Honestly, if you walk through the streets of Tel Aviv, you can’t escape the yellow and blue. It’s everywhere. It is a bit of an obsession. For some, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is just a football team, but for the locals, it's basically the beating heart of the city’s sporting identity. You’ve probably heard the name in UEFA highlights or maybe caught wind of the recent chaos in European away games, but the actual story of the club is way more nuanced than a thirty-second news clip.
It’s old. Like, really old. Founded back in 1906, it predates the city of Tel Aviv itself. Back then, it was the HaRishon Le Zion-Yafo Association. Think about that for a second. This club was kicking a ball around before the first buildings of modern Tel Aviv were even a sketch on a napkin.
The Numbers That Actually Matter
People love to argue about who’s the biggest in Israel. Usually, it's a fight between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa. But if we’re looking at the trophy cabinet? It’s not even close. We’re talking 26 League Championships and 24 State Cups. They are the only team in the country that has never been relegated. Ever.
Staying at the top for over a century is hard. It’s kind of ridiculous when you think about the turnover in modern sports.
Currently, the 2025–26 season is proving to be another massive grind. They are sitting in the top three, chasing Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Beitar Jerusalem. It’s tight. Every point feels like a war, especially with the pressure of competing in the Europa League at the same time. The schedule is brutal.
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Why Everyone Talks About Bloomfield
If you want to understand the soul of the club, you have to go to Jaffa. Bloomfield Stadium is where the magic (and the occasional heartbreak) happens. It’s got that specific kind of energy you only get when 29,000 people are packed into a tight space, right on top of the pitch.
Sections 10 and 11 are the stuff of legend. That’s where the "Maccabi Fanatics" sit. It’s loud. There’s smoke. There’s non-stop singing. If you’re a visiting player, it probably feels like the walls are closing in on you. The stadium was renovated a few years back, so it looks slick now, but it kept that "in-your-face" vibe that makes it so intimidating.
The Real Story Behind the Amsterdam Incidents
You might have seen the headlines from late 2024. The match against Ajax in Amsterdam turned into a complete mess. It’s one of those situations where the truth got buried under a mountain of social media clips and political shouting matches.
The facts are messy. Before the game, some Maccabi fans were filmed pulling down Palestinian flags and shouting some pretty ugly stuff. Then, after the match, things got even worse. Groups of locals ambushed fans across the city. It was ugly on both sides.
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Interestingly, a lot of what was reported early on turned out to be wrong. There were claims that 5,000 police officers were deployed—nope, it was more like 1,200. There were stories about fans being thrown into canals—mostly exaggerated, though one fan did end up in the water.
This fallout actually led to a weird situation in early 2026. The West Midlands Police in the UK tried to ban Maccabi fans from an Aston Villa match based on "intelligence" from the Amsterdam events. It caused a huge stink. Eventually, even the Dutch police had to step in and say the UK's version of events was "hallucinated" or at least heavily distorted. It shows you how much the club carries the weight of geopolitics, whether the players like it or not.
The Current Squad: Who’s Carrying the Torch?
Under manager Žarko Lazetić, the team has shifted into a more tactical, grinding style. They aren't just relying on individual brilliance anymore.
- Dor Peretz: The captain. The engine. Honestly, the guy is everywhere. He’s already got 7 goals this season across all competitions.
- Ion Nicolaescu: The Moldovan striker they brought in from Heerenveen for €1.3 million. He’s been a clinical addition to the front line.
- Yoav Gerafi: New face in goal, taking over the heavy responsibility of keeping those clean sheets.
- Tyrese Asante: A Dutch defender who brings that European composure to the backline.
The departure of legend Eran Zahavi in May 2025 was a massive blow to the "old guard" feel of the club. It felt like the end of an era. But life goes on. Younger guys like Elad Madmon and Osher Davida are starting to step up, showing that the youth academy is still pumping out talent.
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The Tel Aviv Derby: More Than Just Points
The rivalry with Hapoel Tel Aviv is... intense. It’s the "Big One." Historically, Hapoel was the working-class, socialist-linked club, while Maccabi was the middle-class, more establishment side.
That distinction has mostly faded into history—now both have fans from every walk of life—but the hatred remains fresh. They share Bloomfield, which adds a weird layer of "this is my house" energy to every derby. Maccabi has dominated the recent years, including some 5-0 thrashings that Hapoel fans will likely never forget (or be allowed to forget).
Why Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Still Matters
Look, football in Israel is complicated. The league isn't the Premier League or La Liga. But for a club like Maccabi Tel Aviv, the stakes feel just as high. They represent a specific kind of "Maccabism"—a drive to be the biggest and most successful, no matter what.
They’ve played in the Champions League group stages twice. They’ve won Asian club titles before Israel moved to UEFA. They are a bridge between the local Mediterranean culture and the high-pressure world of European football.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Travelers
If you’re planning to catch a game or just want to follow the club properly, keep these things in mind:
- Buying Tickets: Don't wait until match day. For big games (Derbies or Haifa), they sell out instantly. Use the official club app; third-party sites are often a scam.
- Getting to Bloomfield: Take the Red Line light rail. The "Bloomfield Stadium" station drops you right there. Parking is a nightmare, so don't even try to drive.
- The Vibe: If you sit in the East Sections (Gates 7/8), it’s more family-friendly. If you want the "hardcore" experience, go South, but be prepared for 90 minutes of standing and shouting.
- The Store: The flagship store at the Kiryat Shalom training ground is better than the stadium kiosks. It’s where you get the limited edition kits that actually look decent.
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is a weird, beautiful, loud, and sometimes controversial institution. It’s not just a club; it’s the history of a city played out on a patch of grass in Jaffa. Whether they’re winning the league or fighting through a European ban, they’re never boring.