Jose Rodriguez Explains Departure From Maccabi Haifa

Former Maccabi Haifa player Jose Rodriguez has spoken about his time with the Israeli club, calling his championship-winning season "the best year of my career." Rodriguez, one of the few foreign players to have played for three of Israel's top five clubs (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, and Hapoel Tel Aviv), discussed his move to Haifa in an interview with the "Offsiders" podcast. He explained that a player who had previously played against him and later became a professional manager at Maccabi Haifa contacted him, leading to his transfer. Rodriguez described the club's situation upon his arrival as similar to Valencia or Atletico Madrid before Diego Simeone's tenure, noting that while the club was historically significant, it wasn't consistently winning titles.

Rodriguez highlighted his two championship seasons with Maccabi Haifa, emphasizing the first as particularly special due to the team's underdog status. He recalled feeling a strong connection to the club and the city, stating it was the first club where he felt at home from day one. He also mentioned the supportive environment, including gestures from professional manager Gal Alberman and the club's willingness to cover his expenses in restaurants.

Regarding his departure, Rodriguez revealed that his contract was for two years with an option for a third, and he felt he had grown significantly as a player during his tenure. He stated he would have stayed if offered a new contract. He mentioned a clause in his contract tied to appearances, which he did not meet due to various issues, leading to dissatisfaction from the club. "Honestly, a few games before the end, I forgot about that clause," he admitted.

Rodriguez returned to Israel for a third stint with Hapoel Tel Aviv but left due to the war. He described October 7th as one of the most difficult moments of his career, fearing for his children's safety. An offer from Turkey eventually led to his departure from Hapoel Tel Aviv.