Bogdan Palanich is close to concluding a new contract at Maccabi Haifa.
This is perhaps the bottom line and the most important as far as Maccabi Haifa is concerned for the coming season, or rather, for his next 3 years at the club.
Both sides knew that the last game against Olympiakos would have consequences for his future.
Relegation could have completed his move to AK Athens, while moving to the next level and leaving the dream of the Champions League open, would result in his staying.
Behind the scenes, coach Barak Becher, club president Yaakov Shahar and his deputy Uzi Mor, tried to convince the Serb that the right step for him is to stay in Carmel.
Shahar agreed to upgrade his salary, and with bonuses he could reach more than half a million dollars per season.
Coach Barak Becher reminded him in their conversations how much he and the club invested to release him from Stiava Bucharest about two years ago.
Palanich himself did not forget either, but conveyed a message that he has an opportunity to upgrade financially, preferably in Haifa.
Olympiakos week was, as mentioned, critical.
Besides the talks between the player and the club, the audience was also a significant factor behind the scenes.
In one of the training sessions, Palanich presented hundreds of messages he received on social networks to his teammates in the locker room.
In the match against the Greeks in Sami Ofer, the fans called his name for minutes and brought him to the point of tears.
Palanich kisses the sergeant.
An anchor in the dressing room and on the field, photo: Maor Alxalsi
"As a matter of fact, the two games against Olympiakos were perhaps Bogdan's best at Maccabi Haifa," said those around the player, "he knew that if the team passed a stage, there was a high chance that he would stay and the club would go towards him. It may have helped him to give more of himself for the team, but Also to make things work out."
When the team celebrated in Piraeus, Palanich seemed the happiest of all.
"He understood that he would probably stay, and that made him happy," the players said, "we were all happy. He is one of the anchors in the dressing room. He integrated quickly and is considered a leader."
The 30-year-old Serbian is a leader not only off the field, but also on the grass.
"His combination with Shawn Goldberg has become the best in Israel," admitted the Green Club, "Barek Becher connected them, and now with the two new defenders a great, strong defensive unit has been built here, one that brings a lot of strength."
Even before the saga surrounding his future, Palanić had a professional decline at the end of last season.
In Haifa they understood that this was something natural, they worked with the actor on a personal level and were convinced that it was something that would pass.
"In the end, what brought him back to his senses was the discussion about his future. He loves Maccabi Haifa, sees it as a European club and dreams of playing with it in the European group stage of the seniors, perhaps in the Champions League," the club said.
Ahead of the pair of meetings against Apollon Limassol, Palanich is once again the main anchor in Barak Becher's defense.
One week separated the possibility of the green defense being with him or without him.
Bacher is certainly calmer when his Serbian is in the lineup and clarified: "Nothing has changed. He is our player, with us and everything in the game against Apollon."
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