Former Israeli Footballers Reveal Intense Derby Pressure

Former Israeli footballers Maor Kandel and Tal Ben Haim have revealed the immense pressure they felt during their time playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv, particularly concerning the team's decade-long undefeated streak in the Tel Aviv derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Speaking on the "Olim LaRegel" podcast, the players described the anxiety surrounding the derby matches, with the fear of being the ones to break the streak weighing heavily on them.

Kandel recounted the extreme stress, stating, "When we played, there was much more pressure because we hadn't lost for a decade. I would tremble before the derbies, it was the scariest thing in the world." He also shared a personal anecdote from a cup final derby held a week before his wedding, where he vowed to retire from football if he lost, saying, "If I lose, I'm done with football. I wouldn't get up from it."

Ben Haim, a symbolic figure in derby matches, admitted to similar feelings, confessing he told himself he would retire if he lost a cup final derby, without even announcing his retirement. He described his pre-derby mindset as being like a "mentally ill person," isolating himself and intensely focusing on the upcoming match, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

Both players emphasized that the pressure was amplified by the historical significance of the derby and the unprecedented streak, making even matches against weaker opponents highly stressful. They highlighted that the fear of losing the first derby after such a long period of success was a significant burden.