The 2022/23 season is approaching and the various Premier League teams are working hard to close the staffs and coach positions before the official opening. Last night (Sunday), Maccabi Tel Aviv announced that its former coach, Vladimir Ivitch, has returned to the position of coach for the next two years, with another comeback, by Eran Zehavi, being on the air for some time over Kiryat Shalom. In “Open Field” today, Eli Drix, a former star of the club, and Nir Levin, a former coach, were hosted to talk about the future of the Yellows with the Serb and in general.
“I think in light of the failure to appoint the coaches in the last two or three years they have decided on the appointment of a highly esteemed coach who has done a championship here,” Derricks began. “The demands in the negotiations were not only on wages, but also demands on the staff, so the signing took a long time.”
Asked if Ivica’s future was a default, Derricks said: “Maccabi Tel Aviv, as a strategy with Mitch after not succeeding with Israeli coaches, made a decision on a foreign coach. For example, in a club like Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane came out and succeeded. “I think it’s not bad, he returns to a new challenge. Maccabi in the Ivica era had almost no competition, when Hapoel Beer Sheva took a few steps forward Maccabi Haifa has established itself as the leading club in the last two years. The challenge for Ivica and Maccabi is to bring the club back to the forefront.”
“I will say something unpopular about all Maccabi Tel Aviv fans,” the former player continued. It’s true that he is a professional and he keeps to himself, but Maccabi Tel Aviv should not be built around him. He should be another player that is brought to the team, that will bring it economic and professional added value. “They were with him and today they are signed in the Maccabi Haifa court, it will be very difficult unless you go to our legionaries and try to bring them back to Israel.”
Derricks was also asked if Zehavi’s character would allow him to be a rotation player, but the former footballer found it difficult to give an answer: “Putting his weight on other decisions that may be. At PSV Eindhoven he did not open much and if the Japanese it will be much easier for him.”
Nir Levin also referred to Ivica’s return to Bloomfield: “There is no dispute about what Ivitch brought to Maccabi Tel Aviv in terms of football, team formation, bringing in players and a shell, and it is natural that when you come to Maccabi Tel Aviv, then the ambition will be to progress as with quite a few coaches. “For large teams, I guess he delayed the signing for such a reason that he might find a team that he aspires to get there and not actually return to the team in the Israeli league. If he had received an offer from England he might not have come.”
Levin was also asked about the refreshment required by the Yellows’ staff: “I think Ivica knows that, he knows the players at Maccabi, he had players he believed in. It will be interesting to see if he continues with them because several years have passed since he was with them. I guess in his summaries he spoke “On strengthening with Mitch and Jack Angelidis on strengthening options because he must have come here to bring Maccabi Tel Aviv back to the forefront, ie a championship and for that to happen he knows that this team needs to be strengthened.”
The former Yellows coach also referred to the Zahavi saga, but unlike Derricks, he thinks the team will have to be built around the veteran star: “He has no problem, he can continue. Anyone who knows him knows he is a professional, keeps fit, at any given moment it will be fantastic for Maccabi Tel “However, I assume that at Maccabi they are thinking of possible options for which player will come in addition to him.
“If Eran does not join, they will need a player at the front,” Levin continued. Ivica will have to take a minute of play from him and let him rest when leading, say, but even at his advanced age I have no doubt that a team can be built around him he can attract 30-35 players a season. In his character can not be a sub-player. “Hopefully. It will make an league as interesting as everyone wants, I wish.”
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