Maccabi Tel Aviv begins a new era today as the club welcomes new coach Slavisa Jokanovic who just landed in Israel

The Serbian coach will hold his first practice on Tuesday as the players will be coming back to start preparations for the 2015/16 season. Those on the Israel National Team will return on Friday and all of the players will begin training camp by undergoing medical checkup.

https://youtu.be/WhWLE8iTxGQ

Along with Jokanovic arrives Maccabi's new assistant coaches, Javier Pereira and Alberto Escobar as the first challenge for the Yellow-and-Blue will be the UEFA Champions League 2nd round qualifying in mid-July. Maccabi's opponent for the two-legged tie will be drawn at the UEFA offices in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday.

 

Haviv Ohayon one of Maccabi's 'keepers has already shown us how far he can kick the ball. Now it's time to challenge him on the pitch at Kiryat Shalom! The Haviv Challenge, final chapter!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3de0MJQ6S4

for mobile, click here

Haviv Ohayon one of Maccabi's 'keepers has already shown us how far he can kick the ball. Now it's time to challenge him on the pitch at Kiryat Shalom! The Haviv Challenge, chapter two

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

For mobile view, click here

 

The 1980's won't be remembered as one the most successful decades for Maccabi Tel Aviv as the club only won two Israel State Cups.  After winning the league championship in 1979 it took Maccabi another 13-years to capture the title again. However, back on June 18, 1989, club chairman Danny Laufer began to put Maccabi's house back in order and signed two Israeli football greats.

Uri Malmilian and Avi Cohen (Jerusalem) both Beitar Jerusalem stars signed with Maccabi in one of the biggest moves ever made in Israeli sports history. The pair triggered the turn around of the team and put the Yellow-and-Blue back on track. Once the dust settled and the shock subsided both players acclimated very well to their new surroundings. Malmilian and Cohen played an integral role not just as seasoned veterans but to be a positive influence on the club's youngsters and aid in their development including Avi Nimni, Itzik Zohar, Nir Klinger and others.

In Malmilian's first year with Maccabi, the 1989/90 season, he already began paying dividends leading the league in goals with 16. Avi Cohen also showed his ware by becoming one of the club's greatest right backs in helping the team win the 1991/92 championship and picking up the "Footballer of the Year" award.

The 1991/92 campaign will go down as one of Maccabi's greatest seasons with Avram Grant as coach, Malmilian leading the club on the pitch, Avi Cohen (Jerusalem) scoring 17-goals as a right back, 'keeper Aleksandr "Shura" Uvarov manning the goal, tough defender/midfielder Aleksandr Polukarov and the youngsters all bringing back the title to Maccabi after 13 long years!

Javier ‘Javi’ Periera and Alberto Escobar will join Maccabi Tel Aviv’s coaching staff as the assistants of Slavisa Jokanovic

photo: www.realvalladolid.es & watford.com

Haviv Ohayon one of Maccabi's 'keepers has already shown us how far he can kick the ball. Now it's time to challenge him on the pitch at Kiryat Shalom! The Haviv Challenge, chapter one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0ieQEls1tY

To watch on mobile click here

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC introduced a new partnership with UNICEF two months ago at the club's Gala evening. As part of the event there were a number of items that went up for auction including a signed Eran Zahavi shoe, a signed 2012/13 championship jersey as well as dinner for two with the players and more. All of the auction proceeds went to support UNICEF.

On Tuesday Jonny Cline, CEO of UNICEF Israel visited the club's offices and was presented with a check in the amount of 354,000 NIS by Maccabi CEO Martin Bain representing the funds that had been collected for the organization from the Gala evening.
 

After the presentation Jonny Cline, UNICEF Israel CEO said: "The partnership between Maccabi and UNICEF has taken all of us to new heights. The exposure from this cooperation is giving our programs for the children of Israel a huge boost and from here on in I can only see a very bright future for all involved."

Maccabi Tel Aviv owner Mitch Goldhar visited the Yad Ezer L'Haver Home for Holocaust survivors in Haifa on the day of the Israel State Cup final against Hapoel Beer Sheva. While there he was able to meet with some of the survivors as the manager of the home made a presentation to call the facility after Mr. Goldhar's mother who survived the Holocaust.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0hp2sWsmSs

Mitch Goldhar: "This is a grateful gift that you invited me here today. There are important things and then there are important things, this is a community of Holocaust survivors, and we have to come show our respect and let them know that we are thinking about them.

Being here now puts things into perspective. When we focus on soccer (football) that’s the most important thing but when you come to a place like this is, it puts things into context. So we have to always remember where soccer fits into the bigger context, there are things that are more important and this is the kind of place that reminds you.  will always remember this and keep it in my heart"

 

photo: watfordfc.com

Minutes after signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv, new coach Slavisa Jokanovic gave his first exclusive interview to the Official Maccabi Tel Aviv Website! We asked our new manager what he knows about Maccabi, his philosophy as a coach, the challenges that lie in front of him, his time as a player and he offers a special message to the millions of Macacbi Tel Aviv supporters throughout the world.

"I know that Maccabi Tel Aviv is the most important Israeli club, and they are the current champions of Israel. Maccabi did a very good job last season winning the Treble, but the team wants to improve and continue building and I want to improve as well. This will be a great challenge for both me and the club.

It's a big responsibly to take over a team that won the Israeli Treble and that are headed into the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. In many countries including Israel, the months of July and August are the most important months of the year. Not only is it the beginning of the season but Maccabi wants to take important steps in Europe and it's our dream to make it to the Champions League. This will be a great challenge and we must be positive going into this competition. All of us will have to push very hard in the same direction so we can make a great summer out of the upcoming matches! It's not an easy job in front of us but anything and everything is possible.

As a manager I had a great season with Watford and the club was promoted to the English Premier League, but this is just a memory now as I have the chance to coach Maccabi. The Tel Aviv management really wanted me for this position and they believe in me, my abilities and philosophy. It's a pleasure for me to be with Maccabi going forward. My coaching philosophy is simple, we will be a dominating team, but no one from the players to coaches will be a dominating force within the club. We will play good football and get solid chances to win games. Our season starts very soon and we will be very prepared and play clever football. It's time to start from the beginning and we will all be ready for this challenge.

I played for many years and had a long football career. Playing in Spain for a number of clubs was great but my year with Deportivo La Coruna was very special and one of best years I had as we won the Spanish League title that season. I have been living a footballer's life for a very long time and all these experiences have made me the coach I am today.

Most importantly I have a message for the Macacbi Tel Aviv supporters. Not only do I believe in myself, but I also believe in the people around me. With that philosophy, everything is possible as long as we remain positive, and believe me I understand the responsibility of being in charge of this very important club. I am ready for the challenge and I won't ask the supporters for patience as we have to begin preparations immediately in order to be ready for the very important games coming up. This will be the first challenge. I also know that Maccabi has great fans and they will push us and they will always be with us. Our job is to support them and to give them the results they deserve so they will be proud of the team and how Maccabi will play this coming season."

Slavisa, congratulations and welcome to the Maccabi Tel Aviv family

 

photo:WATFORDFC.COM

Maccabi Tel Aviv are pleased this evening to confirm the appointment of Slavisa Jokanovic as the Club’s first team coach

The 46 year old  Serbian has agreed terms with Maccabi Tel Aviv having last season managed English Club Watford FC and successfully achieved their promotion to  the English Premier League.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Club owner Mitch Goldhar  said: “ We are extremely pleased to secure the services of Slavisa especially after his recent success and the obvious  interest of other clubs after his successful campaign in the English Championship . He is an experienced coach and is equipped to take Maccabi to the next stage of the Club’s development . There is no doubt that his playing career including international appearances and his managerial roles since 2007 will assist Maccabi in both our domestic and European challenges   . Slavisa was highly recommended and  a stand out from a number of other candidates having made a real impression on Club management . ”

Jokanovic started his playing career at his boyhood city of Novi Sad before joining Vojvodina and then moving on to Belgrade giants Partizan. A switch to Spain saw the defensive midfielder sign for Real Oviedo, Tenerife, Deportivo La Coruna and Chelsea before a return to Spain to play for Murcia where he retired in 2004. At international level Jokanovic represented Yugoslavia 6 times and Serbia and Montenegro on 58 other occasions. Jokanovic’s coaching career began with Partizan and included Thailand outfit Muangthong United, Levski Sofia of Bulgaria, Spanish side Hercules and Watford.