Bogdan Planić Open to Offers, Potentially Returning to Israel
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Former Maccabi Haifa defender Bogdan Planić is a free agent, training in Dubai after his contract with Shabab Al Ahli ended. The 34-year-old is open to offers and has not ruled out a return to Israel, where he enjoyed significant success. Planić was instrumental in Maccabi Haifa's league titles in 2020/21 and 2021/22 before moving to the UAE. He won a double and reached the AFC Champions League semi-finals with Shabab Al Ahli, but his final game was marked by a costly mistake.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Bogdan Planić, a former key Maccabi Haifa defender, is currently a free agent training in Dubai.
- The 34-year-old is open to offers and has not ruled out a return to Israel.
- Planić was a significant player in Maccabi Haifa's championship wins in 2020/21 and 2021/22.
- He later played for Shabab Al Ahli in the UAE, winning a double and reaching an AFC Champions League semi-final.
- Planić's contract with Shabab Al Ahli expired at the end of last season.
- His departure from Maccabi Haifa in 2022 was due to a release clause in his contract.
Former Maccabi Haifa defender Bogdan Planić, who was a key player in the club's recent successful era, is currently without a team and training with the reserve squad of Shabab Al Ahli in Dubai. Planić's contract with the Emirati club concluded at the end of last season, and for the past six months, the 34-year-old has been seeking his next opportunity. He is reportedly open to offers and has not ruled out a return to Israel, a country he remembers fondly.
Planić joined Maccabi Haifa from Steaua Bucharest, taking advantage of a contract dispute between the player and owner Gigi Becali. Initially facing criticism, he quickly became a fan favorite, helping the Greens break their league title drought in the 2020/21 season and securing back-to-back championships. His release clause eventually led to his departure from Maccabi Haifa in 2022, shortly after the club qualified for the Champions League for the third time.
At 30, Planić signed a lucrative contract with Shabab Al Ahli. Despite an early injury, he spent four seasons with the club, winning a domestic double in 2024/25 and reaching the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League. In that semi-final match, a significant error by Planić contributed to the opposing team's winning goal, marking his final official game for the club.
With Maccabi Haifa's defense experiencing a shaky start to the current season, the question arises whether Planić, who departed on good terms with the club's management, could be a solution for their defensive struggles.
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