Maccabi Haifa Faces Defensive Challenges as Key Players Sidelined for Upcoming Season

Maccabi Haifa announced on July 15, 2026, that several players will not be part of the squad for the upcoming season, including the surprising exclusion of left-back Daniel Golani, who was loaned to Tiberias this past year. This decision could impact the team's defensive options significantly. Both of Haifa's senior left-backs, Pierre Cornu and Yinon Feingezicht, are currently sidelined with serious injuries. Cornu is expected to return at the earliest by January 2027, while Feingezicht suffered a complete ACL tear in the final game of the season and may miss most of the next season. This leaves Maccabi Haifa without a natural left-back in their roster.

In the last match, Feingezicht was replaced by Sof Podgoran, who has since left the club. During a recent friendly against Kiryat Yam, Sean Goldberg started in the left-back position, a role he played early in his career and occasionally during the previous season. Another option is Kenny Saif, a winger who has been deployed in various positions and started as a left-back under coach Barak Bachar's current tenure.

Maccabi Haifa's first match of the season will be against Hapoel Haifa in the Toto Cup on July 25, followed by their Israeli Premier League opener against Hapoel Ramat Gan on August 22. Both Cornu and Feingezicht were key contributors last season and are expected to resume important roles once fully recovered.