In recent years it is clear: good foreigners may be able to promote you, but the championship depends on Israelis. Dolev Haziza’s success in recent weeks has rekindled the debate over the burning question: Who, at the moment, is the best Israeli in the league? We took five candidates, checked the numbers – and let you choose a special survey. Here are the candidates in front of you: (The candidates are registered in the order of their groups’ position in the table)
Dolev Haziza (Maccabi Haifa)
This looks like his peak season. The relationship that grew in Ness Ziona, developed and grew in Bnei Yehuda with quite a few difficulties along the way (including passing in the national league), flourishing this second season at Maccabi Haifa – when the break came under Marco Belbul, then became a key player, and the highlight is the season with Barak Bachar. Numbers: Hiziza in 18 appearances has seven goals and five assists (placed third and fifth, respectively, in the table of conquerors and cooks of the league). Firecracker leads the league with key dedication and accurate key dedication, as well as dribbles (109). The offensive engine of Maccabi Haifa, and who has become its most important player in recent weeks.
Yonatan Cohen (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
The “Go to Guy” of the strongest club in Israel. Cohen completed the impressive promotion process – in order, from the loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv, through good seasons at Bnei Yehuda, to a gradual increase including a key role in one of the predatory championships in the club’s history – that of 2019/20, under Vladimir Ivitch. Add to that an unforgettable winning goal against Maccabi Haifa, Sami Ofer, in the game of the season – and you get a new yellow hero. Numbers: Cohen this season holds a figure of nine goals (second only to Rokavica) and five assists, in just 16 appearances. He is fourth in the league with threats to the goal (46), and fourth also with threats to the frame (21). Main candidate for the title of “Eran Zahavi Haba” – cool-headed, winner, rising star.
Liel Abda (Maccabi Petah Tikva)
The next big thing of the Luzon family? In his first season in the Premier League (!), Abda has already entered the prestigious debate, and became the most significant player in the opening of the Malavas’ great season – including a winning goal at the expense of Maccabi Tel Aviv. In Europe people are already writing in the notebook, and so are we. Numbers: This season he has six goals and three assists in 17 appearances, all in 26 threats per goal only. The additional number is that out of the six goals, two (the last two at the time of writing) came deep in extra time. Is he already on the road to continental success? In the meantime, he is definitely in the discussion about our good Israeli.
Gabi Kanikovsky (Maccabi Netanya)
One of the best and most exciting players in our football. The boy who was born in Bnei Brak and moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv as a teenager, has become one of the key players of Maccabi Netanya since returning to the Premier League, and today it is difficult to imagine the diamonds without him. Numbers: Knickowski has six goals and six assists (leading the league in this category) in 17 appearances so far this season. Among the ties, he is the third in threats to the frame with 17 such (second only to Sherry and Firecracker).
Hanan Maman (Hapoel Haifa)
The big comeback of the season. The midfielder who was Hapoel Beer Sheva’s key player in its last championship, has been a bit in the shadows in recent years – could not find a place in BS, and went to a somewhat puzzling term in Betar Jerusalem, but returned to his comfortable place – in Carmel, after moving right at the beginning of the season. To the man who goes through everything in Haim Sylves’ attacking game. Numbers: Six goals and two assists in 16 appearances this season, the extra number – his first goal was scored in the eighth round, which means that all these figures came in the last ten rounds of the league. The hot stock of the 2021 Premier League.
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