-Blue atoned for their 1:2 defeat to Hibernians last week in Malta with a 5:1 home victory at Bloomfield Stadium winning on aggregate 6:3. The supporters were out in full force cheering on their heroes throughout the game and helped Maccabi celebrate their return to home in style!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KDoNKB4_8s

For mobile, click here

Man of the Match Eran Zahavi caused fits for the visiting side all night long as his insertion into the starting lineup gave Head Coach Slavisa Jokanovic a different look offensively and many more options on the pitch. The captain was a constant scoring threat throughout the match, continuously slicing and dicing the Hibernians defense for the full 90-minutes. Not only did Zahavi score two goals, the first of which was a penalty in the second half, but his presence allowed for wingers Tal Ben Chaim and Dor Micha more freedom and space to execute plays and catch the Hibernians players off guard.

Maccabi began the game on fire trying to find a quick goal and put the pressure on the visitors, however it took until the 32nd minute when Brazilian striker Jorginho scored an own goal off an Eran Zahavi corner kick to put Maccabi in front 1:0.

The slim 1:0 lead would have been good enough for Maccabi to advance, but in the 52nd minute a Gilmar corner kick found Rodolfo Soares who evened up the score at 1:1. This forced Maccabi to press even more as they would now need at least two more goals to move ahead in qualifying. Now only would they get the two goals, they would get four more.

Speedster Tal Ben Chaim was pulled down in the Hibernians box resulting in a penalty that Zahavi would convert in the 58th minute to make the score 2:1 for Maccabi. Then just three minutes later Ben Chaim would score a goal of his own to make it 3:1 and the rout was on.

Nosa Igiebor would join the scoring parade as he also put the ball behind Hibernians 'keeper Borg off a Zahavi free kick and to put the cherry on top of Maccabi's first European match at Bloomfield Stadium in over a year-and-half Zahavi would score his second of the match in the 90th minute.