Natali Berto to Lead Maccabi Tel Aviv Women’s Handball Team in Premier League Debut

For the first time in Israeli handball history, Maccabi Tel Aviv will compete in the Women’s Premier Handball League in the 2026/2027 season. The club is finalizing its roster ahead of its league opener on October 8 against A.K. Nes Ziona at home. Natali Berto, 38, a former Israeli national team player with 14 years of experience and a decorated career including 11 national championships and 10 state cups, will serve as player-coach for the team. Berto began her career at Bnot Herzliya, leading them to 10 championships and 10 state cups over 11 seasons, and later played for Hapoel Petah Tikva, Maccabi Rishon LeZion, and B.S. Ramat Hasharon.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s women’s handball development started five years ago with a youth department. Last season, the club’s girls’ team won the northern district championship and the state cup under coach Bar Gatzel. Berto, who has coached the youth teams for four years, now takes charge of the senior team in the Premier League for the first time as head coach. The club praised her combined experience as a player and coach and aims to build a competitive team to continue advancing women’s handball at Maccabi.

Berto expressed pride and excitement about being the first coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s senior women’s team, calling the club her home and emphasizing her commitment to promoting quality, professional, and competitive women’s handball. She aims to build a dedicated, hardworking, and united team that represents the club with pride. Il Prolinger, chairman of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s handball department, highlighted the historic nature of the upcoming season and confidence in Berto’s leadership. He noted last season’s youth team success and hopes to establish a strong professional foundation for women’s handball in Israel through this new senior team.