Maccabi Haifa's Omri Glazer Expected to Start in Upcoming Haifa Derby After Keeper Injury

Maccabi Haifa has signed goalkeeper Omri Glazer to a three-year contract as they prepare for the 2026/27 season. During a recent friendly match against Hapoel Kfar Saba, which Haifa won 5-0, first-choice goalkeeper Sharif Kiuf suffered an injury that will sideline him for the entire season following surgery. Kiuf had been slated for a loan to Hapoel Ramat Gan and was not initially planned to be Haifa's starting keeper this season. However, his injury has forced the club to reconsider its goalkeeper options ahead of the season opener.

Omri Glazer, who returned to the club with the intention of being the starting goalkeeper, is now expected to start in the upcoming Haifa derby on Saturday. He is set to hold his first training session with the team on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Glen Alwin, the third-choice goalkeeper who replaced Kiuf during the friendly, is likely to serve as the backup keeper for the near future.

Maccabi Haifa is also pursuing Omri Nir'an, the goalkeeper from Maccabi Netanya, who is currently recovering from an injury but is viewed as a potential reinforcement for the position. Additionally, goalkeeper Giorgi Yermakov's transfer to Metalist Kharkiv has not yet been finalized, so he may participate in the derby to bid farewell to the fans before his expected move to Ukraine.