Ex-Maccabi Haifa CEO Criticizes Club's Decisions, Player Quality
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Former Maccabi Haifa CEO Itamar Chizik criticized the club's recent decisions, stating coach Barak Bakhar erred in returning and player Rafa'elov was unsuited for his role. Chizik believes the team has been in decline for two years, with a lack of quality players and a flawed scouting system. He called for a long-term rebuilding process for the struggling club.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Maccabi Haifa CEO Itamar Chizik criticized coach Barak Bakhar's return and Rafa'elov's role.
- Chizik stated that only two or three current Maccabi Haifa players are worthy of the team.
- The club has been in decline for at least two years, according to Chizik.
- Chizik questioned the current scouting process and the quality of foreign signings.
- He advised against hiring Roni Levy and expressed doubts about Omer Peretz's experience.
Former Maccabi Haifa CEO Itamar Chizik has analyzed the club's ongoing crisis, stating that coach Barak Bakhar made a mistake in returning to the team and that player Rafa'elov was not suited for his professional director role. Chizik's comments came after Maccabi Haifa suffered a 4-0 home defeat to Maccabi Netanya, leading to Bakhar's resignation after only ten league matches.
Chizik believes the club has been in decline for at least two years, advocating for a complete overhaul of the team's foundation. He noted that in the past, Maccabi Haifa had a stronger core of local players and better foreign signings. He also speculated that club owner Yaakov Shahar's motivation might have waned due to his age, and expressed concern over the current scouting process, contrasting it with the extensive vetting of foreign players in his tenure.
Regarding specific individuals, Chizik told Rafa'elov directly that he was not ready for his position and should have worked under a coach. He also advised Bakhar against returning for a third stint, citing historical precedents. Chizik dismissed the idea of hiring Roni Levy as the new coach and expressed skepticism about Omer Peretz, stating that 43 league games are insufficient experience for managing Maccabi Haifa.
Chizik concluded that very few players currently on the roster are worthy of playing for Maccabi Haifa, criticizing the defense as particularly porous. He stressed the need to build a team for the long term, regardless of potential European qualification.
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