Eli Dricks was one of the greatest strikers ever to wear the blue and yellow jersey of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, ranked fourth among the club's all-time goalscorers. His potential as a centre forward became apparent when Dricks was promoted to the senior team and made his maiden appearance in February 1982 against Bnei Yehuda. After a half season stint at Maccabi Yavne in the 1984/85 season, Dricks returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv and began to realise his potential. It was in this season that this tall, strong striker began to show his versatility with his strong head and his deadly finishes that led to him to end the 1985/86 season with 16 goals in all competitions.

Dricks' presence in the Maccabi attack was felt in the following season as well when he scored 17 goals, including a brace in the fascinating State Cup final against Maccabi Haifa that ended 3-3 after extra time. But Dricks also scored his goal in the successful penalty shoot-out that handed the State Cup trophy to Maccabi Tel Aviv for the first time in a decade. He also played his part in ending an even longer wait, 13 years, when the club won the championship in the 1991/92 season. Dricks contributed 13 goals that season, including a brace in the 4-0 thumping of Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Tel Aviv derby. For Maccabi fans sitting at the home end of the pitch, two unforgettable goals in an unforgettable first derby triumph in four years.

A year later the derby ended with the same spectacular scoreline and Dricks marked a milestone in his career by contributing three of Maccabi's four goals. In doing so he demonstrated beyond any doubt his complete dominance of the pitch and his goalscoring versatility, netting the first with his head, the second with his right foot and the third with his left foot in what could easily be considered the greatest match of his career. A number of years later, in the 1995/96 season, Dricks proved once again that even at the age of 31 he hadn't lost his touch, scoring 18 goals in all competitions in this unforgettable double season.

In all Dricks scored 113 league goals and 159 in all competitions, making him one of only four players in the history of Maccabi Tel Aviv to score more than one hundred goals. In all, Dricks won three championships (1991/92, 1994/95,1995/96), four State Cups (1986/87, 1987/88, 1993/94, 1995/96) and two Toto (League) Cups (1992/93, 1998/99). For part of his career at Maccabi he wore the captain's band, sharing it with midfielder Nir Klinger. He also made 27 appearances for the Israeli national side, scoring four goals.

picture courtesy of the Israel Football Association archives