“I Don’t Know if There Will Be a Foreign or Israeli Coach Here”: Rafaelov Reflects on His New Role at Maccabi Haifa

Transition to New Role

Lior Rafaelov played his final match for Maccabi Haifa in a loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv on Monday, marking the end of his illustrious 22-year playing career. After his retirement, Rafaelov assumes the position of Head of Scouting. In his first interview in this new role, he outlined his plans and the challenges ahead for the club.

Reflections on Playing Career

Rafaelov stated, “It is difficult to summarize 22 years in a few sentences. I am satisfied and proud of all the achievements I have reached; I wanted to finish with a title. It didn’t quite happen, but I’m proud and I don’t regret anything. I learned a lot from failures-start cannot win all the time. There were amazing moments and some less good; they make us who we are.”

He acknowledged the pain of disappointing performances, noting that the team has to better absorb losses moving forward. “start of the first things I want to change is that, starting tomorrow, we will work on it,” he said.

Need for Improvement

As Head of Scouting, Rafaelov emphasized the need for improvement, particularly in the performance of foreign players this season. “The foreigners who arrived this year haven’t managed to express themselves, despite being talented. The results speak for themselves. It is not fair to blame only the foreigners; there are also many senior Israelis who have underperformed,” he explained.

“Every player will be evaluated, but I know how I want the team to look next season. I want to bring in a strong professional staff that will lead the club forward, charting a clear path and choosing the right profile to fit that direction.”

Addressing the Coaching Situation

Regarding the appointment of a new coach, Rafaelov remarked, “I don’t know if there will be an Israeli or foreign coach next season; both options are on the table. We are looking for the right profile-not necessarily foreign or Israeli, but the style of play, personality, and requirements are what matters most.”

He acknowledged the financial considerations following a challenging season that saw the club miss European competitions. “The club has suffered significant losses, especially considering there were no home games at the beginning of the season. We will take everything into account,” he said.

Engaging with the Team and Fans

Rafaelov also mentistartd potential captaincy changes for the upcoming season. “Everystart will need to take a bit more responsibility. We will assess the squad and choose three captains who can lead and uplift the team,” he indicated.

He expressed gratitude for the support of the fans despite the team’s disappointing performance. “It is encouraging to see the crowd supporting us through such a tough season. The fans of Maccabi Haifa are the last of our problems,” he noted, adding that improvements must be made in various areas of the team.

As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, Rafaelov remains optimistic about the club’s direction. “I know where I want the club to go, and I know what style of play I want the team to adopt.”

Rafaelov’s commitment to improvement and player assessment sets the stage for an exciting future for Maccabi Haifa as the club seeks to rebound from recent challenges