Midfielder Moshe Schweitzer played an important role in Maccabi Tel Aviv's successes at the end of the 1970's, one of the most dazzling periods in the club's history. Son of the late and legendary Israeli coach David (Dovir) Schweitzer, who spent most of his playing and coaching career at Maccabi's municipal rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv, Moshe matured as a player in the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division. In the 1972/73 season he was brought into the senior squad by another legendary coach, the late Yitzchak Shnior, and made his maiden appearance against Maccabi Netanya in November 1972. He finished the season in the first team and then moved on to Hapoel Petah Tikva, where he spent four successful seasons before returning to Maccabi a mature and seasoned football player.

In his first season as a returning Maccabi midfielder, Schweitzer impressed with his technical skills and his goal-scoring and play-making abilities. In the 1977/78 season he racked up eleven goals in just 26 appearances in all competitions, promising him a fixed place in the starting eleven and even more appearances in his following season. And indeed, he maintained his level the year after, scoring 15 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions, including braces against Hapoel Hadera, Beitar Netanya and Hapoel Rishon Lezion. In consort with fellow players like Giora Spiegel, Yaron Oz and Meir Nimni, Schweitzer provided the club with a particularly fierce attacking force. His goals helped Schweitzer to celebrate his only league championship as a player for Maccabi Tel Aviv, who pipped Beitar Jerusalem to the 1978/79 title.

Schweitzer continued to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv until the end of the 1982/83 season, scoring at season's end in two of the most memorable matches of the time. He scored in the exciting semi-final of the prestigious State Cup against Maccabi Haifa that ended in a 4-4 draw and was finally decided, in Maccabi Tel Aviv's favour, in a penalty shoot-out. He then went on to score in the final that Maccabi lost 3-2, thanks to a handled goal from Hapoel Tel Aviv's Gili Landau, still a subject of much controversy even today. As a Maccabi player Schweitzer scored all told 61 goals in 203 appearances in all competitions. The talented midfielder also scored eight goals in 23 appearances for the national Israeli team.

photographs courtesy of the Israel Football Association archives