Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv Face Shared Crisis Ahead of Derby

Two giants of Israeli football, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, are set to face each other in a match that, while historically a major fixture, now highlights a shared decline in management and professional performance. Both clubs are experiencing significant fan discontent and a growing number of unanswered questions regarding their direction.

Maccabi Haifa's long-established status has waned in recent years, while Maccabi Tel Aviv, despite winning two of the last three league titles, is facing its weakest period under owner Mitch Goldhar. This season and the current summer have seen a significant dip, drawing natural comparisons between the two clubs, both of which boast the highest budgets and fan memberships in the Israeli Premier League.

The article points out that high budgets no longer guarantee success, with Hapoel Be'er Sheva, under Alona Barkat with a significantly smaller budget, outperforming both giants. The rise of other clubs like Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv further illustrates the shifting landscape.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's struggles are attributed to poor summer transfer activity, including the sale of key players and the acquisition of underperforming foreign signings like Kervin Andrade and Heitor. The club has focused more on player sales than on building a consistently winning team.

Maccabi Haifa is also criticized for similar issues, with recent summers marked by attempts to rectify previous season's mistakes, often involving numerous player departures and the signing of inadequate replacements. Both clubs have also struggled to effectively engage with the local player market, unlike Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

Instability in coaching positions and poor decision-making, such as the promotion of Lior Refaelov to management roles at Maccabi Haifa, are also cited as contributing factors to the current crises. The article concludes that both clubs have alienated their fan bases and are facing significant challenges, with the upcoming match serving as an early test of which club's issues run deeper.