Maccabi Haifa's Omri Glazer Set to Start in Upcoming Haifa Derby After Sheriff Kiouf Injury

Maccabi Haifa has signed goalkeeper Omri Glazer to a three-year contract and is preparing for the 2026/27 season. During a recent friendly match against Hapoel Kfar Saba, which Haifa won 5-0, goalkeeper Sheriff Kiouf suffered an injury that will require surgery, sidelining him for the entire season. Originally, Kiouf was not expected to be part of Haifa's plans this season and was slated for a loan to Hapoel Ramat Gan, but his injury forces the club to reconsider its goalkeeper lineup.

With Kiouf out, Maccabi Haifa is looking to strengthen the position, eyeing Maccabi Netanya's goalkeeper Omri Nir'on, who is currently recovering from an injury. Meanwhile, Omri Glazer, who recently rejoined Haifa with the intention of being the starting goalkeeper, is expected to make his first training session in the new season and could start as early as the upcoming Haifa derby on Saturday. Glen Alwin, the third-choice goalkeeper who substituted for Kiouf in the friendly, is likely to serve as the backup goalkeeper moving forward.

Additionally, goalkeeper Giorgi Yermakov's transfer to Metalist Kharkiv has not been finalized, so he may participate in the derby to bid farewell to the Haifa fans before his expected move to Ukraine. The club is now adjusting its goalkeeper roster ahead of the new season due to these developments.