Red Star Belgrade Goalkeeper Omri Glazer Returns to Maccabi Haifa for 2026 Season

Omri Glazer, the goalkeeper for Red Star Belgrade, has agreed to join Maccabi Haifa, filling the role left by Georgian-Ukrainian keeper Giorgi Yermakov, who is moving to Metalist. Glazer, who previously played for Maccabi Haifa between 2016 and 2021 and won a championship as a backup, left Israel in 2023 to join Red Star alongside coach Barak Bachar.

Glazer initially excelled at Red Star, setting a Champions League record with 13 saves in a match against Manchester City in 2025, considered one of the best performances by an Israeli goalkeeper. However, after a significant injury in the 2024/25 season and a costly mistake against PSV Eindhoven, he lost his starting position to Matheus, a former Braga and Ajax goalkeeper signed for €1.25 million. Glazer spent most of the 2025/26 season as a backup, making only seven appearances, mostly in less critical matches.

A potential loan move to Maccabi Tel Aviv fell through shortly before the European registration deadline due to Red Star's insistence on a permanent transfer. Other clubs like Deportivo Alavés and Nashville showed interest, but Glazer remained mostly on the bench. Now returning to Maccabi Haifa, Glazer faces questions about his match fitness but benefits from a favorable schedule and no European competition, allowing him to regain form gradually.

Glazer shares physical and leadership qualities with Yermakov, both standing 1.90 meters tall and known for commanding their defenses. While Glazer tends to catch or smother shots more than Yermakov, who prefers deflecting, both have similar save percentages. Given Maccabi Haifa's recent struggles, Glazer is expected to be a leading player and a key figure in stabilizing the team's defense in the upcoming season.

The club plans to integrate him through Toto Cup matches and early league games against teams like Hapoel Ramat Gan, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Petah Tikva, providing ample opportunity for Glazer to adjust and prove his readiness for a starting role.