Beitar Jerusalem Intensifies Ambitions Under Almog Cohen Ahead of New Season

Beitar Jerusalem is entering the new season with heightened ambitions, openly targeting the championship under new coach Almog Cohen. After years as underdogs, the club has shifted its mindset, with Cohen emphasizing a more intense, aggressive, and powerful style of play. Despite this, the team has yet to fully translate these changes into consistent results, having won two, lost two, and drawn one in their first five matches this season.

Several key players, including Luka Gadrani, Boris Ano, and Yarden Shua, were absent or underperformed during the Conference League qualifiers, but their expected contributions this season could help Beitar reach new heights. Financially, Beitar operates with a significantly lower budget than its top competitors, such as Hapoel Tel Aviv, which recently spent 2.5 million euros on Douglas Aveso. Beitar’s acquisitions under owner Barak Abramov remain modest, requiring the club to find value in overlooked players or free agents.

The club still needs to strengthen its midfield, particularly the crucial 6-8 position, to support Boris Ano, who has struggled with the ball. Cohen has successfully discovered affordable talent like Antwi and Kalo, but to compete at the highest level, Beitar must invest in a high-impact foreign player, potentially through a free transfer or loan with a higher salary budget, possibly around 500,000 to 600,000 shekels net.

With sold-out season tickets and a budget exceeding 70 million shekels, Abramov insists the club has financial flexibility to make these strategic investments. The upcoming matches are critical, with the season opener against Maccabi Netanya on July 29 and a postponed game against Hapoel Tel Aviv to be played in the second round. Success in these fixtures could solidify Cohen’s approach and energize the fanbase for a breakthrough season.