The 1980's won't be remembered as one the most successful decades for Maccabi Tel Aviv as the club only won two Israel State Cups. After winning the league championship in 1979 it took Maccabi another 13-years to capture the title again. However, back on June 18, 1989, club chairman Danny Laufer began to put Maccabi's house back in order and signed two Israeli football greats.
Uri Malmilian and Avi Cohen (Jerusalem) both Beitar Jerusalem stars signed with Maccabi in one of the biggest moves ever made in Israeli sports history. The pair triggered the turn around of the team and put the Yellow-and-Blue back on track. Once the dust settled and the shock subsided both players acclimated very well to their new surroundings. Malmilian and Cohen played an integral role not just as seasoned veterans but to be a positive influence on the club's youngsters and aid in their development including Avi Nimni, Itzik Zohar, Nir Klinger and others.
In Malmilian's first year with Maccabi, the 1989/90 season, he already began paying dividends leading the league in goals with 16. Avi Cohen also showed his ware by becoming one of the club's greatest right backs in helping the team win the 1991/92 championship and picking up the "Footballer of the Year" award.
The 1991/92 campaign will go down as one of Maccabi's greatest seasons with Avram Grant as coach, Malmilian leading the club on the pitch, Avi Cohen (Jerusalem) scoring 17-goals as a right back, 'keeper Aleksandr "Shura" Uvarov manning the goal, tough defender/midfielder Aleksandr Polukarov and the youngsters all bringing back the title to Maccabi after 13 long years!
