Latest news with #Maccabi
The National
4 days ago
- Sport
- The National
MLS side 'submit offer' to sign Rangers-linked Dor Turgeman
The striker was a target for the Ibrox club if Hamza Igamane departed. Turgeman plies his trade for Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv. He scored 19 goals and in 46 appearances for his team last season, and 12 in 50 the campaign before that. Read more: New England Revolution, who finished second-bottom of the MLS' Eastern Conference in 2024, have submitted an offer to sign Turgeman, according to journalist Luca Bendoni. 🇺🇸 New England Revolution have submitted an offer to Maccabi Tel Aviv for 21yo forward Dor Turgeman. His profile is also being considered by multiple European clubs including Rangers, in case of outgoings. #NERevs #RangersFC after @SethMan31 — Luca Bendoni (@LucaBendoni) August 7, 2025 The 21-year-old currently has a year remaining on his Maccabi contract. It remains to be seen where his future lies this summer. A few weeks ago, Maccabi boss Zarko Lazetic hinted it would take a mega offer to tempt them into selling Turgeman, quoting a previously mentioned £4 million fee as not being close to the mark. He told Sport 1: "He is a football beast, only a fairytale offer would tempt the club to sell the player. £4million will not be enough."
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maccabi Tel Aviv reveals former European basketball star as new GM
Maccabi's new veteran Italian GM is tasked with rebuilding the yellow-and-blue amid war-related challenges, while still aiming for all in Europe. Maccabi Tel Aviv officially welcomed new general manager Claudio Coldebella to the club at a festive press conference held at the Maccabi Hall of Fame at Yad Eliyahu. The 57-year-old Italian arrives in Israel with a wealth of experience, having held the same position at a number of teams in Italy as well as in Russia. Advertisement While the yellow-and-blue ended last season tied with Hapoel Jerusalem at one game apiece in the league championship best-of-3 series that never came to a proper end due to the outbreak of the war with Iran, the mission that Coldebella has been tasked with is clear: build the best possible squad within the confines and restrictions that Maccabi is currently under. The past two seasons saw Oded Katash's team have to play all of the Euroleague home games in Belgrade because of the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, and this season looks to be heading the same way, with Maccabi having to play abroad yet again. Coldebella, who starred as a player in Italy and Greece, was well aware of the challenges that the club has been facing and those they will also have to deal with in the future. But first and foremost, he began his remarks by addressing the most important issue on the minds of most Israelis – the hostages still being held in Gaza. 'I want to start by saying that I look forward to the return of the hostages. We all want to see them come home. When I arrived in Tel Aviv in April, I immediately understood how special basketball is in this country and to this club in particular. I didn't want to disturb the professional team that was very focused on its goals last season, but I did take the first steps in how to organize the club.' 'This is a special club,' Coldebella continued. 'I feel so special and very proud and lucky to be here, and I am grateful to those who gave me the chance to be at such an important club. As a player, I played many times in Yad Eliyahu – it is a place that has changed a lot from what it was before. This is my first day, and it is very exciting for me. This is a great responsibility that I put on my shoulders – to do my best for the club.' Advertisement Claudio Coldebella arrives with a clear vision and years of first-level experience Coldebella will want to put his own mark on the team with fresh and new ideas and thoughts, as he is coming into the job after having had a very successful two-year run at Pallacanestro Reggiana. 'As an Italian, it was not easy for me to come here. The last two years were not easy for the fans and the team either. Now, I have a goal to revive the atmosphere again, and we need to return as soon as possible to play at home. I have a lot of passion to start new things. I am here to present my philosophy and ideas, but the main idea is simple – to continue the legacy of this club. It has the DNA of winners, and even with all the problems we had last season, the club always tries to present the best basketball and to never give up. That is the first goal we have to take care of.' 'For several months now, my team and I have been trying to create a way for the team to improve from last season. We are sure that we are facing a difficult season. European basketball continues to develop, and we must build the team to be competitive. We need to bring players who fit the spirit of Maccabi, players who are able to give their best for this legendary club and then implement the physical and tactical ideas with the coach and the professional staff. From the first day I met the team, I had a great feeling because I felt that we could do beautiful things together. We will have a good future if we know how to do things together. I believe that you can do good things only if you know how to work with other people by your side – from the management, the owners, the fans – all of the people who surround this club.' Advertisement With that, Coldebella will have to not only put together a team that can compete in the local domestic league against the likes of Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem, but also in the Euroleague, which has expanded to twenty teams and 38 games from 34 in previous years. The key will be to find the best players to fit the team and its personality – not necessarily the fanciest and most expensive names on the market. 'This club has shown more than once that it knows how to find the right players, and the first name that comes to mind is Devin Smith, who was an underrated player – maybe not the hottest name on the market, but a special player who showed how this club is able to find players and give them the platform to perform. In sports, it's not necessarily the team that has the most money that wins; there are so many things that make the difference. I can say that we want players who will build a competitive team, and there is still a lot of work to do.' Coldebella will need to find a number of players for the 2025/26 roster, and with training camp set to open in a little over a month, he has his work cut out for him. But as he explained, there is still plenty of time to do what needs to be done for Maccabi to be a force to be reckoned with. 'I am optimistic and very positive. I know what we have now, and I know that we need to build carefully. The market this year can move very quickly at the beginning of the offseason, and I see a lot of signings, but in our situation, of course, it is not easy. June 13th, which was the start of the war with Iran, was not easy for us, and it was difficult to sign players during the war. We continued to work – it was not the time to sign new players, but it increased the strength of the club for me. Especially when you sleep in the parking lot because you are close to the center of Tel Aviv, where it is dangerous. I don't want to judge anyone – we are talking and trying to find solutions within our family.' Advertisement Rokas Jokubaitis was the player that Coldebella was referring to, and there have been multiple reports that he is looking to sign with another Euroleague club and leave Maccabi due to the unfortunate experiences he faced during the recent war. However, the Lithuanian guard is a crucial piece of the puzzle for the yellow-and-blue, and the club wants to see him continue in Tel Aviv. 'Every time Rokas played, he did it with full passion, and his connection with the club and the fans was special. At this time, I can tell you that there is controversy about Jokubaitis's future. We need to see what direction this will go in the upcoming days. For some of our players, the situation in Israel was not easy. I don't want to judge anyone.' Many of the fans have been vocal about the lack of big-name signings and held a protest outside of the arena before Coldebella's introduction. However, instead of the Italian being upset, he welcomed their concern for the club and offered his thoughts on finding the right players. 'I think it's an important issue, and as an Italian, we are similar to Israelis – everyone wants to show their feelings. The fans are the most important thing. We know what it was like the last two years when we were without our fans by our side. I understand the passion, the hunger, and the expectations, and I think that's a positive thing. But we must not forget the way the league ended. We are looking for these names. I think TJ Leaf is a great one, and we are working – we are trying to make our fans happy and proud, and I am convinced that we will do that.' Advertisement Coldebella continued: 'Signing players so that it appears on Twitter or Instagram is not my way. TJ Leaf is a name that was a focus of ours from last season, and I'm glad we were able to sign him. The fact that we have him as an Israeli player is a great thing. He's a top Euroleague player, and this is a first step. I was very impressed by the level of the Israeli league. I look at this league and it has good players and smart coaches – it's an excellent league. The Israeli players are very important, and we're lucky to have the best coach like Oded Katash. We have to continue growing in this way.' Just prior to ending the hour-long session, Coldebella returned to the main issue that has plagued Maccabi the past couple of years, which is not playing Euroleague home games in Tel Aviv, with the hope that this will happen in the near future. 'Tel Aviv is our home – that's what the club is called. Personally, I don't like hearing about a club that doesn't play at its home, and we need to play in Tel Aviv. Last season we were in Belgrade, and we need to find a way to get back to Tel Aviv. It's an amazing city. I love Belgrade, but in the winter I prefer Tel Aviv.'
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Six Rangers frontline transfer options ranked and rated as 63 goal void leaves Russell Martin on the hunt for hitmen
Dessers, Igamane and Cerny were responsible for 63 goals last season – so how does Martin fill that void? Rangers have so far stood strong in the face of interest in their top two strikers this summer. But if Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane do depart over the next few weeks, it would leave the Ibrox outfit worryingly short on firepower. Dessers - who netted 29 goals last term - is being chased by AEK Athens while Igamane is being targeted by Lille after contributing 16 strikes during an impressive maiden year in Glasgow. And little wonder the club are digging their heels in. Combined with the 18 goals scored by Vaclav Cerny - who has already returned to Wolfsburg after his season-long loan - the trio were responsible for 63 goals last term. That represents more than half of the total of 115 Rangers managed across the entire campaign. With both AEK and Lille continuing to monitor developments at Ibrox, just who might Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell turn to to provide the goals at Ibrox next season in the event that both their current marksmen do leave? Here Record Sport takes a look at the candidates to fill the attacking slots across Gers frontline next season - and what it will take to sign them… Dor Turgeman The big Israeli frontman's name has been swirling around the Ibrox fanbase for weeks now. At 6ft 1ins, the powerful yet dynamic Maccabi Tel Aviv ace has all the tools Gers would be looking for in a No9, with his strong ball carrying skills and tidy finishing abilities. The 21-year-old has fired 31 goals in his last two seasons in the Israeli Premier League and has recently made the step up to the international stage with eight caps. It looks like Turgeman is Rangers' top choice to replace either Dessers or Igamane - but he won't come cheap, with Maccabi demanding a £5million fee. Weslley Patati Turgeman could well end up being reunited with one of his Tel Aviv pals, with Gers reportedly keen on his Maccabi team-mate Patati. Affectionately dubbed the 'Brazilian magician' by the Israeli club's supporters, the 21-year-old former Santos kid made a £1million move to the Middle East last year and helped his new side to a league and cup double. His former club are due a 40 percent slice of any future profits for the winger so that will likely see Maccabi look to squeeze every last penny out of negotiations with Ibrox chiefs. Having netted 13 times in 38 appearances, Gers may have to pay up to £8million to secure his signature. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi The Crystal Palace wideman's name emerged as a potential target over the weekend. The 22-year-old spent last year on loan at Sheffield United, where he netted seven times in 26 appearances. Blades bosses had hoped to make his move permanent had they won promotion to the Premier League - but saw those hopes dashed when they crashed out in the play-offs. Martin knows the player well having tried to sign him for Southampton last summer. The deal might test Gers' spending power, however, with the Eagles looking for a hefty £10million payday. The Croatian frontman is another contender for the centre-forward slot - although Gers face serious competition from English Championship outfit Hull. He netted 15 goals in 32 games for Belgian outfit K.V.C. Westerlo - now managed by former Ibrox coach Issame Charai. Rangers remain keen on the 22-year-old but will have to act quick as the Tigers close in on a £5million swoop. Luuk De Jong The PSV Eindhoven targetman has been suggested as possible recruit for Martin this summer although it remains to be seen how serious these links are. At 34, the former Newcastle, Seville and Barcelona striker is no spring chicken. But his years of experience have been put to good use in the Netherlands by PSV lately, where he helped the Eindhoven outfit to back-to-back Eredivisie titles. With close to 300 career goals, it might be a deal that makes sense even in the short-term, especially with the former PSV captain now out of contract. Jamie Vardy The former England striker's name has been doing the rounds all summer - but he's so far yet to trap in Glasgow. Like De Jong, Vardy - a member of the Premier League's 100 club - is firmly in the veteran category having turned 38 in January. But it didn't look like his legs had slowed too much last season, where he still managed to net 10 goals as his struggling Leicester side ended up relegated. As another free agent, all Gers would need to worry financially would be his wages.
Daily Record
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Dor Turgeman to Rangers fee 'agreed' as mega money Dessers 'push' can unlock transfer amid Igamane standoff
The transfer merry-go-round is in motion at Ibrox amid the search for a new striker Rangers have reportedly told Maccabi Tel Aviv they are willing to meeting their asking price for Dor Turgeman. However, a deal is said to be on hold until after the Scottish Premiership side can offload either Cyriel Dessers or Hamza Igamane. Record Sport first revealed the Maccabi Tel Aviv man is a target for the Light Blues as Russell Martin looks to strengthen ahead of a new era at Ibrox. Israeli outlet 5 Sport report that Rangers are "willing to pay" the £5million asking price that Maccabi have placed on the frontman. But he may be facing a nervous wait over his future with Record Spor t revealing that Lille have been spooked by the Light Blues' £15million valuation of Moroccan striker Igamane. The French side are ready to switch their sights to fresh targets - but the departure of last season's top scorer Dessers could also clear a path for a move. AEK Athens remain keen on the Nigeria striker having lodged a £4.5million bid earlier this week. Feyenoord are also said to be keen on a deal for Dessers - but reports in Greece now suggest that AEK are launching a final effort to bring in the frontman. Voira report that a fresh "push" is being prepare to bring in the frontman with the club prepared to raise their offer to apply "pressure" to the Ibrox side. Sport Time claim that the contract that would be handed to Dessers is £1.5million per year but AEK still view him as a "significant" summer target. Earlier this month, Turgeman made it clear that he was hoping to leave Maccabi and take the next step in Europe. He said: "Right now I'm here (at Maccabi). Of course everyone wants to fulfil their dream in Europe and we'll see what happens. I'm ready to take on the next challenge." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp, where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Fox Sports
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Maccabi Tel Aviv faces opponent from Cyprus in Champions League qualifying draw
Associated Press NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Israeli soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv was paired with Pafos of Cyprus in the Champions League second qualifying round draw on Wednesday. Maccabi must travel from its home city — which has been under attack this week from Iranian missiles — to Cyprus for the first-leg game on July 22 or 23, and find a stadium outside Israel for the return game the following week. European soccer body UEFA has required Israel's national and club teams to play international competition games in neutral countries for security reasons since October 2023, when the Hamas attacks provoked wider conflict in the region. Maccabi could stay in Cyprus, or return to Hungarian capital Budapest where it hosted a game in the Champions League preliminary round one year ago. Ukrainian champion Dynamo Kyiv was drawn to play either Zalgiris of Lithuania or Hamrun Spartans of Malta, who start in the first qualifying round next month. Last season, Dynamo chose to host Champions League qualifying games in Lublin, Poland. UEFA has set a deadline of Monday for clubs to propose neutral venues for their European competition games. Hours before its opening game at the Club World Cup, Salzburg was paired with Brann in a separate sections for teams that did not win their domestic title. The first leg in Norway will be the Austrian club's first competitive game on returning from the United States. In the FIFA club tournament later Wednesday, Salzburg plays Pachuca of Mexico in Cincinnati at 6 p.m. local time. Scottish league runner-up Rangers will host the first leg against Panathinaikos from Greece, and Viktoria Plzen of Czech Republic was paired with Swiss side Servette. Three teams in Wednesday's draw played in the 36-team Champions League opening phase last season, though none advanced to the knockout rounds. Red Star Belgrade was best placed in 29th, Salzburg was 34th and Slovan Bratislava lost all eight games and finished 35th. Red Star, the 1991 European champion, is away first against Vikingur of the Faeroe Islands or Lincoln Red Imps from Gibraltar. Slovan hosts the first leg against Virtus of San Marino or Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Losing teams in the Champions League second qualifying round switch across to the Europa League, in the third qualifying round that is played in August. Games in the first qualifying round are played from July 8-16. Higher-ranked clubs enter the Champions League qualifying program in two subsequent rounds played in August. They include Benfica, Celtic, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Feyenoord. ___ AP soccer: recommended
