Exactly 33 years ago to the day, striker Eli Dricks made his first appearance in Maccabi kit. The perfect time to take you through the four greatest moments in the illustrious career of a Maccabi Tel Aviv legend that spanned seventeen years
In fourth place
Season 1983/84, First Division, Maccabi Netanya – Maccabi Tel Aviv
It was following this game that the great romance began between Eli Dricks and the opposition goal, and between Maccabi's legendary striker and the local Israeli press. The young Dricks struggled to find opportunities his first two years at the club, but it was at this season opener that he found his form, and there was no looking back. Maccabi Tel Aviv were away at Maccabi Netanya and fell behind to an early goal. "Dynamic Dricks" as he was called in the papers may have felt a little overwhelmed by the occasion, but on 53 minutes his somewhat less than dynamic shot sufficed to draw the two sides level and opened the door for a prestigious away win at the reigning champions.
In third place
Season 1996/97, Champions League qualifying rounds, Fenerbahce S.K. – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Dricks may not have enjoyed too many moments of European fame, but this one will perhaps be remembered more than any of the others. The striker was reaching the peak of his career just as Israeli clubs began to enter European competitions in the 1992/93 season, and Dricks waited patiently for his chance. Maccabi dreamt of reaching the group stages of Europe's most prestigious competition, the Champions League, but saw their path blocked by the powerful Turkish Champions Fenerbahce in the qualifying rounds. After losing the home leg 0-1 at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan, Maccabi fell behind 1-0 in Istanbul in front of a crowd of 50,000 impassioned Turkish supporters. Dricks for his part was in no mood to say die and with a quarter of an hour left on the clock he pounced on a stray ball and chipped it elegantly over the head of Fenerbache goalkeeper Rustu Recber. Knowing that Maccabi needed just one more goal to qualify, he signalled furiously to the bench to get the time remaining, but unfortunately it wasn't enough and it was Fenerbache who took their place in that year's Champions League group stage. But for Dricks, this was his moment in the European spotlight outside the confines of domestic Israeli football.
In second place
Season 1986/87, State Cup final, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Maccabi Haifa
It's not often we are treated to a classic Cup Final that really delivers the goods – a spectacular game of football. It was in those years that Maccabi Haifa were beginning to establish their supremacy on the domestic Israeli football scene, in contrast to Maccabi Tel Aviv who were in the midst of a drought and desperate for a title of any kind. This particular match contained the seeds of a burgeoning rivalry between the clubs and Eli Dricks was to play a key role in the opening gambit. Maccabi Tel Aviv drew first blood in the second half courtesy of a goal by midfielder Moshe Gariani. Haifa equalised ten minutes later but seven minutes from time Eli Dricks chested a ball down, drilled it home and then set off to celebrate with the home-side fans. A bit early as it turned out because Haifa drew level four minutes from time and even took the lead in the first period of extra time. But Dricks was still at his best, and his unforgettable overhead kick just after the start of the second half of extra time sent the match to a penalty shoot-out. Dricks, still chasing the first (but not last) title of his Maccabi career, also contributed one of Maccabi's four penalties (to Haifa's three) and the striker was finally witness to the first of many career trophy celebrations.
In first place
Season 1992/93, First Division, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Tel Aviv
The day was all Dricks. With this unforgettable performance at an all-important home derby, Eli Dricks officially and definitively established himself among the fans as a Maccabi deity. With two months of the season already gone, he had only appeared once in the first eleven and had yet to score a goal. Now finally given a full chance to satisfy his hunger, Dricks practically tore the Hapoel Tel Aviv defences apart on his own and scored at every opportunity. Eight minutes into the match he scored with one of his typical headers, handing Maccabi an early 1-0 lead and taking the wind out of the sails of their municipal opponents. His second on the stroke of half time struck a severe blow to Hapoel's hopes of getting back into the match and when he got his hat-trick just after the hour mark, he left in no doubt who was responsible for giving Tel Aviv its yellow glow on the night. "Jerusalem" Avi Cohen added a fourth six minutes from time but the 4-0 derby triumph really belonged to one man alone, number 7, Eli Dricks, who brought the colour back into his cheeks and recaptured his place in the first eleven.
