Maccabi Haifa Reconsiders Left-Back Plans as New Signing Chooses Hungary

Maccabi Haifa are waiting to see how their foreign-player situation develops before deciding whether to add a foreign left-back, despite injuries in defense. French defender Pierre Cornud is expected back only in early 2027, while young fullback Yinon Feinzigchit may return closer to the playoffs.

At the moment, three foreign spots are already secured by Yila Batai, Cedric Don, and Manuel Benson. The club also plans to bring in a foreign striker if Trivante Stewart does not stay, as well as a new center back and an attacking midfielder. That would leave six foreign positions effectively spoken for, and the club believes Yarin Levi will remain, meaning no foreign holding midfielder is expected.

Only if those plans work out would Haifa move for a foreign left-back, so it is not currently a top priority. The club had tried to sign Rotem Keller, but he chose instead to sign with Hungarian side Debrecen.

Until then, Barak Bakhar's domestic options include Daniel Golani, who returned from a loan spell at Ironi Tiberias, though he mainly played the role in a three-center-back system. Other alternatives are Kenny Saief, Sean Goldberg, and, more recently, Lisab Issat, who played as a left-back for Romania. A less likely option is Tomi Tsitsashvili, who was brought back in January from Hapoel Kfar Saba because of Cornud's injury but has mostly featured for the youth team.