Coach
Slobodan Drapic is the Netanya Head Coach but the club’s success is also due to his assistant coach Shay Barda who has been the Serbian-Israeli’s right hand man for a number of years and with a number of clubs. They worked together at Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle, Beitar Jerusalem and now with Maccabi Netanya as the dynamic duo look to make the Diamond City side one to reckon with in the Israel Premier League both last season when they were in the Leumit league and this season back in the top division.
Comings and goings
Just like every other club in the Ligat Ha’Al, there were plenty of roster moves for Netanya. Keeper Dani Amos, Ben Tzeiri, Hagay Goldenberg and Dan Glatzer who was loaned from Maccabi Tel Aviv have joins the ranks of the Diamond City squad while foreigners Tim Heubach, Alhassane Keita and the speedy Leandro Ribeiro are also noteworthy members of the squad.
What have they done so far?
Netanya have taken 5 of 9 points so far this campaign and drew Hapoel Beer Sheva 1:1 at Turner Stadium on Matchday 1. After a 2:2 draw against Hapoel Acre, they defeated Hapoel Raanana 3:0 as their enjoyable style of play have made them one of the most exciting and intriguing teams. Maccabi has played Netanya in the Toto Cup in a match that ended in a 0:0 draw.
Under the magnifying glass
One of the reasons that Maccabi Netanya has been such a fun team to watch this season is because Eran Levy has been in the center of every conversation about the club. The captain has been in good form thanks to his lethal left foot as he has been able to help the club move forward. He has assisted on two goals while scoring one this campaign and has dished out many qualities balls to his teammates. Dia Sabia has been one of his main beneficiaries along with his left foot as he has scored three goals so far this campaign. Maccabi will also need to keep an eye on Ali Muhammad and Aviv Avraham as they have turned out to be very refreshing surprises this season.
