Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.

Maccabi Tel Aviv
מכבי תל-אביב

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Full name	Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club מועדון כדורגל מכבי תל אביב
Founded	1906, as HaRishon LeZiyyon - Yafo
Ground	Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel
Capacity	15,700
Chairman	Alex Shnaider
Manager	Avi Nimni
League	Israeli Premier League
2008–09	6th
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. (Hebrew: מועדון כדורגל מכבי תל אביב; Moadon Kaduregel Maccabi Tel Aviv) is an Israeli association football club, part of the Maccabi Tel Aviv sports club. It is one of the oldest clubs in Israeli football, and is the most decorated club in Israeli football history with 20 championships, 22 national cups, 2 Asian Champions Cups and 3 Toto cups. Maccabi have won the championship and the cup in the same season (referred to as winning the "double") seven times.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is the only team in Israel never to have played in the lower divisions, having always played in the top flight. The club is also one of the two only teams from Israel to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

History

From 1906 until the foundation of Israel

Maccabi Tel Aviv in Australia, 1939

In the evening of the Jewish holiday "Pesach" 1906 a group of boys between the age 14-16 were called to the Meir Dizengoff house. There they decided to found the first Israeli football team. They were called, "Maccabi Harishon Le-Zyion". Their first match ended with a victory against a team of sailors from a French ship 3:0. After the city of Tel-Aviv founded in 1909, the club changed its name to "Maccabi Tel-Aviv." In 1928 the Israeli Football Association was founded after Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Allenbi Hapoel (Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.) and a several British teams, representatives of the British Mandate, decided to create the first league in Israel. Also in that year, The Israeli State Cup was begun under the name The People Cup. That same year, the first Derby of Tel-Aviv was played and Maccabi won 3:0 against Allenbi Hapoel. Maccabi won their first State Cup in 1929 after beating a club called Maccabi Hashmonay. Maccabi added a second State Cup after beating the 48th Platoon of the British Army, 2:1. The third State Cup came in 1933 after Maccabi beat Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the final 1:0.

In 1936 a letter came to the offices of the Maccabi Organization in Israel, and inside was an invitation for Maccabi Tel-Aviv to play friendly matches in the United States. On their way to the States, Maccabi played in France; there they lost to Racing Paris (2:0) and Olympic Lille (3:1). Maccabi's coach those days was Egon Polac, and the stars of the team were Jery Bet-Halevy and Nathan Panz on the midfield, Israel Alsner between the posts, Gaul Machlis the Scorer and Mendal'e Merimovich (The father of Yossale Merimovich). In the United States, Maccabi defeated the All-star team of New-York in front of 50,000 in Yankee Stadium. Maccabi also defeated the American League team in Brooklyn and Philadelphia on their home ground 1:0, but stopped in Canada after they were held by the Toronto All-Star 1:1. Maccabi continued their tour in the U.S. and lost to the Stars of Saint-Louis 3:2 and the Boston Celtics.

After the return from America, Maccabi Players started a strike because they had not been given any money. In 1937, after a year of strike, The Israeli Association accepted their demands and the team ended their strike. In that year, Maccabi Tel-Aviv also won their first League Title. In 1939, after the start of World War II, Maccabi won their Second Championship. At the end of the season, Maccabi went to another tour, this time the destination was Australia. There they defeated the National team of the state of Victoria, 7:1 and 8:1. In Sydney, Maccabi lost to the region team 6:4 and, after that, played five times against the National Team of Australia (Lost 3, Draw 2).

Back to Israel, 1941 was a Historical season after Maccabi won their first "Double" after winning both the Israeli League and State Cup, after beating Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the final, 2:1. In those days — between 1941 and 1945 — the Israeli League was suspended because of the war, but Maccabi continued playing friendly matches. Yugoslav Champion of those days, Hajduk Split, came to Israel and defeated Maccabi 7:2. In 1946, the Israeli League was still suspended but the Israeli State Cup was back, Maccabi grabbed it after beating Hapoel Rishon Le-Zyion 6:0 on agg in the final. In 1947 the Israeli League also returned, and Maccabi won it. In the Cup final, there was a scandal, Maccabi Played against Beitar Tel-Aviv on Schunat Ha'Tikva. Maccabi led 3:2, and the referee disallowed Beitar's equalizing goal. The players of Beitar and their own crowd stormed at the referee and Yom-Tov Mansherov, defender of Beitar Tel-Aviv, snapped the Cup. as a result of that the referee ended the game and gave Maccabi Tel-Aviv a technical victory, Maccabi got a second "Double". Only 45 years later the Cup was founded in a resident city of Petach Tikva. In that year, Maccabi also played a friendly match against M.T.K Budapest and drew 2:2.

The 50's

After the state of Israel was founded in 1948, Maccabi Tel-Aviv won another Championshp under the coach Jery Bet-Halevy, One of Maccabi's symboles. Jery substituted for coach Egon Polac after 14 years. In the 1950s Maccabi Tel-Aviv almost entirely controlled Israeli Football. Some of Maccabi's famous players those years were: Itzhak Shneyor, Eli Fooks, Zvi Stodinsky, Yeoshua "Shyee" Glazer and Yossale Merimovich. In 1950, Maccabi grabbed another State Title after finishing the league with 43 points (of 48). In that year Maccabi also set a record which remains until today: 103 goals in only 24 matches. At the end of that year Maccabi toured Europe again, played 15 games, won six, including a surprising win against Partizan Beograd. Another famous victory was against Swiss Cup Holder Luzan. A year past and Maccabi celebrate another Championship. At the end of that year, Dundee United — Championship of Scotland — came for a friendly match in the New Ramat-Gan Stadium (won 2:0). In 1954 Maccabi won another "Double", the fourth Championship in a row. Maccabi went for another tour in Europe, played against S.S. Lazio (0:0), Racing Paris (0:0) but lost to Napoli (7:1). In 1955, Maccabi was losing the championship to Hapoel Petach Tikva but beat them in the final of the State Cup to win the eighth trophy for the Club. One year later, Maccabi returned their title of Champions to the club. In 1956 the State Cup was suspended, and instead of it, Maccabi went for a tour in America again. In 1958 Maccabi won another "Double". In the Cup final Maccabi beat Hapoel Haifa 2:0. In 1959 The championship returned to Hapoel Petach Tikva but Maccabi won another State Cup (10).

The 60's

The Sixties was a weaker decade in the history of the club. In 1960, Maccabi Finished second to Hapoel Patch Tikva (Won 5 Titles in a row). 1962 was Maccabi's bad season ever. Maccabi finished 10th out of 12 teams in the league. Maccabi Finished the 1963 season seventh but won the State Cup. The same happen one year later after the club finished the season on fifth place but managed to grab the State Cup, again. The 1967 league was frozen because of the six day war and the Israeli Football Association decided to extend the league for two years. In the State Cup final in Bloomfield Stadium, for the first time in 26 years, Maccabi Tel-Aviv met Hapoel Tel-Aviv, beat them 2:1, and add their 13 Cup. At the end of the long season of 1967-68 Maccabi won their first championship in the 60's (10 years after their last one). also in 1967 Maccabi decided to move and play in Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa and leave their home grown "Ha-Maccabiyah" Stadium located in the north of Tel-Aviv because of financial problems. After Winning the league in 1968 Maccabi Won a continental Cup, The Asian Cup for Clubs (Israeli Clubs played at that time in Asians Competitions). Maccabi Won 1:0 in the final against the champions of South Korea. at the Airport, thousands came and broke the Cup for half.

The 70's

One of Maccabi's Golden era's. Maccabi won The league in 1970, and added another Cup after beating Maccabi Netanya and their star Motale Shpigler in the final 2:1. In 1971 Maccabi, as the champions of Israel, won another continental Trophy after getting a technical win over the champions of Iraq who didn't show up for the game. In 1972 Maccabi Won their 14 championship as they grabbed 45 pts from 60. In 1973 Maccabi started to pay their players for their wins and achievements, that didn't help the team who finished 4th in the league and was eliminate from the Cup. Maccabi also lost one of their big stars, Giora Shpigel who left to France to play with local team of Strasbourg. In 1976 Jeri Bet-Halevy, who was the chairman of the club and 50 years total in the club was forced to retire from Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Sports at all. In April 1976 Maccabi won English club Queens Park Rangers 2:1. 1977 was a huge year for the organization of Maccabi Tel-Aviv. In Basketball Maccabi Tel-Aviv won the European Championship for Clubs. in Football Maccabi Tel-Aviv won the "Double". In 1978 The European Champions Anderlecht from Belgium came to Bloomfield stadium just to lose against Maccabi Tel-Aviv 2:1, in front of 20,000 people. In 1979 Maccabi grabbed another Championship but lost the cup in the final for Beitar. At the same year, Bob Pasley, The director of English Championship Liverpool signed Maccabi Tel-Aviv's defender Avi Cohen as the first Israeli player to play in Mercyside.

The 80's

The Eighties were the worst decade of Maccabi Tel-Aviv's History. 0 Championships, 2 Cups in the 1987 season after beating Maccabi Haifa in Penalty Shootout. At the end of the 1987 season Maccabi Lost in Haifa to the local Maccabi Haifa tem 10:0, their worst defeat in history. Some people says that the played lost just to get ride of the coach Giora Shpigel. The second Cup cme in 1988 as Maccabi beats Hapoel Tel-Aviv 2:1 in the final. In 1989 one of Maccabi's great strikers, Benny Tabak (His Nickname was F-15) decided to retire. He Played 365 games, scored 118 goals, won 2 Championships and 3 Cups in 17 years as a player in the club.

The 90's

In the 90's Maccabi enters a new era where the money begins to talk and clubs being bought by owners. Maccabi was sold to a group of business man called "MOFET" whice included, David Federman, Lony Herzikovic and others. The ninthies was called alson the golden era of the club because of the young players who grew up in the club and went leading it for the upcoming seasons. Defender's Gadi and Alon Brumer, Midfielders Itzik Zohar, Haim Hagag, Noam Shoam, Strikers Nir Sevilla, Eli Driks, Meir Melika and avcours, two of the greatest players ever to play in Maccabi. The first one Alexander "Shura" Ubarov, goalkeeper of the Soviet Union team, came to Maccabi in the season of 1991/2 and stayed until today in the club. And the Best player ever to play in Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Avi Nimni. In the 1991/2 Season Maccabi won their first championshp for the first time since 1979. The following year, Maccabi enterd UEFA Champions League Qualifying round (Israeli teams and the national teams moved to play in the UEFA Competitions). Maccabi beat Maltese champions F.C. Valleta (3:1 on agg) only to lose in the second round to Belgian champions Club Brugge (4:0 on agg). Maccabi lost in the State Cup final to Maccabi Haifa.

After reaching the second place in the league at 1993/4 season the club enterd the Cup Winners Cup. after beating Iclandic Cup Holder Kaflevick Maccabi lost to Bundesliga's Leaders that time, Werder Bremem (2:0 on agg). Athe the end of that Year, Maccabi defeated Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the State Cup Final 2:0, thanks to Itsik Zohar and Nir Klinger's goals. In 1994/5 Maccabi Won another championship under the management of Avraham Grant. Grant left for Hapoel Haifa and instead came Dror Kashtan. his first task was to lead the Club for the UEFA Champions League. Maccabi needed only one round of qualification, but managed to lost to the Swiss champions Grasshopers, after a 1:1 draw in Zurich, Maccabi came home and lost 1:0 in front of a packed house in Bloofield Stadium. Maccabi Finished the 1995/6 with their last "Double" after clinching both Championship and Cup. In the start of the 1996/7 season, Maccabi sold to Lony Herzikovich that fire Dror Kashtan and brings back Avraham Grant back. Again in the UEFA Champions League Qualifiction Maccabi lost in the last round, this time to Turkish side Fenerbache S.K. In Ramat-Gan Stadium Maccabi lost 1:0, and draw in Istanbul 1:1. Avraham Grant stayed as a coach until 2000 than left the club. in those days Maccabi was a mid-table team, and their crowed hated Grant, Maccabi by the way only won one thing, Toto Cup in the 1998/99 season where they finished second in the league to Hapoel Haifa.

2000 until today

In the start of the new Millennium, Maccabi wanted to bring back the championship. Maccabi signed Israeli International Tal Banin from Brescia in the Serie A, Brought Goal Keeper Adam Wezer, Slovakian Midfielder Josef Valachovich, Georgian defender Geprgi Divadze, Georgian Strikaer Klementi Zitiashvili (went on loan of Zafririm Holon). together with Polish Midfielder and Defender Grzegorz Wędzyński, Avi Nimni, Kobi Refoua and former Barcelona and Tenerife Bosnian Star Meho Kodro, Maccabi tought they will make it. Former International Coach Shlomo Sherf was signed also. In the first match Maccabi won but after a draw in Kiryat Eliezer stadium against Hapoel Haifa Maccabi's Star Avi Nimni and Coach Shlomo Sherf got into a fight and in the end the coach went home. Nir Levin came instead, The club didn't manage to stay at the top, and the Ckub purchased Baruk Dego from Sport Club Ashdod (Than Irony Ashdod) for 1 Million Dollars. also brought istead of the foreign playes that Sherf brought Russian midfielder Andrei Tihkonov and Hungarian Striker Ferenc Horvat. Maccabi Started to play like a champions, but it was too little and too late. Maccabi beat Beitar Jerusalem 7:0, Irony Rishon Le-Zyion 10:1 and won the Israeli State Cup for the first time since 1996 after beating Maccabi Petach Tikva 3:0 in front of 35,000 Maccabi fans in Ramat-Gan Stadium. At the following year, Maccabi finished in the middle again but won another Cup after beating Maccabi Haifa in the final after Penalty Shoot-out 5:4. Maccabi Made it all the way to the UEFA Cup second round after beating Kaunas from Lithuania and Dinamo Zagrev from Croatia but lost to Dutch side Roda JC (5:3 on agg).

Nir Levin left the Club and Nir Klinger, one of Maccabi's Symboles was signed. Nir Klinger's reflection was to let the youngsters play. After Nir Levin let Reuven Oved, Moshiko Mishaelof, Kobi Musa, Tal Ben-Haim, Avi Stroul and Others to play in the starting line-up. Klinger signed Brazilian midfielder Bruno Ries, Chilian Rodrigo Gooldberg (who came back the season before) and Defender Maurizio Aross. In the Attack Maccabi signed Latvian Striker Andreas Prochonenkovs from Maccabi Kiryat Gat after he scored 14 goals in 2001/2 season. Maccabi didn't started the season well and in the crucial game against Maccabi Haifa Avi Nimni was benched. Maccabi won without him 3:2, and got back to the championship race. Nimni continued to be benched, the crowed although Maccabi were in the first place didn't like it. 5 games to the end of the league Baruk Dego, The star of Klinger's season broke his leg. Nimni who led the team in scoring (up until that stage he had 9) came for the help. He scored twice to brinmg Maccabi down 2:0 against Beitar Jerusalem in Teddy to a big win 3:2. the next game against Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv, he scored a hattrick and Maccabi won 5:0 and on the decisive game, Maccabi, in from of 37,000 in Ramat-Gan Stadium, beat Hapoel Petach Tikva, 3:0, as Nimni scored the third one, and secure Maccabi's first Championship since 1995/6, first time that the championship is decided on goal difference (Maccabi Tel-Aviv 34+; Maccabi Haifa 32+).

In the 2003/4 season, Maccabi's star player Avi Nimni was kicked from the team after the team failed to beat M.S.K Zillina, Slovakian Champions in the UEFA Champions League 2nd Round of Qualification. Klinger's excuse was that Nimni himself and Tal Banin created camps inside the team and tare it apart. Maccabi's fans didn't forget it, decided to wear black for the entier season and put an X on Nir Klinger. Maccabi finished the season second in the table, and thanks to the sucssesfull of Hapoel Tel-Aviv (UEFA Cup 2001/2) and Maccabi Haifa (UEFA Champions League 2002/3) in Europe, Israel was granted a second spot in the UEFA Champions League 2004/5 season. Maccabi Tel-Aviv defeated HJK Helsinki (1:0 on agg) thanks to Liran Cohen's goal in the 87th minute and a same from Ghanaian Jhon Painstil from the line in the last minute. Maccabi faced Greek club PAOK Thessaloniki on the 3rd round. Maccabi won in Greece 2:1, after that got a technical win because PAOK played inleegal player (match awarded 3:0) and at home Maccabi finish the job with a 1:0 victory that sent them to the UEFA Champions League for their first time in history. It was the second team ever from Israel to participate in the Champions League. Maccabi Played with Bayern Munchen, Juventus and Ajax, in what was called "Death Group". Maccabi Won Ajax 2:1 and drew 1:1 with Juventus. In the Israeli Premier League Maccabi finished in the middle of the table but won the State Cup after beating Maccabi Herzeliya on Penalty Shoot-out 5:4.

In the start of 2005/6 Maccabi knew that they had to bring back the crowed, and decided to bring back their king Avi Nimni. Macabi Also signed Eyal Berkovic from England club Portsmouth, Avi Yechiel from Hapoel Petach Tikva, BlessinG Kaku from Bolton, Eugin Trica from Steaua Bucaresti, Uruguay defender Christian Gonzales, Striker Jose Duarte and Geovanni Rosso from Maccabi Haifa. The crowed responded as well, a record of 11,000 season ticket were sold. The club didn't sucsseded and Klinger sent home. His replacement was Duth coach Ton Kannen who signed Georgian striker Georgi Kinkladze and Albanian Elvin Bagiri, but the team was a disaster and the record was a home loss to Second Division Hapoel Akko 4:0 in the State Cup.

At the end of the season, in May 2006, Eli Cohen was signed as the coach of Maccabi. He led the team for the 3rd place, meanwhile the season the club recorded a 20 games without losing. In the 2007/8 Maccabi played in UEFA Cup there they lost to Andoran side Santa Coloma 1:0 in the first leg but won 4:0 in the second leg. Maccabi were eliminated from Europe by Kayseri Erciyespor from the Second Division in Turkey (4:2 on agg). Cohen was sent home after a loss in the Israeli League and the club sunked in the buttom. Nir Levin came back after Cohen's dissmisial. Maccabi was saved eventually from relegation.

At the middle of the season Maccabi Tel-Aviv were finally taken from the hands of Lony Herzikovich. Jewish Billionaire, Alexander Shnaider, former owner of F1 team "Jordan" and the owner of the Midland Group, bought 80% of the club and the other 20% left with the Organization of Maccabi Tel-Aviv. At the End of 2007/8 year, Maccabi's Best Player ever Avi Nimni retired from football. He led the Club in scoring and was the second all-time scorer in the Israeli League. He won 4 Championships and 5 Cups with Maccabi. Nimni also ended as Maccabi's Tops Scorer with 174 goals. Maccabi Also retired his Number "8". as of Today Avi Nimni is the Director of Football in the club, alongside Chairman Aviv Bushinsky and Uzi Shaya.

For the 2008/9 Maccabi invested a lot of funds to bring back the championship. Their financial is estimated with 14 Million Euros. Ran Ben-Shimon was signed as Manager from Hapoel Kiryat-Shmona, Maor Bozaglo was bought for 2.5 Million Euro, Lyberian Star Dulee Johnson came from AIK Solna, Armenian Striker, Ilya Yavuryian came from Bnei Shaknin for 550K, Bulgarian/Croatian defender Igor Tomasic came from Levski Sofia and Argentinian/Israeli player Guillermo Israelevich also for 550K came from Hapoel Kfar sava.

On November 2, 2008, Manager Ran Ben-Shimon was fired from the club after he managed to lead the team for 2 wins out of 8 games. Director of Football, Avi Nimni, who retired last summer, and has non of expirience, named as the new manager of Maccabi Tel-Aviv. After beating Hapoel Tel-Aviv (1:0) in the TOTO Cup semi finals, and Sport Club Ashdod (1:0) in the final, Maccabi won its 3rd TOTO Cup, first title for Avi Nimni as Manager.

For The Upcoming 2009-10 Season Maccabi Tel-Aviv have signed Yuval Avidor, Liran Strauber and Roni Gafni. The Club sold Dulee Johnson back to AIK Solna and few other players.

Supporters & rivals, Stadium & Training

Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters before a match

Maccabi is notably famous for its "Maccabism", the club spirit, which generally refers to the desire for first place on any occasion, expecting a win no matter how strong the rivals are or how weak Maccabi is. Club supporters and players who are identified with it are often called "Maccabists".

Maccabi has Three main fans organization, The 12th Player (Since 2000), Ultras Maccabi 96 (Since 1996) and Stick Up Boys (SUB 11) (Since 2001). Maccabi fans have brotherhood with the fans of Ajax Amsterdam thanks to the hospitality of both sides to each other between the season of 2003-2005, until today. Maccabi's Groups are located in Gate 11 besides the Ultras who left for Gate 8.

While being the most supported club in Israel, Maccabi is also considered one of the most hated clubs in the country, due to its success and because of what is perceived by other clubs fans as arrogance of the Maccabists.

Naturally the main rival club is Hapoel Tel Aviv, city rivals who are Israel's second most successful club and like Maccabi attract many fans and media attention. The matches between the teams gain a lot of attention in the Israeli public and are referred to as the "Big Tel-Aviv Derby" (as opposed to the "Small Tel-Aviv Derby", matches between Bnei Yehuda and Maccabi or Hapoel). Other rivalries include, to a lesser extent, those with Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Haifa.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv play their home matches in Bloomfield Stadium in the city of Tel-Aviv-Jaffa which contains 15,700 seats. Maccabi's training facilities located Kiryat Shalom, in the southern part of the city. The team's owner Alexander Schneider decided to move the offices of the club outside of the training facilities and also build a new training facilities for the club.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv In Europe

• GF = Goals For
• GA = Goals Against
• Q1 = Qualifying Round 1
• Q2 = Qualifying Round 2
• Q3 = Qualifying Round 3
• R1 = Round 1
• R2 = Round 2
• GS = Group Stage
• a = Away Goals
• aet = After Extra Time

Competition	Wins	Draw	Losses	GF	GA
Champions League	6	5	9	14	24
Cup Winners Cup	2	1	1	6	4
UEFA Cup	8	6	8	37	31

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away
1993	Champions League	Q		Valletta F.C.	1:0	2:1
		R1		Club Brugge	0:1	0:3
1995	Cup Winners Cup	Q		Keflavik	4:1	2:1
		R1		Werder Bremen	0:0	0:2
1996	Champions League	Q		Grasshoppers Zurich	0:1	1:1
1997	Champions League	Q		Fenerbahce	0:1	1:1
	UEFA Cup	R1		Tenerife	1:1	2:3
2000	UEFA Cup	Q		FBK Kaunas	3:1	1:2
		R1		RC Lens	2:2	1:2
2002	UEFA Cup	Q		Zalgiris Vilnius	6:0	1:0
		R1		Dinamo Zagreb	2:2	1:1 (a)
		R2		Roda JC Kerkrade	2:1	1:4
2003	UEFA Cup	Q1		Levadia Tallinn	2:0	2:0
		R1		Boavista	1:0	1:4
2004	Champions League	Q2		MSK Zilina	1:1	0:1
2005	Champions League	Q2		HJK Helsinki	1:0	0:0
		Q3		Paok Thessaloniki	1:0	2:1 (*3:0)
		GS		Bayern Munchen	0:1	1:5
		GS		Juventus	1:1	0:1
		GS		Ajax	2:1	0:3
2006	UEFA Cup	Q2		APOEL Nicosia	2:2 (aet)	0:1
2008	UEFA Cup	Q1		Santa Coloma	4:0	0:1
		Q2		Erciyesspor	1:1	1:3

• The first leg finished 1:2 to Maccabi Tel-Aviv but was awarded 0–3 against PAOK for fielding a suspended player

UEFA Champions League 2004/5

After finishing second in 2003/4 season, Maccabi Tel-Aviv entered the Qualifying Rounds of the UEFA Champions League and eventually became the second Israeli team to reach UEFA Champions League Group Stage in the 2004/5 season. After beating HJK Helsinki (1:0 On Agg) in the Second Qualfying Round and PAOK Thessaloniki (4:0 On Agg) in the Third qualyfing round, Maccabi was drawn into a toughest group which included three former European champions, Juventus from Italy, Ajax Amsterdam from The Netherlands and Bayern Munchen from Germany. Maccabi managed to get one victory over Ajax Amsterdam 2:1 and held Juventus into a draw, 1:1, both of them in Israel. Eventually, Maccabi Tel-Aviv finished 4th in the table and was eliminated from the European games for the rest of the season.

Second Qualfying Round

HJK Helsinki (0:0) 0:0 Maccabi Tel-Aviv [1]

Maccabi Tel-Aviv (0:0) 1:0 HJK Helsinki [2]

M. Tel-Aviv: Liran Cohen 87'

Third Qualfying Round

PAOK Thessaloniki (0:2) 1:2* Maccabi Tel-Aviv [3]

M. Tel-Aviv: Ishmael Addo 12', Erez Mesika 42'

PAOK: Yiasoumis Yiasoumi 50'

• * UEFA awarded 0:3 win for Maccabi Tel-Aviv[4]

Maccabi Tel-Aviv (1:0) 1:0 PAOK Thessaloniki [5]

M. Tel-Aviv: Liran Cohen 8'

Group Stage: Group C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Juventus F.C.	6	5	1	0	6	1	+5	16
Bayern Munchen	6	3	1	2	12	5	+7	10
Ajax Amsterdam	6	1	1	4	6	10	−4	4
Maccabi Tel-Aviv	6	1	1	4	4	12	−8	4

• * Tie-Brake: Results between teams

Matches

Matchday 1

Maccabi Tel-Aviv (0:0) 0:1 Bayern Munchen [6]

Bayern: Roy Makaay 64' (Pen)

Matchday 2

Juventus (1:0) 1:0 Maccabi Tel-Aviv [7]

Juventus: Mauro Camoranesi 37'

Matchday 3

Ajax Amsterdam (3:0) 3:0 Maccabi Tel-Aviv [8]

Ajax: Wesley Sonck 4', Nigel de Jong 12', Rafael van der Vaart 33'

Matchday 4

Maccabi Tel-Aviv (0:0) 2:1 Ajax Amsterdam [9]

M. Tel-Aviv: Barukh Dego 49', 57'

Ajax: Daniël de Ridder 88'

Matchday 5

Bayern Munchen (3:0) 5:1 Maccabi Tel-Aviv [10]

Bayern: Claudio Pizarro 12', Hasan Salihamidzic 37', Torsten Frings 44' Roy Makaay 71', 80'

M. Tel-Aviv: Barukh Dego 56' (Pen)

Matchday 6

Maccabi Tel-Aviv (1:0) 1:1 Juventus [11]

M. Tel-Aviv: Barukh Dego 29' (Pen)

Juventus: Alessandro Del Piero 71'

Maccabi Tel-Aviv Champions League 2004/5 Squad:

GoalKeepers: Liran Strauber, Gal Nir, Guy Haimov.

Defenders: Avi Strool, Marcio Giovanini, Lior Jan, Yakir Shina, Kobi Moosa, John Panstil, Shuki Nagar, Salem Abu-Siam.

Midfielders: Moshe Mishaelof, Oren Zituni, Bruno Reis, Tamir Cohen, Liran Cohen, Reuven Oved, Barukh Dego, Erez Mesika, Elad Bounfeld, Eli Biton.

Strikers: Ishmael Addo, Emil M'Bamba, Assaf Crispis.

Current squad

As of July 2009

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ISR	Liran Strauber
2	MF	ISR	Ori Biton
4	DF	ISR	Yuval Spungin
9	FW	ARM	Ilya Yavruyan (holds teudat zehut)
11	MF	ISR	Maor Buzaglo
13	DF	BUL	Igor Tomašić
14	MF	ISR	Yossi Shivhon
15	FW	ISR	Yaniv Azran
16	MF	ISR	Dor Malul
18	DF	ISR	Ronny Gafney

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
19	MF	ISR	Guillermo Israilevich (holds teudat zehut)
20	MF	ISR	Lior Jan
21	MF	ISR	Shiran Yeini
22	GK	ISR	Guy Solomon
24	FW	ZAM	Emmanuel Mayuka
25	DF	ISR	Nisso Kapiloto
26	DF	ISR	Ori Shitrit
-	FW	ISR	Yuval Avidor
-	DF	ISR	Yakir Shina
-	MF	ISR	Tomer Tayar

Honours

• Old Liga Leumit/Ligat ha'Al: 20 (Record)
  • Champions : 1923, 1929, 1936, 1937, 1941–42, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1957–58, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2002–03
• Israel State Cup: 22 (Record)
  • Winners : 1928–29, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1940–41, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1976–77, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2004–05
• Asian Club Championship: 2
  • Winners : 1968-69, 1970–71
• Toto Cup: 3
  • Winners : 1992–93, 1998–99, 2008–09
• UEFA Champions League
• 'Group stage: 2004-5

Records

• Seasons in Premier League: - 60 (1949 - present)
• Seasons in Second Division: - 0
• Lowest Position: - 12 (1988)
• Win record for season: - 30 (1967/8)
• Loss record for season: - 13 (2000)
• Highest points for season: - 88 (1994)
• Most Goals record for season: - 103 (1950)
• Worst Conceded record for season: - 53 (1951)
• Top Goalscorer for season: - 26 (Yehoshua Glazer 1955 and Giora Shpigel 1967)
• Highest Win: - 13:0 vs Maccabi Rishon Le-Zyion, 1950
• Highest Defeat: - 10:0 vs Maccabi Haifa, 1988
• Highest Win at Home: - 13:0 vs Maccabi Rishon Le-Zyion, 1950
• Highest Loss at Home: - 4:0 vs Hapoel Acre, 2006
• Highest Win Away: - 7:0 vs Hapoel Haifa, 1994
• Highest Loss Away: - 10:0 vs Maccabi Haifa, 1988
• All Time Top Scorer: - Avi Nimni 174 Goals

Managerial history

• 1934 - 1949 Egon Pollack
• 1949 - 1958 Jery Bet-Halevy
• 1958 - 1982 Unknown
• 1982 - 1983 Nissim Bachar
• 1983 - 1985 Duvid Swaitzer
• 1983 - 1985 Itzhak Shneor
• 1985 - 1987 Shimon Shenhar
• 1987 - 1988 Giyora Spiger and Dror Bar-Nur
• 1988 - 1989 Yosale Merimovich
• 1988 - 1989 Ehud Nusbaum
• 1989 - 1990 Nissim Bachar
• 1990 - 1991 Zvika Rosen
• 1991 - 1995 Avram Grant
• 1995 - 1996 Dror Kashtan
• 1996 - 2000 Avram Grant
• 2000 - 2000 Shlomo Sharf
• 2000 - 2002 Nir Levin
• 2002 - 2005 Nir Klinger
• 2005 - 2006 Ton Kaanen
• 2006 - 2007 Eli Cohen
• 2007 - 2008 Nir Levin
• 2008 - 2008 Ran Ben-Shimon
• 2008 - present Avi Nimni

Notable former and present players

Israel Jery Bet-Halevy Nathan Penz Israel Elsner Gaol Machlis Mendale Merimovich Paul Westerman Itzhak Shneyor Avram Bendori Zvi Stodinsky Shmuel Isreli Rahamim Talbi David Kerko Dror Bar-Nor Yaron Oz Yossef Goldstein Yossale Merimovich Erez Mesika Tal Banin Menahem Bello Tal Ben Haim Eyal Berkovic Gadi Brumer Avi Cohen Eli Driks Bonni Ginzburg Yehoshua Glazer Motti Ivanir Nir Klinger Rafi Levi Haim Levin Uri Malmilian Moshe Marcus Avi Nimni Vicki Peretz Zvi Rosen Uri Saliman Tamir Cohen Amir Schelach Giora Spiegel Benni Tabak Itzik Zohar Meno Shwartz Avi Cohen Yehuda Kazav Yehuda Gargir Moshik Swhaitzer Meir Melika Noam Shoam Ben Luz Haim Hagag Nir Sivilia Kobi Refoua Ofir Haim Dedi Ben Dayan Meni Levi Avi Strool

Israel; continued Guy Tzarfati Oren Zeituni Amir Turgeman Eli Biton Moshe Mishaelof Koby Musa Liran Cohen Reuven Oved Lior Jan Shiran Yeini Yuval Shpungin Avi Yehiel Yossi Shivhon Dor Malul Maor Buzaglo Ori Shitrit Albania Elvin Beqiri Argentina Guillermo Israilevich Armenia Ilya Yavruyan Brazil Bruno Lino Reis Marcio Giovanini José de Freitas José Duarte Eduardo Passos Bosnia and Herzegovina Meho Kodro Cameroon Cyril Makanaky Émile M'Bamba Chile Mauricio Aros Rodrigo Goldberg Croatia Giovanni Rosso Ivan Režić Igor Tomasic Tvrtko Kale Democratic Republic of the Congo Alain Masudi France Jonathan Assous Rudy Haddad Yannick Kamanan Ghana John Paintsil Ishmael Addo

Georgia Klimenti Tsitaishvili Givi Didava Giorgi Demetradze Hungary Ferenc Horváth Ádám Vezér Latvia Andrejs Prohorenkovs Liberia Dulee Johnson Nigria Michael Emenalo Henry Makinwa Blessing Kaku Poland Andrzej Kubica Grzegorz Wędzyński Russia Andrey Tikhonov Alexander Polokarov Alexander Ubarov Yivgeni Kashnezev Aleksei Kosolapov Yuri Shukanov Victor Belkin Victor Moroz Mikhail Osinov Dmitri Popov Romania Eugen Trica Serbia Miljan Mrdaković Dejan Ilić Slovakia Jozef Valachovič Trinidad and Tobago Scott Sealy Ukraine Andriy Bal Oleksandr Kosyrin Uruguay Joe Bizera Cristian González Aidinovich Panama Armando Dely Valdes Paraguay Aldo Adorno Montenegro Dragoslav Jevrić Zambia Emmanuel Mayuka

Retired number

• 08: Avi Nimni
• 12: Meni Levi

External links

• Official website
• Fans' site
• 12th Player, main fan organisation
• Ultras Maccabi 96