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 former Maccabi Haifa player, who had become the club's professional manager, contacted him and convinced him to join. Rodriguez described the club's situation at the time as similar to that of Valencia or Atletico Madrid before Diego Simeone's arrival, noting that while it was a big club, it wasn't consistently winning titles.

Rodriguez highlighted his two championship seasons with Maccabi Haifa, emphasizing that the first title was particularly special because it was unexpected. 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 support he received from the professional manager, Gal Alberman, and the club's generosity, including not having to pay for meals at 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 indicated he would have stayed if offered a new contract. He explained that a clause in his contract, tied to the number of appearances, was not met due to various issues, leading to dissatisfaction from the club. However, Rodriguez admitted that in the final games of the season, he had forgotten about this specific clause.

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 ultimately led to his departure from Hapoel Tel Aviv.