Maccabi Tel Aviv started a new era yesterday (Thursday) without Yorgos Donis on the lines and seems to have found a new coach. The champion defeated Hapoel Kiryat Shmona dramatically 0: 1, and regardless of the result, Patrick Van Leven is expected to remain the coach for the near future, which may last until the end of the year, of course according to the results.
Van Weven’s remarks to the players before the game even indicate: “We are embarking on a new path and we will have a period together. I believe in you. We will return to play the good football that characterized you at the beginning of the season.”
The Dutchman is backed by the management, where they think he is a good coach who can take the club on a new path. Van Leven, who started the season in the senior team, remained very dominant professionally even when Donis arrived. He was present at training and is considered a valued professional authority in the senior team of the club.
Already when Donis was fired, it was clear that Sean Leven, who was very involved in the senior team this year, would become the coach. Sources at the club said: “Just yesterday it was possible to see how much the team went back in the Donis era, which caused the players’ confidence to decline. Old and young players were completely wiped out. We may have had to make the shock earlier.” Also, Mitch Goldhaar may land a foreign professional manager to prepare the team and build it for the rest of the season and next season.
Van Leven’s professional hive will include Uri David, youth coach A., and Eliezer Ben Yehuda, youth coach, who will serve as his assistants. Shura Oberov will return to the position of goalkeeping coach, Yossi Zagdon will function as the fitness coach and the analyst will be Israel Kakon.
Despite the great joy of the victory everyone understands that the team needs to get stronger. Among the players, they hope for the return of the exes: “Eran Zehavi and Dor Micha are players in positions that are very lacking in the team. There are currently no overly creative players and Micha falls professionally and socially into the box. Start acting, “the group said. In addition, two who are supposed to get into things and get more minutes are Itai Schechter and Tal Ben-Haim.
