Former Maccabi Tel Aviv Defender Yegor Filipenko Reflects on Israeli League Experience

About a month after announcing his retirement from professional football, Belarusian defender Yegor Filipenko gave an interview reflecting on his career in Israel. Filipenko, who played for Maccabi Tel Aviv and M.S. Ashdod, discussed the challenges he faced during his time with Maccabi Tel Aviv, including limited playing time and uncertainty about his role. He revealed that after a strong 3-0 win where he performed well, he was surprisingly left out of the squad for the next match, which made him consider leaving the club.

Filipenko tried to understand the coach Shota Arveladze's decisions but received little explanation. He acknowledged competing for his position with players like Tal Ben Haim and Eitan Tibi, suggesting the coach may have preferred them. Despite these difficulties, Filipenko praised the Israeli Premier League, stating he had expected a lower level of play but was impressed by the technical quality and competitiveness, especially noting Maccabi Tel Aviv's strong team.

He also commented on the high cost of living in Israel, particularly in cities like Haifa and Tel Aviv, noting that expenses varied depending on location and lifestyle. Filipenko adapted to life in Israel despite these challenges. Regarding his transfer from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Ashdod, he said he insisted on maintaining his salary, and Jordi Cruyff, then involved with Maccabi, facilitated the arrangement smoothly.

Filipenko concluded by recalling the highlight of his career: qualifying for the UEFA Champions League with BATE Borisov and playing the full 90 minutes in a notable 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich, where he was among the best players on the field.