Maccabi Tel Aviv Parts Ways With Longtime Team Manager Yoav Ziv

Maccabi Tel Aviv has announced the departure of Yoav Ziv from his role as senior team manager, a position he held for the past nine years. This move concludes a significant tenure for Ziv, who has been a prominent figure at the club for the last fifteen years, first as a player and then in management. The separation comes at a time when the team is performing exceptionally well, boasting a perfect record of five wins in five league games.

Ziv took on the team manager role in the summer of 2017, shortly after concluding his playing career. He became a consistent presence in the club's professional setup, working with numerous coaches and squads through periods of league title contention, European competition, and significant organizational changes. The team manager position is crucial for a major football club's daily operations, involving constant communication with the coaching staff, players, and club management, and handling a wide array of operational and professional matters.

Raz Ben Shemesh is reportedly the leading candidate to succeed Ziv. Maccabi Tel Aviv aims to finalize the reorganization around the team manager role swiftly and smoothly to avoid disrupting the team's preparations for the remainder of the season. Given the club's current involvement in multiple competitions and the demands of managing a large squad, prompt action is necessary.

The timing of Ziv's departure is notable, occurring just days before he was scheduled to complete a three-month suspension. He received the ban following incidents at the State Cup final against Hapoel Be'er Sheva, which began on July 1st and was set to end on October 1st. His departure now, just before his return to full duty, makes the timing of this change particularly intriguing.

Ziv's connection with Maccabi Tel Aviv began in 2010 when he joined as a player, spending six years with the club and contributing to its return to prominence and title wins. After a brief stint with Hapoel Petah Tikva, he retired and returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv in a managerial capacity. Throughout his nine years as manager, Ziv remained a constant presence, bridging the gap between management, staff, and the locker room, and accumulating extensive experience within the club.