Former Maccabi Haifa Player Recalls Israeli Experience

Former Maccabi Haifa midfielder Kamil Vacek reminisced about his brief stint with the Israeli club during the 2016-2017 season, describing it as a beautiful period in his career, largely due to the security situation then being different from today. Vacek noted the excellent healthcare system in Israel, where his son was born.

He credited his former coach, René Meulensteen, who previously worked with Manchester United, for teaching him how to play football correctly, calling the experience "crazy" and highly educational. Vacek initially had doubts about playing in Israel but was impressed by the passionate fan base, with 18,000 season ticket holders for a 20,000-seat stadium, and the large crowd that greeted him upon arrival, indicating a greater interest in football than in his native Czech Republic.

Vacek recounted one instance of fear during a training session when a loud boom from a test of the air raid sirens startled him and other foreign players. He learned that this was a regular occurrence on the first Wednesday of each month, with the sound mistaken for a missile test.

The player described his departure from the club as abrupt and unpleasant. He arrived at training one day to find coach Meulensteen gone due to disagreements with management. This led to all five foreign players being sidelined, a situation Vacek attributed to the complexities of such situations in "these countries."