Maccabi Tel Aviv recorded a memorable milestone on Saturday when they continued their impressive run of games without conceding a goal, setting a new Israeli record.
Goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum has stood in goal for the entire 1,083 minutes that currently constitute the new record, and alongside him, also playing for the whole period, has been central defender Eitan Tibi.
The league leaders’ 1-0 win over Hapoel Kiryat Shmona was a chance for the veteran player to celebrate both that record and his 200th league outing for Maccabi.
Tibi joined Maccabi Tel Aviv ahead of the 2012-13 season and over the last seven years he has become a central element in defence and his contributions to the club’s many titles have been vital.
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Tibi opened his account with Maccabi in the second round of the 2012-13 season, a 1-0 win over Maccabi Netanya.
He is 28th overall in the number of league appearances for the club and well behind Miko Belo, who turned out on 498 occasions in the 1970s. Among active players, Sheran Yeini leads all with 297 appearances.
Tibi’s appearance in Kiryat Shmona was his 301st in all competitions for Maccabi, including 60 in European club fixtures. Of his 200 league appearances, he has started in 197. And in his 200 appearances, Maccabi have won 137 matches, they have drawn 38 draws and have lost 25.
Maccabi’s biggest win with Tibi in tow was the 6-0 win over Maccabi Haifa in 2015-16. Haifa are also the opponents that Tibi has faced most while wearing a Maccabi shirt (22). Next are Hapoel Beersheba with 19 and third are Kiryat Shmona with 17.
Tibi is no known for his goalscoring prowess and he has put the ball in the net only twice during his 200 league outings the last of which was against Maccabi Netanya in September 2014.
