Eran Zahavi opens up about Maccabi Tel Aviv and settles a score: "I was disappointed, unequivocally"
The national team's all-time top scorer Eran Zahavi, who has retired, opens up about everything and admits he was disappointed by Maccabi Tel Aviv, while not ruling out a particularly surprising move to one of their fiercest rivals.
Eran Zahavi, one of the greatest footballers in the country's history and the all-time top scorer for the Israel national team, continues to stir up a storm even after retiring from active play. In an interview with the "Green Giant" podcast, Zahavi addressed his feelings regarding his professional future in football, while firing statements toward his home club, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Zahavi, who officially retired from professional football at the beginning of 2026 at the age of 38 after a glorious career that included 438 goals, 6 league championships, and a single-season scoring record in the Premier League, admitted that he expected to be included in the list of candidates for the position of sporting director at Kiryat Shalom.
When asked if he was disappointed that Maccabi Tel Aviv did not approach him, he replied:
"Let's say I expected to be at least one of the candidates. But to tell you that I was disappointed... I know the system, I know that perhaps they like working with Israelis a little less. To tell you that I was disappointed that I wasn't on the list of candidates? Yes, unequivocally, I was disappointed."
Despite his love for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Zahavi clarified that a future return is not certain and that everything depends on what they offer him. In addition, Zahavi did not hide his criticism regarding the status of local professionals compared to rival clubs:
"Not sure, not sure. It depends on the conditions, it depends on what the role is, what my power is. I see Lior Refaelov at Maccabi Haifa, I see Almog Cohen who was at Beitar Jerusalem, I didn't see them doing a worse job than the people Maccabi Tel Aviv brought in. If Refaelov can be at Maccabi Haifa, can't I be at Maccabi Tel Aviv? It may be that Maccabi Tel Aviv sees things differently and that's also fine, I respect that. On the other hand, I don't see that I am any less good than any other candidate."
Zahavi's statements come in parallel with active steps to acquire the skills required for a senior management role, after being accepted and starting to participate in the UEFA professional management course intended for former international players. When the interviewers pressed him about his next destination and whether he would serve as a sporting director at Maccabi Tel Aviv next season, Zahavi opened the door to scenarios that had until now been considered inconceivable for Maccabi Tel Aviv fans:
"I don't know, it could be that I'll go to Maccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Netanya, I don't know... Maccabi Petah Tikva... I don't know, we'll see."
Today, alongside his professional training at UEFA, Zahavi dedicates his time to the worlds of entrepreneurship, media, and sports — from establishing the EZ7 PADEL complex network and launching the PADEL SICKO league, to his membership as a commentator and panelist on the 103FM radio sports program. However, his latest words prove that his return to the forefront of Israeli football in a management capacity is only a matter of time, and might even happen at one of Maccabi Tel Aviv's fiercest rivals.
