2018 Youth Academy Summary

The calendar year of 2018 has come to an end and there were plenty of great achievements by the Yellow & Blue Youth Academy. From championships, international tournaments, the Girls team, Champions League and more. We’ve summed it all up inside

2018 was a very successful year for the Maccabi Tel Aviv Avi Cohen Youth Academy as it continues to imbue the philosophy of Performance Director Patrick van Leeuwen. Over the past 12 months, the Youth Academy both hosted and took part in International Tournaments, won championships in their respective leagues, played in the UEFA Youth Champions League and also continued to advance the Girls Team project. Here are five of the accomplishments from the past calendar year.

1. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s International Youth Tournament

The calendar year began with the Youth Academy hosting an International Youth Tournament. Maccabi “Shachar” under the direction of Guy Tzarfati won the competition as his side played against the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Red Star Paris, Maccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion. Over the course of 3 days the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom hosted the teams and their players for a first rate tournament. For a summary of the competition click here.

2. Championships
The 2017/18 Season ended with a very sweet taste in everyone’s mouths. All of the Youth Academy squads playing in a competitive league through the Israel Football Association won their respective championship. The Under-19 squad won their 9th league title ending their campaign with an 8 point gap from second place after scoring 65 goals, the most in the league. For a full recap click here.

The Under-17 team also celebrated their championship, wrapping up their league title 5 Matcndays before the end of the season. Eliezer Ben Aharon’s squad won 25 games, drew 4 matches and lost only once as they finished the campaign up 19 points. For the full recap click here.

The Under-16 side picked up their championship in photo finishes fashion. Thanks to 9 straight wins to end the campaign, the young Yellow & Blue were able to take home the title on the last day of the season and then won the Champions Cup as well. For the full recap click here.

The Under-15 squad also won their respective league on the second to last Matchday of the season by defeating the #1 rival for the crown, Hapoel Beer Sheva. The team scored 126 goals and recorded 17 clean sheets. For the full recap click here.

3. Prestigious Under-15 Tournament in Vienna, Austria
At the end of the season, the Under-15 squad played in a prestigious tournament in Vienna, Austria. The goal of the competition was to give the players a chance to experience an international tournament with clubs of the highest level.

Participating teams included Maccabi Tel Aviv, Rapid Wien, Admira Wacker, Lokomotiv Moscow, Schalke 04, Ferencvárosi, AIK Stockholm and Red Star Belgrade. The young Yellow & Blue ended the competition in 4th place. For a recap click here.

4. Academy Girls Project
The Girls Project at Maccabi Tel Aviv is continuing to expand. There is a team training at the PenguinPickup Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom and are playing in a competitive league while there is a new girls team at the Hadar Yosef Athletic Facility as well. The competitive team advanced to the quarterfinals of the State Cup and the Club is also continuing to expand its programs for girls with the recruitment of girls between the ages of 5-15. The goal is to create a number of teams at different age groups with each squad limited to 25 girls and the teams will use the club’s football philosophy. For further information click here.

5. Youth Champions League

The Under-19 club took part in the Youth Champions League and advanced to the second round of the tournament by winning a two legged tie over Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala on aggregate 5:3. Guy Tzarfati’s squad then played Sigma Olomouc from the Czech Republic who took the 3:3 tie on away goals. The team gained invaluable experience in Europe by taking part in this experience. For the recap click here.

2018 was a very successful year for the Maccabi Tel Aviv Avi ...

Yellow & Blue Youth Academy Results – Saturday December 29, 2018

Maccabi “Shachar” spilt the points with Maccabi Haifa, the Under-17 squad won with ease over the Greens and who won 15:0? All the results are inside

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 1:1 Maccabi Haifa (U19)
The Club’s Under-19 side faces Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 14 of the Israel Youth League and drew 1:1 with the Carmel squad. Tamir Glezer scored in the 11’ but Guy Dahan found the equalizer in the 50’. For the Full Match Report Click Here.

Maccabi Haifa 2:6 Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv
Eliezer Ben Aharon’s team visited Haifa and took home a 6:2 victory and opened up a 12 point lead over the same Greens on the table thanks to goals by, Tal Torgman (x3), Nir Berkovic (x2) and Rotem Itzkar. Ben Aharon summed up the win: “This was the match of the season and we saw it on the last Matchday of the first round. This contest was played at a very fast pace and it led to many goals. There are games that are money time ones and the players are always super motivated for plus they have really shown a marked improvement since the start of the season so the result doesn’t really surprise the staff. We are content and proud as to how the team has played as well as on an individual level. We ended the first round with a 12 point lead over second place Haifa which is something terrific. I must tell the players that this is just the first half and that we have a long season to go with many challenges and goals ahead. As a staff we will try to reach all of those goals and not take our foot off the gas.”

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv 15:0 Bnei Sakhnin
The Under-16 squad handily defeated Bnei Sakhnin 15:0 in league play as they battle it out for one of the top spots. Head Coach Eran Sassi summed up the win: “We played a great team game and we are continuing our fine play of late. The team is playing simple and proper football as per our philosophy. I’m happy that we were able to take advantage of our opportunities and the players were accurate in the 15:0 win.”

Hapoel Tel Aviv 0:0 Maccabi Tel Aviv
The Derby was tight and even throughout but Maccabi’s late pressure wasn’t enough to take home the three points. Head Coach Ori David spoke about the match: “The match of the season ended in a goalless draw and it was a very emotional game just as Derbies usually are. We didn’t play enough quality football and we didn’t take care of our clear advantages on the attack. We turned up the pressure near the end of the match and we had some chances near the goal but unfortunately we couldn’t put the ball into the back of the goal. All in all I’m not satisfied with the match and I’ll have to put more emphasis on certain areas during training in order to correct some issues for the next match. I’m proud of the players for their effort.”

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 1:1 Maccabi Haifa (U19) The Club’s Under-19 side faces ...

Maccabi “Shachar” and Maccabi Haifa draw 1:1

Maccabi’s U19 side met Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 14 and split the points thanks to a first half goal by Tamir Glezer

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv faced Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 14 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The young Yellow & Blu entered the match in second place with just goal differential separating them from the top spot.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Tamir Glezer, Dan Lugassi, Tomer Mahluf, Nadav Nidam, Mufleh Shalata, Ido Shahar, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen, Eyal Hen

First Half
In the 10’ Hen sent the ball to Shahar but his shot was blocked by the defenders and sent out for a corner. A minute later Maccabi took the lead when Cohen put the ball in the box to Tamir Glezer and put it behind the keeper for a 1:0 lead.

Haifa had their first opportunity in the 14’ off a Maor Levi free kick that went to Aboubacar Bari but his header went over the bar. Shalata then had a free kick for Maccabi but his chance went off a defender and out for a corner. Cohen sent a terrific ball to Shalata in the 20’ but his shot missed the target and five minutes later Nidam found Hen but the keeper parried the ball away to safety.

The Greens had a dangerous chance in the 28’ when Muhamed Ghadir took the ball at the top of the box but Itzhak made the alert stop with his fingertips and six minutes later Hen’s attempt was knocked away by the Haifa defense as Maccabi took a 1:0 lead into the break.

Second Half
Haifa evened the contest up early in the second half when Guy Dahan took a through all and beat Izhak, 1:1. In the 55’ Nidam tries his luck from long distance but his attempt went over the bar while five minutes later Cohen’s chance was taken care of by the keeper.

In the 67’ Haifa’s Ghadir’s surprise shot from outside the box hit the bar and in the 72’ Mahluf sent a ball to Ram but his attempt went out. Just before the final whistle Guerrero almost found the winner but the keeper made the stop and the side’s split the points.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv faced Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 14 of the ...

Blast from the Past: Maccabi’s last match at Ramat Gan

The Yellow & Blue return Ramat Gan Stadium where they played many a match. Let’s take a look back at the last time they featured on that pitch in 2013/14 when they faced Ramat Hasharon

Yellow & Blue Youth Academy Results – December 22, 2018

The Avi Cohen Youth Academy was busy over the weekend: The U19’s won in dramatic fashion over Ashdod, the U17’s defeated Raanana, while the Under-16 and Under-15 side’s both picked up victories

Maccabi Tel Aviv 2:1 Ashdod (U19)
The Under-19 team got back onto the winning track with a dramatic win late in the contest. The Yellow & Blue came into the match in 2nd place but now are level on points with first place Maccabi Petah Tikva ain’t only goal differential separating the two. Bar Cohen and Gil Ben Shalosh scored for Maccabi. For the full Match Report Click Here.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv 4:1 Hapoel Raanana (U17)
After last week’s Derby win, the Under-17 said continued their positive momentum with a win over Raanana and a 7 point lead over the 2nd place team as they remain atop the table. Or Roizman scored a hat trick and Tal Torgeman scored a single marker. Head Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon summed up the match: “We began a week with 3 matches to finish off the first round of games. We were able to successfully make it through the first match and got the upper hand right from the get go as we understood how to beat the three Raanana central defenders system. It was great to see that we were able to translate what we had worked on in training in the actual game. Wednesday we play Netanya who plays with a different style and are physical and more aggressive than Raanana and then on Saturday we play the Classico against Maccabi Haifa with the goal of taking all 6 points.

Bnei Yehuda 0:3 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv (U16)
After a 2:0 midweek win over Ironi Nesher, the Under-16 side defeated Bnei Yehuda on Matchday 14 of League action. Yonatan Paz scored a brace and Roie Revivo had the other marker. Head Coach Eran Sassi: “This was a team game by our players. The pitch was smaller than usual and the host’s packed it in defensively but we were patient and we waited for our chances. I’m proud as to how we played this match.”

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 2:0 Hapoel Ramat Gan (U15)
The Under-15 team won on Matchday 12 as they defeated Ramat Gan 2:0 to maintain second place on the table. Oscar Gluch and Nir Levi scored for Ori David’s side. “We played against a very aggressive team on the border on actually violent so it was a good challenge that the players were able to face. Some handled it well, some had difficulties. This was a good game to learn from and now it’s on next week’s Derby.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv 2:1 Ashdod (U19) The Under-19 team got back onto the ...

Maccabi “Shachar” defeats Ashdod 2:1

Guy Tzarfati's squad needed a late 89' goal by Gil Ben Shalosh to take the 3 points and the win. Bar Cohen scored the Yellow & Blue's opening marker in the first half

The Under-19 side met Ashdod on Matchday 13 of the Israel Youth Premier League as the Yellow & Blue began the day in 2nd place just 3-points off the top of the table.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI featured keeper Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Tamir Glezer, Dan Lugassi, Tomer Mahluf, Nadav Nidam, Mufleh Shalata, Ido Shahar, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen, Eyal Hen.

First Half
Maccabi had the first chance of the contest in the 11’ when Shahar took a shot from 20 meter but the keeper caught the ball. Four minutes later Guerrero found Hen on the left side but again keeper Raz Zaguri was up to the task to make the stop. The Yellow & Blue finally found the opener in the 18’ when Guerrero sent a cross into the middle of the box to Cohen who put the ball into the back of the goal for a 1:0 Maccabi lead.

In the 35’ Cohen almost found his second goal of the match, but his attempt went over goal and four minutes later hen sent a ball towards Guerrero but his chance just skipped by the post. Just before the halftime whistle Shahar tried his luck from 25 meters but his opportunity went out as the Yellow & Blue took the slim advantage into the break.

Second Half
The second half began with Maccabi again pressing for a second marker when Guerrero sent a cross to Hen but his header in the box was saved, while Shahar got to the rebound first but his chance went out. In the 55’ Omri Ram’s corner found Lugassi but his header missed the target and a minute later Cohen’s chance went over the goal.

In the 57’ Ashdod had their first opportunity of the match when a through ball to Yoni Sisai tried to put the ball over Itzhak but was unable to do so, while a minute later Ram tried the same for Maccabi but came up empty. Yagudaev’s 74’ chance hit the outside of the net and then Ashdod almost drew even thanks to a great through ball but Itzhak came up big to make the save.

However, in the 84’ Ashdod found the equalizer when Mohamed Canaan scored to draw even at 1:1. But Maccabi didn’t hang their heads and put home the winner in the 89’ when Guerrero headed the ball to Gil Ben Shalosh who turned his defender and put the ball behind Zaguri for a 2:1 Yellow & Blue victory.

The Under-19 side met Ashdod on Matchday 13 of the Israel Youth ...

Maccabi “Shachar” and Ramat Hasharon draw 1:1

The Yellow & Blue and the team from the Sharon split the points. David Dego scored a penalty while Nadav Nidam found the equalizer for Maccabi

The Under-19 team faced Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon on Matchday 12 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Maccabi began the day in second place just a point off the top of table while the opposition sat in last place on the table.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI included Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Amit Glezer, Alon Shtrozberg, Tomer Mahluf, Tamir Glezer, Eduardo Guerrero, Yoav Hofmayster, Gil Ben Shalosh, Bar Cohen, Tal Yagudaev.

First Half
The Yellow & Blue almost took a quick lead as Cohen controlled the ball and took a shot on goal but the rival keeper made the stop while Yagudaev’s rebound attempt hit off the post. Ramat Hasharon has a chance in the 8’ when a through ball made its way to Amberiya but Itzhak made the timely save by cutting off the threat.

In the 30’ the host’s had a penalty attempt after Shtrozberg’s reckless tackle in the box on Amberiya resulted in an 11 meter spot kick that David Dego scored to give Ramat Hasharon a 1:0 lead. Five minutes before the half Cohen’s free kick was caught by the host’s keeper and in the 42’ the Ramat Hasharon almost doubled their advantage but Dego’s attempt from outside of the box hit the post.

Second Half
Itzhak made a terrific save in the 50’ when he stopped Aviel Ben Hemo’s header and ten minutes later Maccabi drew even. Yagudaev received the ball on the left wing, sent it to Nadav Nidam who put it behind the Ramat Hasharon keeper, 1:1.

In the 62’ the Yellow & Blue threatened the Ramat Hasharon goal when Yagudaev’s corner kick made it to Rave Assayag but his header went over the goal. Six minutes later Assayag again was involved in the action as he took a Nidam cross but his attempt was saved by the keeper. As the match hit the 70’ the host’s almost took the lead but Yonatan Heizen’s shot hit the post and went out and ten minutes later Dego hit the bar as the match ended in a 1:1 draw.

The Under-19 team faced Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon on Matchday 12 of ...

Youth Academy Action – Saturday December 15, 2018

The Avi Cohen z”l Youth Academy has a busy slate ahead as the U19’s return to play, while the Under-17 side and Under-16 squad’s play Derby matches against Hapoel Tel Aviv

Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 12:30 Ramat Hasharon Synthetic (U19)
After a two week break the Under-19 team gets back to action when they visit Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon on Matchday 12. Guy Tzarfat’s side are in second place, just one point away from top of the table Maccabi Petah Tikva while the host’s are in last place with just one league victory to their record.

Hapoel Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv, 10:30 Wolfson 2 (U17)
The Big Tel Aviv Derby returns as the young Yellow & Blue meet the Reds on Matchday 12. Maccabi is in first place with a 6-point lead while Hapoel are in 4th, 8 points off the top of the table.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Tel Aviv, 8:30 Kiryat Shemona (U16)
The Under-16 squad is also playing a Derby on Matchday 12. The Yellow & Blue come into the contest undefeated in their last six games in 6th place on the table while the Reds are in 5th place, one point ahead of Eran Sassi’s side.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv (U16)
The Under-16 squad’s match took place on Wednesday when Ori David’s side defeated Hapoel Katamon 5:1 thanks to goals by Oscar Gloch x2, Oral Bahia, Ofer Nagar abs Eliran Avisher.

Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 12:30 Ramat Hasharon ...

Youth Academy host’s UEFA Seminar

On Wednesday the Youth Academy took part in a UEFA Seminar that the Israel Football Association is hosting. Five representative countries are in the country taking part in a continuing education program focusing on the development of elite players

The Israel Football Association is hosting a UEFA Seminar with five representatives from Latvia, Hungary, Greece, Faroe Islands and Poland in attendance who have come to take in a continuing education program that was organized by the IFA. The key component of the program deals with the development of elite players. Over the course of the week the group has taken in training sessions of various youth age groups at the IFA headquarters. Each representative presented examples from their country as to how they develop the elite players. The last stop for the group was the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom where they observed how the development works at the club level where the group took in a training session of the Academy’s elite players. They were able to see how specific elements were used to develop the young players.

The Performance Director Patrick Van Leeuwen who gave a presentation about the methods of developing elite players summed up the experience: “It’s always great to work together with the IFA when they have guests from aboard as we can present them our club’s philosophy, especially when it comes to the development of the elite players at Maccabi Tel Aviv. In fact, this year we began a special program that deals specifically with the development of the club’s elite players. It was great to be able to share how our football development works.”

The Israel Football Association is hosting a UEFA Seminar with five representatives ...

Youth Academy Keeper Open Day

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department held a special Open Day for goalkeepers from around the country at the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom. This was the second year in a row that the day took place where the youngsters had a chance to impress the professional staff

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department held a special Open Day for goalkeepers at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility. Special training sessions for the club’s keepers were held this morning which was followed by a open training sessions for shot stoppers from across the country. Israel Ainy, the head of the Youth Academy’s Goalkeeper Department was in charge of the activities which included a special staff of coaches that helped keep the quality, professionalism and enjoyment of the day. In addition, Shura Uvarov, Shay Hess, Galil Ben Shenan and Eliad Graf were on hand to give out tips to the budding keepers.


Many keepers between the ages of 8-16 descended upon the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility as the professional staff split them up by age and skill level. Should a keeper have impressed the staff, the club will be in contact with them. This amazing day was a fantastic opportunity for youngsters from around the country to get a taste of the values of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department held a special Open Day for ...