History in Short
Aleksandr “Shura” Uvarov (Born 13.1.60) is considered to be one of the greatest foreigners to ever play for Maccabi Tel Aviv and in fact one of the greatest to play in the country. After appearing in 11 international contests for the USSR, including the 1990 World Cup, Uvarov arrived at Maccabi from Dynamo Moscow in 1991/92. His early beginnings for the Yellow & Blue were shaky as he gave up 9 goals in his first three matches which also saw him pick three late balls out of the back of his net against Beitar Tel Aviv which irritated both the fans and the press.
However, the criticism subsided quickly enough as Uvarov showed his fine skills and helped the Yellow & Blue win their first championship in 13 seasons. Uvarov was a rock in goal not missing a single minute in 46 official Maccabi Tel Aviv matches in his first season. The keeper also helped the Yellow & Blue return to the main stage of Israeli football over the next few campaigns due to his stellar play. Known for his solid professionalism, his top notch personal character made him one of the most loved players amongst the supporters.
Uvarov’s contribution not only saw him win a championship but throughout his career he collected all of the titles available in the country. His greatest campaign was undoubtedly the 1995/96 Double Season when he gave up only 16 goals in 30 matches. Uvarov was considered the best shot stopper in Israel during the 1990’s and played a key role for the club.
Uvarov acclimated to Israel not only on the pitch but off of it a well. The keeper obtained Israeli citizenship and after his retirement in 1999/00 he remained at Kiryat Shalom as the goalkeepers coach, a role that he still holds today. “Shura” also worked in the same position with the Israel National Team for 12 years between 2000-2012.
Honors and Awards
Championships: 1991/92, 1994/95, 1995/96
State Cups: 1993/94, 1995/96
Toto Cups: 1992/93, 1998/99
Appearances: 362
