Maccabi Haifa Signs Goalkeeper Omri Glazer to Replace Georgi Yarmakov

Maccabi Haifa has secured the signing of goalkeeper Omri Glazer, who will fill the role left by the departing Jewish-Ukrainian keeper Georgi Yarmakov, now moving to Metalist. Glazer returns to Israel for the first time since the 2022/23 season after spending two seasons with Red Star Belgrade, where he faced a challenging period marked by injury and limited playing time. Initially the first-choice keeper at Red Star, Glazer notably set a record with 13 saves in a single Champions League match against Manchester City, one of the best performances by an Israeli goalkeeper despite the 3-1 loss.

After a strong start, Glazer suffered an injury that sidelined him for much of the first half of the 2024/25 season. Upon his return, he struggled with form and eventually lost his starting position to Matheus, a former Braga and Ajax backup goalkeeper signed for €1.25 million. Glazer ended up playing only seven games in the 2025/26 season, mostly in less critical matches, and spent much of the time on the bench. Attempts to transfer him to Maccabi Tel Aviv fell through due to Red Star's insistence on a permanent deal just before the European registration deadline.

Glazer’s return to Maccabi Haifa reunites him with his former coach and club, where he played intermittently from 2016 to 2021, including during difficult seasons when he won a championship as a backup. Haifa sees Glazer as a leading player who can provide stability and leadership, especially given the club’s recent struggles. His style is compared to Yarmakov’s, with both standing 1.90 meters tall and known for commanding their defenses and taking risks. However, Glazer is noted for superior one-on-one instincts and a higher rate of catching rather than deflecting shots.

Haifa’s schedule in the early 2026/27 season offers Glazer ample opportunity to regain match fitness, with several Toto Cup games and a relatively manageable league start. The club’s lack of European competition this season further facilitates his integration. Glazer’s experience and leadership are expected to be crucial for a team aiming to improve after two disappointing seasons.

Summary: Omri Glazer returns to Maccabi Haifa as their new goalkeeper, replacing Georgi Yarmakov. After a challenging stint at Red Star Belgrade, including injury and limited play, Glazer is expected to lead Haifa’s defense and regain form in the upcoming season.

Points: - Omri Glazer signs with Maccabi Haifa to replace departing goalkeeper Georgi Yarmakov. - Glazer returns to Israel after two seasons at Red Star Belgrade, where he faced injury and bench time. - He set a record with 13 saves in a Champions League match against Manchester City. - Red Star signed Matheus as first-choice keeper, limiting Glazer’s playing opportunities. - Transfer to Maccabi Tel Aviv failed due to Red Star’s transfer demands. - Haifa plans to use early season matches to help Glazer regain match fitness and leadership.

Topic: sports israel_relevant: true entities: {"people": ["Omri Glazer", "Georgi Yarmakov", "Matheus", "Barak Bakhar", "Yigal Goldstein", "Ivan Gutsa", "Radinio Bulka", "Elad Amir", "Noam Shtayfman"], "organizations": ["Maccabi Haifa", "Red Star Belgrade", "Maccabi Tel Aviv", "Hapoel Be'er Sheva", "Manchester City", "Strasbourg", "Pisa", "Deportivo Alaves", "Nashville", "Ajax", "Braga"], "places": ["Israel", "Serbia", "Belgrade", "Ukraine"]}}