Bogdan Planić Open to Offers, Including Return to Israel
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Former Maccabi Haifa defender Bogdan Planić, 34, is seeking a new club after his contract with UAE's Shabab Al Ahli expired. Planić, who helped Maccabi Haifa win titles, is open to returning to Israel. He played four seasons in the UAE, winning a double and reaching the AFC Champions League semifinals, but made a costly error in his final game.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Bogdan Planić, a former key Maccabi Haifa defender, is a free agent at age 34.
- Planić is open to offers and has not ruled out a return to Israel.
- He played four seasons in the UAE with Shabab Al Ahli, winning a double.
- Planić made a critical error in his final game for Shabab Al Ahli.
- He joined Maccabi Haifa after a contract dispute with Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali.
Serbian defender Bogdan Planić, a key figure in Maccabi Haifa's recent championship success, is currently a free agent and seeking his next club. Planić joined Maccabi Haifa from Steaua Bucharest after a contract dispute with owner Gigi Becali, quickly becoming a fan favorite and instrumental in ending the team's title drought in the 2020/21 season, followed by another championship. His release clause was activated after Maccabi Haifa's third Champions League qualification in 2022, leading him to a lucrative contract with Shabab Al Ahli in the UAE.
Despite an early injury upon arrival in Dubai, Planić completed four seasons with Shabab Al Ahli, winning a double in 2024/25 and reaching the AFC Champions League semifinals. In the semifinal match against Machida Zelvia, featuring former teammate Netta Lavie, Planić made a critical error that led to the opposing team's winning goal, which was also his final official game for the club.
Now 34 years old, Planić's contract with Shabab Al Ahli has expired, and he has been without a club for six months, though he continues to train with the club's reserve team. He is actively seeking new opportunities and has not ruled out a return to Israel, a country he remembers fondly and maintains good relations with Maccabi Haifa personnel. The article suggests he could be a potential solution for Maccabi Haifa's current defensive struggles.
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