Maccabi Tel Aviv's Ester Sokler Seeks to Replicate Success Amidst Early Struggles
Maccabi Tel Aviv has placed significant hopes on new signing Ester Sokler, a Slovenian forward acquired for €1 million from Radnički Niš this summer. The club hopes Sokler can emulate the successful transition of former signing Đorđe Jovanović, a Serbian striker also bought from a modest Serbian club. Jovanović, who arrived four and a half years ago for nearly €2 million, made an immediate impact, scoring winning goals in his first two matches for Maccabi Tel Aviv, including the Tel Aviv derby.
Sokler, however, has yet to score in his first two appearances for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, playing 30 minutes as a substitute in the Toto Cup semi-final against Maccabi Netanya and starting last week's league match against Hapoel Jerusalem, where Maccabi Tel Aviv won 5-2. Despite the lack of goals, teammates and staff express confidence in Sokler's abilities, describing him as a versatile and fast player capable of scoring from various positions, not just as a target man. They believe he has shown high potential in training.
At 27, Sokler arrives at Maccabi Tel Aviv after a career-best season in Serbia, where he scored 15 league goals. His previous move to Aberdeen in Scotland, with aspirations of reaching the Premier League, did not pan out, leading him back to the Serbian league. Sokler himself expressed excitement about joining Maccabi Tel Aviv, a club with a strong reputation in the region, partly due to its successful basketball team. He reportedly struggled slightly with English during his introductory press conference, possibly due to nerves.
Sokler's only goal so far for Maccabi Tel Aviv came in a friendly against CSKA Sofia, a match that ended in a Europa League qualifying exit for the team. The club's professional staff reportedly stated they believe Sokler can achieve a lot, especially after the potential sale of another player, Said Abu Farhi. Maccabi Tel Aviv is confident they made a good acquisition, despite the team's difficult summer in European competitions and Sokler's slow start, believing he will integrate well into Israeli football. Sokler revealed his unique first name, Ester, comes from a Slovenian song his parents enjoyed.
