(Photo: Reuven Cohen, the official website of Maccabi Haifa)
This was expected – and tonight (Thursday) it became official: Charon Sari signed a contract extension with Maccabi Haifa until the summer of 2023, the club announced. Cherry, who will earn about 380,000 euros per season, told the official website: “I am happy to continue in the place that has become my home. I miss the audience but know we have a few more years together.”
Sherry arrived at the signing ceremony with Sami Ofer accompanied by his family. A huge greeting from the club’s president, Yaakov Shachar, and a video with his highlights in the green uniform were projected on the huge screen in the stadium. “I am very, very pleased that you are in our club and even more happy that you are staying with us. I very much hope that you and your family enjoy Israel. We all love you and that we will all have success,” Shahar said. Barak Bachar added: “An important move for the club and the player. Cherry has proven and is proving himself on and off the field. Glad he is having fun here and wishes him to continue to succeed.”
Shari, 32, arrived in Carmel in August 2019, after Maccabi Haifa parted ways with acquaintances Fry at the end of the previous season. Since joining, the Dutch midfielder has instantly become the team’s barometer. In his first season on the green, Sherry scored ten league goals and added the same amount of assists in 36 games.
He also started the current season excellently, when he signed two goals in Maccabi Haifa’s games in the Europa League qualifiers, including an amazing one in a 7: 2 defeat to Tottenham. So far this season he has scored four goals and cooked four times in 13 league games (did not miss a game).
Last September, there were reports in the Netherlands that Cherry had received a number of inquiries, including from Twente, the team where he grew up and also from Groningen, as well as gaining interest from the Turkish league and teams in Asia. Even then, Maccabi Haifa vehemently refused. By the way, the deal was closed by his agents Ziv Sternberg and Ariel Bozorgi.
During his career, Sherry moved to Twente, moving to Cambour, Rosendall, Amen, Dan Hague and Groningen before leaving the Netherlands for one season at the English Queens Park Rangers. He then registered for two years in Hangfang from the Second Chinese League and before Haifa he managed to register a season in the Turkish Kaiserspor.
