Former Maccabi Haifa Player Recalls Unpleasant Exit and Israeli Experience

Former Maccabi Haifa midfielder Kamil Vacek has reflected on his time in Israel during a recent interview with Czech outlet Radiožurnál Sport, describing his departure from the club as an "unpleasant ending." Vacek played for Maccabi Haifa during the 2016-2017 season and recalled the significant fan attention he received upon arrival, noting that 500 people awaited him at the airport and that the stadium could hold 20,000 spectators.

He described his period in Israel as one of the "most beautiful times" of his career, contrasting the security situation then with the present day. Vacek also praised the Israeli healthcare system, as his son was born in the country. He credited his coach, René Meulensteen, who previously worked with Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, for teaching him "how to play football correctly."

Vacek recounted an incident during training where he and other foreign players were startled by a loud boom, which turned out to be a test of the air raid sirens. He mentioned that this was a regular occurrence on the first Wednesday of each month, a detail that caught him unprepared.

The "unpleasant ending" Vacek referred to involved the sudden departure of coach Meulensteen due to disagreements with the club's management. This led to Vacek and the other foreign players being sidelined, a situation he attributed to the complexities of football in "such countries."