Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Ironi Kiryat Shmona this evening (kick off at 21:00); a win for the Yellows will crown them as league champions for 2014/15.

Two of Maccabi's  key players, Eran Zahavi and Gal Alberman, will be benched due to yellow card accumulation. Midfielder Gili Vermouth, who already played against Kiryat Shmona earlier this season, has been making his return to regular training  after injury and gave us his insight into tonight's match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X3Xe1uG-BA

“Kiryat Shmona is a quality team and they have been playing really well this season. It will be an interesting contest. We expect them to play hard in order to win the game. They basically have nothing to lose. We hope to do what we need to do and to win the game”.

Vermouth spoke about his return to regular training: “I am finally able to get back to regular training sessions. I started a few days ago and hope to soon be able to complete a full training session with my teammates. I'm feeling very good and am very pleased with the way my recovery has progressed”.

Maccabi Tel Aviv would like to thank our fans for their support throughout the season, the club is sure that the fans will continue their impressive support this evening against Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Along with this, the club wishes to remind supporters to abstain from any form of violent or racist behavior, both in and outside the stadium.  

 

TICKET SALES HAVE BEGUN FOR MACCABI'S MATCH AGAINST IRONI KIRYAT SHMONA

Maccabi Tel Aviv will return to Bloomfield Stadium after four away matches on Sunday May 17^th, to face Ironi Kiryat Shmona (kick off 20:55). The upcoming match will probably decide if Maccabi will win the league title for a third consecutive year.

Ticket sales for Sunday's match have begun. Tickets are now available for purchase at the official Maccabi Tel Aviv store and at "Leaan" ticket office in Tel Aviv.  Tickets are also available online, at Leean’s website.

In case additional tickets will be available on the day of the game, fans will be able to purchase them at the ticket boxes in Bloomfield Stadium.

To purchase your ticket online, click here.

TICKET PRICES

At the official Maccabi Tel Aviv merchandise store and at "Leaan" ticket offices:

Gate 4 – NIS 55

Gates 7/8 – regular price: NIS 100, women / soldiers / children to age 18: NIS 50

Gates 2/13 – NIS 110

Online or by telephone (03-5247373 / 8780*)

Gate 4 – NIS 60

Gates 7/8 – NIS 105

Gates 2/13 – NIS 115

At Bloomfield Stadium on the day of the game (only if available)

Gate 4 – NIS 50

Gates 7/8 – regular price: NIS 100, women / soldiers / children to age 18: NIS 50

Gates 2/13 – NIS 110

Tickets purchased online or by phone may be collected at the "Leaan" offices until noon on the day of the game (Sunday, May 17^th)

PRINT YOUR TICKET AT HOME

Tickets purchased online may be printed at home. If you have decided to place your order online and to print your ticket, you will receive an immediate conformation order. Once you select the "print at home" option, you will receive the conformation to your personal email account, including a PDF file of your ticket. The file must be opened promptly and to be printed on a regular A4 printer. If you do not receive an immediate confirmation, please check your junk or spam folders before inquiring with the ticket seller.

Once printed, you may use your ticket at the entrance to Bloomfield at the day of the game. Each printed ticket entitles the ticket holder to a single entry into the stadium. It is not possible to print the same ticket for multiple entries.

OPENING HOURS

The official Maccabi Tel Aviv merchandise store, 147 Dizengoff St. Tel Aviv – Monday to Thursday 10:00am to 8:00pm, Fridays 9.30am to 3:00pm

"Leaan" ticket office, 101 Dizengoff St. Tel Aviv – Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 7:00pm, Friday 9:00am to 1:00pm

 

 

The Youth team completed the mission of winning the championship officially after beating Beitar Tubruk 3:2 at home. At the end of the game Jordi Cruyff gathered the young players and spoke to them about the season from the club point of view: “Congratulations for a big success. You won it last week, but it was your moment to celebrate with the coaching staff. From the club point of view: we want to congratulate you. I think it’s been a special season for you because for a moment you were nine points ahead and then suddenly when you are not 100% focused, you go down. You had a big game in Haifa, which you fought very hard and won and then you made the final difference. It shows you a lesson that in football you always have to continue and to push. You can never allow yourselves to lower your intensity.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVq11d_IeDg

Cruyff then went on and spoke about the professional staff: “I would like to congratulate Nir and Ziv. It is very important to have a coach who doesn’t look only at the results, but also at the education. Sometimes he’s a tough man, he can take you out when you think you are playing fantastic, but that’s what we want and that’s what you need. Maybe you don’t understand it now, but you will understand in the future when you are older that it was a good lesson. For us, the education is more important than the, but if it’s possible to have them together it is the best thing that can happen to you, but also to the club and we are happy and proud to see that

Thank you for that way, even though it is not easy sometimes, but that’s our job. Enjoy your night. Be happy, celebrate big time today, you are allowed. Nobody will ask questions tomorrow. Take it with pride, because not everybody gets to win the league. Congratulations”.

 

 

Dror Kasthan’s team needed a single point to end a memorable season

The year: 1995/96

The place: Bloomfield Stadium

Maccabi Tel Aviv, lead by Head Coach Dror Kasthan, met Beitar Jerusalem with two games left in the season, knowing that a draw would be enough to secure the title.

The stadium in Jaffa was packed with 19,000 supporters. Everyone was prepared for a big day. The players were ready to play, champagne bottles were ready, a massive flag with Maccabi colors was prepared and the fans were roaring into the stands.  

Maccabi enjoyed one of its best years in the 1990's decade, thanks to a powerful squad with names such as Gadi Brumer, Eli Driks, Yevgeni Kashentsev, Nir Klinger, Avi Nimni, Noam Shoam, goalkeeper Alexander Uvarov and Itzik Zohar.

The first chance of the game arrived at the 22^nd minute. Eli Driks received an accurate cross by Gadi Brumer, but headed the ball wide and missed the target. Driks had another opportunity at the 41^th minute. Nimni received a great ball from Noam Shoam and immediately squared it to Driks who was wide open. Beitar’s keeper Itzik Kornfein saved the forward’s attempt and Klinger’s rebound shot missed the target by several inches.

Maccabi had another excellent opportunity to score when Eli Driks was fould inside the 16-yard box, one minute into the second half. Avi Nimni took the penalty, however Itzik Kornfein came on top with another great save.

It did not take much longer for Nimni to redeem himself and to give Maccabi the long awaited lead. At the 54^th minute Nir Klinger’s pass sliced Beitar’s defense and Nimni quickly dribbled past the keeper before calmly scoring from a tight angle. The 1-0 lead was kept until the 94^th minute when referee Meir Levi blew the final whistle. The players rushed to celebrate with their fans a second consecutive league title, an achievement that would become sweeter after winning the double shortly after. 

The 2014/15  season is coming to its home stretch as only three fixtures remain until the end of the season. Maccabi Tel Aviv will play a critical match on Sunday that can theoretically guaranty their third consecutive championship.

To make this amazing achievement, they will have to take on Ironi Kiryat Shmona at Bloomfield Stadium in front of the home crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXFC0JwsusQ

Coach Pako Ayestaran spoke about the match and the changes in the coaching positions of Maccabi’s rivals: “I don’t know the reasons for the change, and I have other things to worry about. I don’t think it will affect the final because players need to play their best every game. Now is the time that we can end up with all the trophies or none. We are in the right direction, but sometimes you can be very close to the summit and end up not reaching it. We will find the solutions for the players that are missing. I don’t feel the players are nervous. All season they were professional and nothing changed. It is true it has been a long season, but now everybody has to step up their game. As a coach I’m here to make decisions and the players need to be ready to play at the top of their game".

Nir Levin speaks about the U-19s who will lift the league title on Saturday

Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shachar’ will end their season this Saturday by lifting the league trophy. Ziv Arie’s players are about to finish a terrific season, and are now looking forward to receiving the reward they have been waiting for. This will be the eighth time Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shachar’ wins the U-19s league, which makes them the record-holders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSBI8dvAZq0

Nir Levin, who has been following the youngsters for a few years, spoke about the long road they have gone through: “This team has been through a lot together. Some of them have played under Ziv Arie in the U-16s team. The integration of talented players such as Sohil Armeli and Mavis Tchibota has been done perfectly. We are happy that all players, older and young have integrated well together”.

The youth division football director gave his view on the team’s season: “They knew how to overcome difficulties. Some joined the army during the season and some had other problems. The players showed great work ethic and personal discipline,and progressed enormously. They broke the goal-scoring record, which is unprecedented, especially with four players scoring in double digits. They haven’t scored many goals from set-plays, which means that most goals came from open-play. This is a result of great attacking coaching philosophy”.

“I want to invite the fans who supported us during the season to celebrate with us this Saturday. I know that the move to Ramla was difficult on some fans, but the benefits for the team were far greater. I think that playing here will better prepare the guys for playing conditions in the next level”.

The game will take place in Ramla Stadium at 11:00am and will be broadcasted on the Sports Channel. Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club wishes to invite its fans to cheer and celebrate with the young players on a special Yellow weekend.

 

 

Today, May 13^th, fifteen years ago, Maccabi’s legendary goalkeeper, Alexander Uvaruv played his last game for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Looking back on Uvarov’s career in Israel, we caught up with close friend and former teammate, Alexander Polukarov.

Fifteen years ago today, Maccabi hosted Beitar Jerusalem for the final game of the 1999/00 season. The game will not be remembered for Maccabi's 4-1 victory or the fact that Avi Nimni replaced the goalkeeper, but for the farewell to one of Maccabi’s greatest goalkeepers Alexander 'Shura' Uvarov, who played his last game in Maccabi’s goal.

Alexander Uvarov was Maccabi's first goalkeeper for nine seasons, winning three championships and two State Cups. Uvarov was a phenomenon during his time at the club. In order to explain the 'Shura' phenomenon, we caught up with one of his closest friends, Alexander Polukarov, who made the journey from Moscow to Israel at the beginning of the 1990's with Uvarov.

“I met Uvarov for the first time at the Moscow airport. I did not know him personally but we connected during the flight to Tel Aviv. We started training and took off with the team to the training camp. At the end of the camp, Coach Avram Grant told Uvarov and me that Maccabi were happy with us and they will sign us. That’s where it all started”.

Today, Alexander Polukarov manages a soccer school at the Russian club, Torpedo Moscow. He spoke to us shortly after watching a youth practice at the club. Looking back on their first days in Israel, he recalls how many people would confuse their names: “When we first got there people mixed up our names because they are quite similar. At some point Uvaruv asked to be called Shura, which was how he was called in Moscow. That’s when the nickname started”. Later we learned that the goalkeeper also asked to be called Shura because it was his grandmother’s name.

When thinking of Uvarov most of us have memories of a great goalkeeper. However, Maccabi veterans remember a rough start for him and for Polukarov: “I won’t forget the first games he played in Israel. We didn't play well in the first four games. We let too many goals in and it bothered us a lot. One day, Shura and I sat and reviewed every game and every goal we conceded. We did a lot of homework that day. After that meeting we didn't lose 12 games in a row and eventually we won the championship”.

Shura Uvarov felt great in Israel and Polukarov tries to explain some of the reasons: “Shura stayed because of the fans. He had a great connection with them. The local surroundings were very open and friendly and it made him feel welcome. We had a great team spirit as well. We won together and lost together. Professionally, he was able to play for a long period, and it could have been the main reason for his permanent stay in Israel”.

Polukarov names several characteristics that made Shura the man he is: “The first one is kindness. He never said no to anyone and when he helped someone, he did it from his heart. The second one is his professionalism and persistence”.

Polukarov is one of the most memorable foreigners who played for Maccabi, as he genuinely connected with the club’s culture: “I haven’t had the chance to follow Maccabi for the last six months. Until then I would get my updates from the Internet and from speaking to Shura. I am always happy to hear that Maccabi is winning”.

When Polukarov heard that Shura’s retirement anniversary is around the corner he said he would call to congratulate and to reminisce about the old days: “We haven’t talked since January, but we always keep in touch. I wish Shura to always stay the same as he is now, young and happy, and of course, always number one!”.

 

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC  today announced that it has agreed  to a  two year contract extension for Sports Director, Jordi Cruyff, through to the end of the 2016-17 season