I never understood why he went to Maccabi Tel Aviv. He knew that Jordi Cruyff didn’t really rate him when he came to Israel. He would have been better off going to any other club in Israel. Honestly think Maccabi bought him just so none of their competitors could have him.
On the bench: Maccabi Tel Aviv Starting XI Rajikovic, Dasa, Babin, Tibi, Yeini (C), Peretz, Golasa, Rikan, Micha, Blackman, Kjartansson. Bench Tenenbaum, Itzhaki, Atar, Schoenfeld, Ben Haim, Davidzada, Battocchio.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) January 24, 2018
On the bench: Maccabi Tel Aviv Starting XI Rajikovic, Shpungin, Tibi, Babin, Davidzada, Peretz, Rikan, Golasa, Micha, Blackman, Atar. Bench Tenenbaum, Yeini, Ben Haim, Itzhaki, Battocchio, Kjartansson, Schoenfeld.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) February 4, 2018
68’ Aaron Schoenfeld comes on for the goal scorer Eliran Atar.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) February 4, 2018
On the bench: Maccabi Tel Aviv Starting XI Rajikovic, Micha, Babin, Tibi, Ben Haim, Davidzada, Peretz, Battocchio, Itzhaki, Blackman, Kjartansson. Bench Tenenbaum, Rikan, Altman, Rodriguez, Kanuk, Atar, Schoenfeld.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) February 11, 2018
On the bench: Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI incuded Predrag Rajikovic in goal along with Yuval Shpungin, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Eitan Tibi, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Peretz, Cristian Battocchio, Dor Micha (C), Nick Blackman, Eliran Atar and Vidar Kjartansson. Available on the bench were Daniel Tenenbaum, Eli Dasa, Jose Rodriguez, Gidi Kanuk, Avi Rikan, Aaron Schoenfeld and Tal Ben Haim. Lost 1-0.
Started in 4-0 win: Starting XI Rajikovic, Dasa, Babin, Tibi, Shpungin, Rodriguez, Rikan, Peretz, Micha, Blackman, Schoenfeld. Tenenbaum, Itzhaki, Kjartansson, Atar, Ben Haim, Davidzada, Battocchio.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) February 24, 2018
On the bench in a playoff match: Maccabi Tel Aviv Starting XI Rajikovic, Dasa, Shpungin, Babin, Tibi, Micha, Golasa, Peretz, Rikan, Blackman, Kjartansson. Bench Tenenbaum, Rodriguez, Itzhaki, Atar, Schoenfeld, Ben Haim, Davidzada.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) March 18, 2018 Maccabi lost 2-1.
On the bench: Starting XI Rajikovic, Dasa, Ben Haim, Babin, Davidzada, Peretz, Rodriguez, Golasa, Micha, Blackman, Atar. Bench Tenenbaum, Atzily, Kjartansson, Itzhaki, Tibi, Rikan, Schoenfeld.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) April 9, 2018
I assume it had to do with his $500,000 a year (reported, or something like that) contract. No way he'd ever get that anywhere else.
Ever. He struck on the back of a very good streak, but he wouldn’t be making more than 250 anywhere else. He made a business decision good for him. He probably made about 50 at Columbus. Contract for 4 years, rhats 2mil.
More like Maccabi are the richest club in Israel. They can afford to pay him that to ride the pine/get garbage minutes if it's what it takes to ensure that their rivals can't sign a proven goalscorer in that league who won't have any adjustment/settlement issues who is also Jewish and therefore won't have any Israeli working visa issues. Clearly the case, but Jordi was the Director of Football when he was signed to stop the competition getting him. In the meantime, the previous coach gave him decent PT. He probably reckoned that Hapoel really needed the $$$, his paycheque wasn't a sure thing if he stayed and waited for a club with a better chance of becoming a starter to bid, and Jordi becoming coach wasn't a sure thing anyway. Why not sign, try to show what he can do and hope for the best?
Starts today vs B.Jerusalem in Ligat ha'Al - Championship Group Currently in 4th place (out-side of Europe play next season) after 3 straight losses.
Starting XI Rajikovic, Shpungin, Babin, Ben Haim, Dasa, Golasa, Battocchio, Peretz, Schoenfeld, Atzili, Kjartansson. Bench Tenenbaum, Tibi, Davidzada, Kanuk, Micha, Blackman, Atar.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) April 16, 2018
Starts: Maccabi Tel Aviv Starting XI Rajikovic, Dasa, Ben Haim (C), Babin, Davidzada, Peretz, Battocchio, Rikan, Atzily, Schoenfeld, Kjartansson. Bench Tenenbaum, Rodriguez, Blackman, Micha, Atar, Kanuk, Tibi.— Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (@MaccabiTLVFC) April 21, 2018
Started, went 90 - when he was sent off (2Yellow/Red) as M Tel Aviv draw 2 - 2 at H.Haifa in Israel's Ligat ha'Al - Championship Group (Where M.Tel Aviv sit in 3rd place)
On the bench today as M.Tel Aviv travel to H.Beer Sheva in Israel's Ligat ha'Al - Championship Group H.Beer Sheva are #1 and M.Tel Aviv are a distant #3. M.Tel Aviv need the points today as they are battling for the final Europa spot
On the bench as #3 M.Tel Aviv hosts #2 B.Jerusalem in Israel Ligat ha'Al (Championship Group) Both teams have already qualified for Europa League next season