For the first time since October 2012, Maccabi Tel Aviv will face an opponent higher up the table
Last season
Since returning to the Israeli Premier League five years ago, Ironi Kiryat Shmona have become one of the most successful clubs in Israeli football. An historic league title in 2011/2012, two "Toto" (League) Cup trophies, a place in the group stage of the Europa League and last season their first prestigious State Cup. No-one will have been surprised by the fact that last season they finished third in the league (and at times held down the second position), nor that their road to winning the State Cup was paved only with Premier League opponents, until the final at least. But the most significant prize the northerners won last season was the right to be called title contenders in the eyes of Israel's many football fans.
Status quo
As befits a title contender, Ironi Kiryat Shmona opened the season with a message for the rest of the league's clubs. After drawing against Ashdod FC in the season opener, head coach Barak Bachar's squad scored three times beating Hapoel Tel Aviv and then proceeded to win their next four games on the trot against Maccabi Netanya, Maccabi Petach Tikva, Hapoel Haifa and Bnei Sakhnin. Even a subsequent home draw against Beitar Jerusalem has failed to halt their momentum and in their last outing they defeated Hapoel Petach Tikva. After eight games, Kiryat Shmona are the only club in the Israeli Premier League who have yet to lose a match, and that with a goal difference of only four and an average of only 0.5 goals per match.
Head coach: Barak Bachar
Starting out as a temporary replacement for former head coach Gili Landau, Barak Bachar proved himself last season to be one of the most promising coaches in Israeli football. Last month saw him finish just his second year as head coach with the club and if there ever were any doubters, their numbers have dwindled significantly. Bachar only left the active game at the end of the 2010/11 season and immediately launched his coaching career as assistant to head coach Ran Ben Shimon, as well as head coach of the Under-19s, during Kiryat Shmona's historic championship year. He began the 2012/13 season as assistant to head coach Gili Landau but Landau and the club parted company after only two months and the club's owner, Izzy Sheratzky, handed the reins over to Bachar. In his first season he brought the club to the top-six playoff but settled for a fifth-place finish and a disappointing loss in the State Cup final. Last season Bachar made up for arrears by winning the State Cup and pushed the club up two places in the league.
Players out:
Ironi Kiryat Shmona kept a low profile on the transfer market last summer and made their largest investments in keeping the successful existing squad together. One exception was striker Weaam Amasha, who returned to Maccabi Haifa after a year-long loan spell. The club also sent three players out on loan who had seen little action last season and released two others.
Players in:
As we said, Ironi Kiryat Shmona kept a low profile so there are no new faces of note either. Young Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Dor Jan, who began to make first-team appearances towards the end of last season, arrived on loan, as did Beitar Tubruk goalkeeper Mahdi Zuabi and Hapoel Rishon Lezion centre half Gal Mayo. A permanent move was made for Hapoel Haifa midfielder Ahad Azam and Maccabi Netanya's Surinamese fullback Touvarno Pinas.
Player to watch out for: Mindaugas Panka
After a two month's absence due to injury sustained on international duty against Slovenia, the Lithuanian midfielder Mindaugas Panka is expected to return to action against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Before his injury he managed to play all 90 minutes of the team's first three league matches and even scored against Hapoel Tel Aviv. He arrived last season from Polish side Ruch Chorzow and featured in thirty games, scoring seven goals and establishing himself as the lynchpin of the team's movement going forward. He also scored in his side's victory at home last season against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Most significantly, the statistics are on his side: Kiryat Shmona have won every match in which Panka has scored. We've been warned.
