Maccabi Tel Aviv Star's Older Brother Leads Dutch Second Division Team

Delano Assenté, the older brother of Maccabi Tel Aviv's key player Tyrell Assenté, is having a stellar start to the season with MVV Maastricht in the Dutch second division. While Tyrell, a Dutch defender/winger who joined Maccabi in the summer of 2024, has been a stable presence for the Israeli club, contributing to their strong start in the league with two wins, he missed their recent matches due to health issues. His brother Delano, however, has experienced a later career breakthrough. Unlike Tyrell, who turned professional at 19 and played for the Dutch youth national team, Delano remained in semi-professional football for years before signing his first professional contract with MVV Maastricht in the summer of 2025 at the age of 25. ESPN highlighted him at the time as "Tyrell Assenté's older brother from Maccabi Tel Aviv."

Despite the age difference and distance, the brothers maintain a close relationship. In November 2024, Delano skipped a training session to attend Tyrell's match against Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena, expressing his excitement on social media. MVV Maastricht, which has not played in the top Dutch league since 2000, has achieved a perfect start to their current season, winning all four of their opening matches in the second division. This impressive performance places them in a strong position for automatic promotion. Delano, primarily playing as a right winger, has started in all four games and recorded an assist in the first match against Utrecht's reserve team.