Today marks the third anniversary of the tragic death at age 54 of Avi Cohen, one of Maccabi Tel Aviv's all-time greatest stars
It was exactly three years ago today that the tragic death was announced of the late Avi Cohen, one of the greatest ever football players at Maccabi Tel Aviv in particular and in Israel as a whole. The exemplary Cohen is remembered as both a symbol and an example to others, and one of the most influential players ever to wear the yellow-and-blue kit of Maccabi Tel Aviv. He was one of the pioneers in the position of "libero", the attacking fullback, a style that at the time was considered quite contemporary and unique. As one would only expect of a defender with an attacking playing style, Cohen had the privilege of scoring one of Israeli football's most memorable goals. Every Maccabi fan of the time will recall the Tel Aviv derby against municipal rivals Hapoel during the 1978/79 season, when 20,000 spectators sat in the pouring rain and watched Cohen lift a spectacular right-footed shot into the Hapoel net in Maccabi's 2-0 victory.
Cohen spent fifteen years with Maccabi Tel Aviv, during which time he won two league Championships and two prestigious State Cups. He also won the English first division championship with Liverpool in the 1979/80 season, as well as the 1979 and 1980 Community Shields. In the 1980/81 season he was still part of the Liverpool side that lifted the European Cup and in 1987 he won the Scottish League Cup with Glasgow Rangers. Between the years 1976 and 1988 Cohen appeared 64 times for the Israeli national side and scored his only goal in 1984 against Greece in a 2–2 friendly draw. In time his career turned to coaching at a number of Israeli Premier League and first division clubs and he also served as chairman of the players' association. After his death Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club decided to dedicate in his name the Youth Division complex at the Kiryat Shalom training ground.
