Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C.

(Redirected from Maccabi Petah Tikva)

Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C. (Hebrew: מכבי פתח תקווה; Full name: "Maccabi Avshalom Ironi Petah Tikva F.C., מועדון ספורט מכבי אבשלום עירוני פתח תקווה) is an Israeli football club based in the city of Petah Tikva. It is part of the Maccabi World Union for international Jewish sports clubs.

Maccabi Petah Tikva
Full nameMaccabi Avshalom Ironi Petah Tikva Football Club
Short nameMPT
Founded1912; 112 years ago (1912)
GroundHaMoshava Stadium, Petah Tikva, Israel
Capacity11,500
OwnerAvi Luzon
ChairmanAvi Luzon
ManagerDan Roman
LeagueIsraeli Premier League
2022–23Liga Leumit, 1st of 16 (promoted)

They are the current Israel State Cup holders, having beaten Hapoel Be'er Sheva 1–0 in the final for their third title.

History edit

1912: First steps in blue & white edit

The club was founded in 1912 by a group of Jewish students from Petah Tikva, who were studying in the Ottoman city of Constantinople (many of them would later serve in the Ottoman army during World War I), making it the second oldest Jewish football club in Israel after Maccabi Tel Aviv, which was formed in 1906.[1]

1920s: Pre-independence edit

In 1921, after the death of founder member Avshalom Gissin during the 1921 Palestine riots, the club added his name to the club's name, and the club was named "Maccabi Avshalom Petah Tikva".[1][2]In 1927, the club moved to the Maccabi Petah Tikva Ground, where they would play until the 1970s.[1]

1930s: First major title edit

In 1935 they won their first piece of silverware, beating Hakoah Tel Aviv 1–0 in the cup final.[3] In 1939 they reached the final again, but lost 2–1 to Hapoel Tel Aviv. The following year they won the Haaretz tournament.

1950s: Second major title and goals galore edit

The club was included in the new Israeli League in 1949, and finished fifth in the inaugural post-independence league table.[4] In the next season (1951–52 , there was no 1950–51 edition) they finished as runners-up to champions Maccabi Tel Aviv and also won the State Cup, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–0. In 1953–54 (1952–53 was also not played) they also finished second with Eliezer Spiegel finishing as the league's top goalscorer on 16 goals from 22 matches.

1960s: The dark times edit

After several seasons of mid-table finishes, Maccabi finished bottom of the table in 1962–63 (a season in which the club were deducted 3 points due to suspicions of bribery during a game with Maccabi Jaffa)[4] and were due to be relegated to Liga Alef. However, the Israel Football Association decided to expand the league from 12 to 15 clubs and they were spared demotion. However, the club was relegated for the first time at the end of the 1965–66 season after finishing second from bottom.

After two seasons in Liga Alef (one of which – 1966–68 Liga Leumit – lasted for two years) the club won won the Liga Alef Super Cup and returned to the top division in 1968–69 as Liga Alef champions for the first time.

1970s: We will be back! edit

At the end of the 1970–71 season the club was relegated again after finishing second from bottom, but made an immediate return as Liga Alef champions (1971–72) for the second time.

At the beginning of 1972–73 season, the IFA organized a third-tier stand-alone cup competition (considered below the league and the state cup) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. The cup was won by Maccabi Petah Tikva, who had beaten Maccabi Haifa 4–2 on penalties (1–1 a.e.t.) in the final.

In 1974–75 season, although Maccabi finished bottom, they were again reprieved from relegation due to league expansion.[4] However, after a repeated performance in 1976–77 they did relegated for the third time. Following another immediate return to the top flight through a second place promotion (1977-78), the club maintained several mid-table finishes and have remained in top division for 10 seasons.

1980s: Mediocrity at its finest edit

At the beginning of 1982-83 season the IFA established Lilian Cup, a season opening tournament for the top 4 clubs in Liga Leumit the year before, considered a third-tier league cup tournament (in parallel to the Israel Super Cup, which was played at the end of the season, and the Toto Cup, which was played throughout the season, mostly on weekdays). Maccabi finished 1984–85 season in fourth place and gained a place in the 1985 Lilian Cup edition. The club reached the final, losing 3–1 (a.e.t.) to Beitar Jerusalem.

The club finished 1987–88 season at the bottom of the table and relegated for the fourth time. In 1989–90 and 1990–91 the club won the Toto Cup. After 3 seasons the club won the second-tier league championship for the third time (1990–91) and returned to the top division, remaining there for 21 seasons.

1990s: First steps in Europe edit

In 1991–92 season Maccabi finished seventh place, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup group for the first time (due to Hapoel Petah Tikva qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup). The club played in the Group stage with Czech side Slavia Prague, German top-club Bayer Leverkusen and the Israeli Maccabi Netanya. The whole stage was scheduled on July with Maccabi playing its first two matches in Petah Tikva Municipal Stadium, losing 1–3 against Slavia and winning 3–2 against Leverkusen. The next two games were against Netanya, Maccabi drew 0–0 in Netanya Stadium and 2–2 at home ground. At the following matches Maccabi was defeated 0–3 by Slavia in Stadion Eden and drew 1–1 against Leverkusen in Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. However, the club finished only third place in the group with five points.

In 1994-95 season the club reached the top division's Toto Cup final for the first time, beating 2–1 Maccabi Tel Aviv in Ramat Gan Stadium.

In 1996–97 season Maccabi finished fourth place, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup group stage for the second time. The whole stage was scheduled on June-July, with Maccabi losing 1–3 to German side Köln in Ramat Gan and deafeting the Austrian side Aarau 1–0 in Stadion Brügglifeld. The club also drew 0–0 twice, first against the Irish Cork City in Kiryat Eliezer Stadium and then against the Belgian giants Standard Liège in Stade Maurice Dufrasne. Eventually, the club finished second place in the group with five points and failed to advance for the semi-finals.

2000s: Europe's glory nights edit

In 2000-01 season the club made a 3–2 (a.e.t) sensational win over Maccabi Haifa and reached the cup final for the first time in 49 years (fourth time overall), losing 3–0 to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The 2004–05 season marked the first time the club competed in UEFA Cup qualifiers after finishing third place of the league in the previous season. Maccabi began its way in the second qualifying round against Cyprus side AEK Larnaca, losing the first-leg 0–3 in GSP Stadium. Two weeks later, the club enjoyed a moment of glory in Europe, winning the second-leg 4–0 in Ramat Gan Stadium and advancing to the UEFA Cup first round after 4–3 on aggregate. However, the first-leg of the tie against Dutch side SC Heerenveen in Israel was cancelled by UEFA due to a baggage handlers strike,[5] and the club lost the second-leg 5–0 (also on aggregate) in Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Maccabi's most significant achievement of the decade came in the 2004–05 season when the club finished second in the league and reached the group stage of the 2005–06 UEFA Cup. In the second qualifying round the club defeated Macedonian side FK Baskimi 5–0 in Skopje stadium and 6–0 in Ramat Gan, advancing to the first round after 11–0 on aggregate.

Maccabi entered as an unseeded team due to low coefficient rating (7.218), and drawn a seeded team such as Partizan Belgrade with much higher coefficient rating (30.012). The Serbian side won the first-leg 2–0 in Ramat Gan. Two weeks later, at the second-leg in Partizan Stadium, Maccabi made the impossible. In contrary to all assessments and expectations, with a lot off faith and ability above all, they won 5–2 and 5–4 on aggregate. In a sensational comeback with striker Omer Golan scoring a hat-trick (21', 44', 48').

The victory sent Maccabi to be a member of Group B, along with Palermo, Brøndby, Lokomotiv Moscow and Espanyol. However, these elite clubs proved to be too much for Maccabi to handle, and they lost all four of group stage matches, scoring just 1 goal while conceding 9.

2020s: It's been 72 years... edit

After a defeat to Hapoel Beer Sheva in the 2020 cup final, the club reached the final again during the Israel State Cup campaign. Once more facing Hapoel Beer Sheva, the club managed to lift the trophy, securing their third cup win after 72-years drought.

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 1 April 2024[6]
No.Pos. NationPlayer
1GK  ISROfek Melika
2DF  CYPAndreas Karo
5DF  ISRRonny Laufer (on loan from Maccabi Haifa)
6MF  ISRYonatan Teper
7FW  SVNLuka Štor
8FW  ISRAnas Mahamid
9FW  MLISaliou Guindo
10FW  ISRAriel Lugasi
12DF  ISRAlon Azugi
14FW  ISRBen Sahar
15MF  ISRMaor Levi (on loan from Maccabi Haifa)
16DF  ISRYarden Cohen
17DF  ISRAviv Salem
18FW  ISRRoy Korine (on loan from Maccabi Netanya)
No.Pos. NationPlayer
19MF  NGAIbraheem Jabaar
23MF  ISRAviel Zargari (on loan from Maccabi Haifa)
26DF  ISRGuy Dezent
28MF  ISRNiv Yehoshua
32DF  ISRMohammed Hindy
34GK  ARGMarco Wolff
40DF  ISRObeida Hattab
44DF  ISRHadar Fuchs
53MF  ISRLiran Hazan
55GK  ISRRobi Levkovich
77DF  ISRTomer Levy
80MF  ISRIlay Tzeiri
87FW  ISRIdan Gorno
92DF  BENMoïse Adiléhou

Out on loan edit

No.Pos. NationPlayer
GK  ISRMaor Erlich (at Kafr Qasim until 30 June 2024)
GK  ISRDor Hevron (at Shimshon Tel Aviv until 30 June 2024)
DF  ISRGal Gabi Ma'atuk (at Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon until 30 June 2024)
DF  ISRMoshe Meir (at Shimshon Tel Aviv until 30 June 2024)
DF  ISREllay Yacob Shafiki (at Kafr Qasim until 30 June 2024)
No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  ISRTomer Benbenishti (at Ironi Modi'in until 30 June 2024)
MF  ISRDan Kaduri (at Sektzia Ness Ziona until 30 June 2024)
MF  ISRIdan Vaknin (at Maccabi Herzliya until 30 June 2024)
FW  ISREyal Inbrum (at Hapoel Kfar Shalem until 30 June 2024)
FW  UKRDaniel Joulani (at Hapoel Kfar Saba until 30 June 2024)

Retired numbers edit


Stadium edit

The club played at the Maccabi Petah Tikva ground between 1926 and the 1970s. Since they left the old Maccabi Petah Tikva ground they shared the 6,768-capacity Petah Tikva Municipal Stadium with city rivals Hapoel. At the end of 2011, the club moved to HaMoshava Stadium.

Notable coaches edit

Honours edit

Domestic competitions edit

League edit

Israeli Premier League

Liga Leumit (level II)

Cups edit

State Cup[3]

Toto Cup

Toto Cup Artzit (level II)

Super Cup Liga Alef (level II)

League Cup

European competitions edit

UEFA Cup

UEFA Intertoto Cup

  • Runners-up: 2006 (shared between 11 teams)
  • Group stage: 1992, 1997

Other edit

Magen Shimshon

  • Runners-up: 1925

Magen Ha'aretz

  • Winners: 1941

Youth Division edit

Israeli Youth Premier League

Israeli Youth State Cup

UEFA Youth League

European record edit

Key
  • P = preliminary round
  • Q = qualification round
  • R = round
  • PO = Play-off round
  • KOPO = Knockout round play-off
SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentHomeAwayAggregate
1992–93Intertoto CupGroup stage Slavia Prague1–30–33rd
Bayer Leverkusen3–21–1
Maccabi Netanya2–20–0
1997–98UEFA Intertoto CupGroup stage Köln1–32nd
Aarau1–0
Cork City0–0
Standard Liège0–0
2004–05UEFA CupQ2 AEK Larnaca4–00–34–3
R1 Heerenveen[1]0–50–5
2005–06UEFA CupQ2 Baskimi6–05–011–0
R1 Partizan0-25–25–4
Group stage Palermo1–25th
Brøndby0–2
Lokomotiv Moscow0–4
Espanyol0–1
2006–07UEFA Intertoto CupR2 Zrinjski1–13–14–2
R3 Ethnikos0–23–23–4
2024–25UEFA Europa LeagueQ2
  • ^1 Due to a general strike in Israel, the first leg was cancelled by UEFA.[10]

By competitions edit

  • Correct as of 02 June 2024
Competition S Pld W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Cup2114072121+0
UEFA Intertoto Cup3144641620−4
Total52586113741-4

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Maccabi Petah Tikva: From 1908 to Today Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine Asher Goldberg, m-pt.co.il (in Hebrew)
  2. ^ Maccabi Avshalom Do'ar HaYom, 26 June 1928, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  3. ^ a b Israel – List of Cup Finals RSSSF
  4. ^ a b c Israel – List of Final Tables RSSSF
  5. ^ Uefa make U-turn BBC Sport, 22 September 2004
  6. ^ "Player List".
  7. ^ A Players Revolt Deposed Spiegel from Maccabi P.T.[permanent dead link] Herut, 19 May 1957, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  8. ^ Maccabi P.T.'s Manager Arrived from England Hadshot HaSport, 12 January 1958, p. 1 (in Hebrew)
  9. ^ A Romanian Manager to Maccabi P.T. Ma'ariv, 11 January 1959, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  10. ^ "עמיר פרץ: "ליבי עם אוהדי פ"ת. מקווה שהקבוצה תנצח"". ynet.co.il. Archived from the original on 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2018-01-05.

External links edit