Eli Driks was born on October 13, 1964 in Petah Tikva and joined the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department at a very young age. At 17 years old he began training with the first team under coach Yaakov Grondman and made his debut in Yellow & Blue the following season in a goalless draw against Bnei Yehuda.
During the 1983 season, Driks scored his first goal for Maccabi in a 2:1 win versus Maccabi Netanya. Over the course of the decade, he was loaned out to Maccabi Yavne and Maccabi Netanya, however, he won his first title in Yellow & Blue when he took home the 1986/87 State Cup. Driks scored a brace in the final including a bicycle kick goal in the 113th minute. In 1991/92 he returned from his loan at Maccabi Netanya and helped Avram Grant’s squad win two league championships, a State Cup, Toto Cup and then went on to capture the Double under Dror Kashtan.
After 514 appearances and 159 goals in Yellow & Blue across all competitions, Driks left Maccabi in 1998/99 as he played his final season for Maccabi Herzliya. In 2005, he came served as Maccabi’s interim coach. The striker with a wonderful head game, played in 27 matches for Israel and scored 4 goals.
Top Moment
Of the 113 league goals scored by Eli Driks during his time with Maccabi Tel Aviv, it’s certain that his hat-trick in the October 10, 1992 Derby will be one that the striker will never forget. One of the goals will go down as perhaps his most spectacular ever. Watch the highlights:
