Back to the European arena: Ivica is again in a difficult situation with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the qualifiers

Arena from Azerbaijan is Vladan Ivic's first stop in an attempt to do what he did not succeed in the previous term.

He brought two magical championships to Maccabi Tel Aviv, but in the European factories he was disappointed.

With a lack of staff and quite a few problems, he will try to start a season in which the Yellows want to conquer the summit again

Yaniv Tuchman

21/07/2022

Thursday, July 21, 2022, 11:00 p.m.

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Eran Zehavi in ​​the renewed debut training at Maccabi Tel Aviv (courtesy of Maccabi Tel Aviv)

Vladan Ivic left Israel four years ago with many wonderful memories.

Two magical championships he brought to Maccabi Tel Aviv after three years in which successes migrated south to Be'er Sheva.

Ivica arrived anonymously.

A young Serbian coach whom Jack Angelidis met at PAOK Thessaloniki.

After two years he decided to continue west and moved to England, although he could have stayed under his contract for another season.

Along with the smiles and champagne at the local level, Ivica was unable to bring Maccabi Tel Aviv to the home stages in Europe.

The first summer he arrived was very close.

Only a questionable penalty by Eitan Tibi against the Norwegian Sarpsborg prevented Maccabi Tel Aviv from the home stage of the Europa League.

It was very painful and Tibi paid for it with drying almost the entire season, but the perfect championship in Israel with 31 points difference on second place, atoned for everything.

Padiha vs. Sarpsborg (Photo: Bernie Ardov)

Padiha vs. Cluj (Photo: Bernie Ardov)

For the second season, Ivica came with all the energy and faith that he can take Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Champions League.

He strongly believed in his staff and made almost no changes.

The huge gap he opened up in Israeli football is not noticeable in the European arena.

Maccabi Tel Aviv was eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers by the Romanian Cluj and when she moved to play for a place in the European League, little Sudova came from Lithuania and stunned the Israeli champion.

Even on this disappointment, Ivica managed to overcome with a second championship in a row.

A championship that lasted beyond the regular season because of the Corona.

Ivica left as mentioned at the end with a suitcase of plates, but without success in the mainland factories.

Non-optimal opening conditions to compensate for two unsuccessful years in Europe.

Ivica (Photo: Danny Maron)

Tonight (Thursday, 19:00, Sport4) against an arena from Azerbaijan, it is the beginning of the Serbian coach's journey in the Conference League qualifiers.

Thanks to great lotteries, Maccabi Tel Aviv has managed to qualify for the home stages in the last two years.

It brought a lot of money to the club, about NIS 50 million every season, but it did not really comfort the fans when Maccabi Haifa took back the hegemony and won two championships.

Now, like four years ago when he came to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Ivica has to build everything from scratch.

To return the championship to Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and also to succeed in Europe.

The story tonight in Baku may go well, but in the future Eris Thessaloniki is probably already lurking and anyone like Ivica who lives in the Greek city knows that it is going to be difficult.

How much Maccabi Tel Aviv wanted to reach July 21 when it is honed, how much Ivica wanted to be tonight with his staff for the entire season.

The plans were clear, but those who have complained every summer in recent years about late preparations, this summer also received bad luck in injuries, and signings of players who came in advance with a need for a period of return to fitness.

The wait for Dor Peretz and Eli Dassah has so far not led to their joining and the trip to Baku was missed by Idan Nachmias due to illness.

These are not optimal opening conditions to make up for two unsuccessful years in Europe, but Ivica knows the task is on the grass and no one wants more of him to win tonight.

The loss to Maccabi Netanya a week ago is still on him and on each of the Maccabi Tel Aviv players who will want to return to Israel tomorrow, in a completely different mood.

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