Zehavi, Jordi and the Israeli mentality: Sousa returns for the "challenging" year at Maccabi Tel Aviv
The meeting with Goldhaar, Zehavi's breakthrough, Cruyff's power and why "it is not easy to deal with the players in Israel."
The Portuguese coach brought up memories
Walla!
sport
22/01/2022
Saturday, 22 January 2022, 08:43
Share on Facebook
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Twitter
Share on Email
Share on general
Comments
Comments
Summary: Hapoel Jerusalem - Maccabi Tel Aviv 3: 1 (Sport 1)
Paulo Sousa coached in Israel for only one season, but left a deep mark among his fans, players and colleagues. Now it turns out that this was a special year for him too. In a personal column for Coaches Voice magazine, Souza recounted his experiences from Israel and Maccabi Tel Aviv, including mentions of honor to Jordi Cruyff and Eran Zehavi.
"Jordi contacted me first, and then we made an appointment with Mitch Goldhaar. After we spent the afternoon together in Ludon, I was convinced I should take the offer," he said. "Maccabi Tel Aviv was waiting for me, she was sure she wanted me and that was what convinced me to sign."
Sousa told of working alongside Cruyff that "it was a pleasure. Working with a sporting director with such knowledge in football, it's just fun. We went through a process to get to know each other and match ourselves to each other. He is a demanding professional with a strong personality, just like me. "We had different ideas about football, but we reached agreements and we had a relatively excellent system. He knew how to predict at each stage what was going to happen, and how it would affect the team. He instilled discipline in the team, and the process he started we continued. We are in touch to this day."
More on Walla!
In the Netherlands, they claim: Eran Zehavi is expected to start the game this season against Ajax
To the full article
Strong connection.
Souza and Cruyff (Photo: Dror Pickelny)
Sousa said of Eran Zehavi that "he developed very much during his short period in Italy. He learned to understand the game, he developed his abilities. This period helped to realize the potential that was inherent in him later on."
Sousa remembers how he was surprised by the mentality of the Israeli footballer.
"It was not easy to deal with the players in Israel. At first I did not understand their mentality. But the club, the players and the league itself had to learn a lot about new tactics, and they developed with the help of foreign coaches who came to Maccabi Tel Aviv and expressed new ideas for local football. Mentally, and only then did the physical aspect come. "
sport
Israeli soccer
Super League
Tags
Maccabi Tel Aviv in football
Paulo Sousa
