True, there was a short cooling-off period, but one of the most dominant players of Maccabi Tel Aviv in recent years, actually landed at Maccabi Haifa, to help it win its first championship in a decade, at the expense of the former Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Noble is not the first, and probably not the last to wear yellow and green. On the occasion of the impending transition, we rummaged through the pages of history (within the bounds of good taste) and chose the 11 largest vehicles Who played for both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa. Our principles in selection: only players who have played in both teams, their achievements in both teams and of course, their skills. We tried to combine things. Maybe we succeeded, maybe we made a mistake (so talk to us) but one thing is for sure: you would not want your team to meet this team.
* You can find many players who played in the two clubs such as Eliran Atar, Gili Vermot, Tamir Cohen, Alan Masudi and Maor Buzaglo but all three passed on the way at other stations and were certainly not identified with one of the clubs when they made this move.
Goalkeeper: Haim Levin
A man in a photo finish on Bonnie Ginzburg because of the degrees. Levin has won one championship, three trophies and the Asian team championship. He played for Maccabi Haifa (1957-1959) for two years before moving to Maccabi Tel Aviv and demonstrated his great talent when he was a partner in one of the Greens’ best teams that decade. Besides, he deserves to be at 11 only because of his spicy transfer story. Yossele Marimovich from Maccabi Tel Aviv spoke with a source at Maccabi Haifa and told him that Levin suffers from color blindness, which impairs his ability in games held in the evening. In Haifa, they “took advantage” of this information and agreed to get rid of it in exchange for the income of two games. Yankele would not eat it.
Defense: Nir Klinger
The biggest banker of this lineup. The player who was very successful in both clubs, certainly more than any other player. Two championships in Haifa and a key screw in the big team of the 1980s. Three championships and two trophies at Maccabi Tel Aviv and perhaps the man who symbolized the transfer of control between the clubs in the early 1990s. Anchor. A player’s coach. Kalboinik. Soul. Everything catches on. And even holds an impressive figure for his position: 86 goals for both teams 65 in the Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform). Here, too, the story of his transfer takes a dramatic turn when, years later, he declared that the death of Avi Ran caused him to leave Maccabi Haifa in favor of Tel Aviv, despite the successes. “We lived in a black dream that we did not recover from for two years, at least on a personal level.”
Defense: Marco Confusion
So it is true that he did not win Maccabi Tel Aviv in the titles, but 5 championships (including the title “Maccabi Haifa’s oldest player to win the championship) 3 trophies, 339 appearances in the Maccabi Haifa uniform and 62 appearances in Maccabi Tel Aviv put him straight in our squad. In Carmel, he got a chance in the 87/88 season and although he did not have exceptional talent, knew how to close excellently, was considered very responsible and appreciated by his coaches. The story of the move? Grant signed him and brought him to Maccabi Tel Aviv, it is a pity . It ended without a degree (and with a dismissal against .. Maccabi Haifa) but at least with great friendships with Grant, who brought him back to Haifa with him. Later, he returned for two terms as coach of Maccabi Haifa.
Defense Moshe Glam
One of the great left-backs we have had, especially in the face of the immense distress at this position. One championship, one trophy. 188 appearances in green with 22 goals and 23 assists. In addition, 48 appearances in the Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform, including 7 goals. Amazing numbers for the defender. , He also reached the Yellows only after Grant and Kashtan’s championships, but at least took a central place in the lineup.
Contact: Tal Benin
Among the few in history who has managed to be a leading and prominent player in both clubs. With the Haifa team, he recorded three seasons (121 appearances and 23 goals) and a huge double as part of the big trio with Atar and Berkowitz. In yellow (108 appearances and 14 goals), picked up two trophies and one championship but was eventually expelled by another guy in that lineup, Nir Klinger (did we mention there will be ego issues in our lineup?). By the way, Benin is the only one who can give Klinger a fight in this lineup. According to the record in both clubs.
Contact: Giovanni Russo
Aside from saying the word “hummus” and “neighborhood” many times, Giovanni Russo was also a huge football player. A symbol perhaps for quality foreigners who no longer come here. So it is true that he spent his big years at Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa, but given his abilities, he deserves to be on this list. 181 appearances in green including 38 goals, 3 championships and also a great journey in the Champions League with one of the greatest Israeli teams of all time. In the 03 dialing area, the Croatian is identified with the Galacticos project, but in the yellow uniform he recorded quite a few appearances (68) and also 8 goals, including a not bad season at all under Eli “The Sheriff” Cohen which ended with 7 conquests and third place.
Contact: Eyal Golsa
Defeated Itzik Zohar in 11th place. Golsa was one of the prodigies of Maccabi Haifa in the previous golden generation, at least until the transfer that did not happen to Lazio. After 2 championships at Maccabi Haifa as a young player and a short episode in PAOK Thessaloniki, Golsa landed at Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he opened his fifth year.
Contact: Eyal Berkovich
Yes we know. Galacticus. Eclecticus. A disappointing end to a career. removal. Curses towards Meir Levy. Everything is true, but it is impossible to leave a figure like him out of this lineup, especially when the story is so spicy. The magician was willing to do anything to end his career at his youth club, but Yankele refused and Barco landed in Kiryat Shalom for a ridiculous amount relative to someone in his position. His only goal was to avenge Dawn. It ended with 31 appearances, two goals, one precious from Pez against Maccabi Haifa on penalties, and a lot of food for thought. Good and we almost forgot the period at Maccabi Haifa. 268 appearances, 50 goals, 86 assists (!), 2 championships, 3 trophies and some huge performances (including 0: 5 against Maccabi Tel Aviv).
Contact: Yossi Benyon
Like Berkowitz, Benyon also only spent a short time at Maccabi Tel Aviv, but again – when a player of this size moves to Maccabi Tel Aviv, he can not stay out of 11. Precisely after winning the state cup, Benyon provided an unforgettable interview in which he said that he was leaving after a year in which the idol of fans and one of the most beloved players in the history of Maccabi Haifa, quarreled with the audience. Benyon moved to the Yellows, making 27 appearances, 14 of them in the squad, but left after one season in favor of the same club as a child: Betar Jerusalem.
Pioneer: Ofer Mizrahi
The truth is, we debated between the two ‘Mizrahis’, Alon and Ofer, but in the end we went for Ofer. 1. Because of the influence in Maccabi Haifa. 2. Because he really did something at Maccabi Tel Aviv. We will start in the beautiful period in Haifa: 188 appearances, 49 goals, one trophy and a double (but was injured that season) and is also considered a youth legend throughout the Carmel area. But he still provided some nice numbers: 13 goals in 35 appearances, only Grant’s season ended in great disappointment. Not bad, he’ll be comforted by the fact that he’s entered 11 of this article.
Forward: Roberto Collotti
The last great striker of Maccabi Haifa. Look at the numbers: 62 goals and 24 assists in 137 appearances and of course, two championships with Roni Levy. At his peak, he was the ultimate classic striker for our league but after an exile in Germany, he returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv much less sharp and with a much fatter salary. At least he won the championship on the yellow side as well ( To put up a pretty reasonable stat line for a striker: 32 goals in 107 appearances.
* There were many more players who played in both teams, but we chose only 11.
