Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. is an Israeli association football club, part of the Maccabi Tel Aviv sports club. It is one of the oldest clubs in Israeli football, and is the most decorated club in Israeli football history with 19 championships, 22 national cups, 2 Asian Champions Cups and 2 Toto cups. Maccabi have won the championship and the cup in the same season (referred to as winning the "double") seven times.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is the only team in Israel never to have played in the lower divisions, having always played in the top flight. The club is also one of the two only teams from Israel to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

Supporters & Rivals

Maccabi is notably famous for its "Maccabism", the club spirit, which generally refers to the desire for first place on any occasion, expecting a win no matter how strong the rivals are or how weak Maccabi is. Club supporters and players who are identified with it are often called "Maccabists".

While being the most supported club in Israel, Maccabi is also considered one of the most hated clubs in the country, due to its success and because of what is perceived by other clubs fans as arrogance of the Maccabists.

Naturally the main rival club is Hapoel Tel Aviv, city rivals who are Israel's second most successful club and like Maccabi attract many fans and media attention. The matches between the teams gain a lot of attention in the Israeli public and are referred to as the "Big Tel-Aviv Derby" (as opposed to the "Small Tel-Aviv Derby", matches between Bnei Yehuda and Maccabi or Hapoel). Other rivalries include, to a lesser extent, those with Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Haifa.

Honours

• Old Liga Leumit/Ligat ha'Al'''
• Champions 1923, 1929, 1936, 1937, 1941/42, 1946/47, 1949/50, 1951/52, 1953/54, 1955/56, 1957/58, 1967/68, 1969/70, 1971/72, 1976/77, 1978/79, 1991/92, 1994/95, 1995/96, 2002/03
• Israel State Cup
• Winners 1928/29, 1929/30, 1932/33, 1940/41, 1945/46, 1946/47, 1953/54, 1954/55, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1969/70, 1976/77, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1993/94, 1995/96, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2004/05
• Asian Club Championship
• Winners 1968/69, 1970/71
• Toto Cup
• Winners 1992/93, 1998/99

Current squad

Season-by-season

Notable former and present players

Retired number

• 12: Meni Levi

UEFA Ranking

Current Club Ranking

• 141 Standard Liège
• 142 Viking Stavanger
• 143 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 144 Krylya Sovetov Samara
• 145 Mladá Boleslav
• Full List

Current National League Ranking

• 17 Swiss League
• 18 Norwegian League
• 19 Ligat ha'Al
• 20 Serbian League
• 21 Danish League
• Full List

External links

• Official website
• Fans' site