Israel former association footballer and manager who played for Israel U21 national team is the new Head Coach to champions Maccavi-Haifa.
Israeli football champions Maccavi Haifa announced the appointment of Ethiopian-born Messay Dego as head coach in place of Barak Bachar who left for Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade. This season, 37-year-old Dego coached the club’s youth team, which played in the group stage of the UEFA Youth League, and also led the team to win the Israeli Youth Premier League title.
His coaching career also includes five senior teams in the two top Israeli leagues, in which he did not win any titles. “It is a big challenge to lead Maccavi Haifa to further achievements,” Dego said. “Hard work awaits us.”
Bachar led the club to three Israeli Premier League titles after a decade in which the team failed to finish in first place. He also led the team to the Champions’ League group stage this season, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Juventus.
Maccavi is the oldest club in Israel counting 110 years old and with its own 30000-seater stadium owned by Yakov Shahar. The 14 time Israel champions popularly known as the Greens are said to start an early season preparation ahead of next season’s European champions’ league.