Roni Levy arrived today (Tuesday) in Kiryat Haim to conduct a first training session at Hapoel Haifa and tried to convey calmness.
He put a hand on the shoulder of the brakeman Hatem Abdelhamid and talked to him for several minutes, not in a room closed with four eyes, but in front of everyone.
The players interpreted this as "a desire to come with a good attitude" especially in light of the two's relationship last season, when Alhamid did not get along with the coach at Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Later, Roni Levy entered the room, got to know the professional team that was waiting for him, and here, too, the 55-year-old coach was used to bringing a team with him and in Kiryat Haim he receives an existing dowry (with the exception of Meir Ben Margi who left).
Levy's appointment in Haifa was up in the air.
Owner Yoav Katz talked to Avi Namani about two weeks ago about the possibility of a change and if the coach wants to come to Kiryat Haim.
Since then, Klinger's hourglass has turned and after the last two losses, the official announcement was only formal.
Alhamid.
The winds have calmed down, photo: Maor Alxalsi
Perhaps because he knew about the appointment, Levy came prepared for the first training session.
He prepared a first video meeting for the players, highlighting the things he would like to fix.
Later he made it clear to them: "We will fix what needs to be done, and we will start already in the upcoming match against Beitar Jerusalem."
Katz's decision regarding the appointment of Roni Levy as mentioned was made a long time ago and was not related to the results.
"He was told that Roni is the best Israeli coach on the market today and is available to come," said close associates of the owner, "Yoav Katz knew he would pay a lot of money here, more than other coaches, but he chose to go for it with all his might."
In the talks between them, Katz agreed to appoint a new assistant coach but asked not to make any changes beyond that and Levy accepted this, at least until the summer, when decisions will be made regarding the continuation.
Roni Levy has been coaching for 20 years, but Hapoel Haifa is only his sixth club in the Premier League.
At the same time, the coach also understands that he has a great opportunity here to return himself to the forefront of Israeli football and to create success in a club that has known mostly failures in recent years.
"The mutual interest, Roni wanted to come to Hapoel Haifa and Yoav Katz wanted him.
Yoav Katz
Convinced, photo: Maor Alxalsi
In the talks with him, Levy clarified that he "didn't come to make revolutions, but first to study the existing material at least until the month of January".
In general, Hapoel Haifa said that contrary to the image, the coach arrived calm and smiling, perhaps because he also wants to start on a good path and not get into conflicts at the beginning of the road.
The goal set before the coach is relatively easy on paper, qualifying for the top playoffs.
Unlike the years when he coached in the big clubs and the demand was championships and cups, here is coach Roni Levy who will be able to achieve the goals on the way to more successful years in his career as a coach.
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