Four years in Israel
With my writing being on a bit of a hiatus recently, details about Jésus of Nazareth have been few and far between. With the masses now clamouring for an update about Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, now is probably a good time for a catch up… Continue reading
A New Hope
Jésus sixth season in charge of Nazareth was just beginning. The National League and Israeli Premier Division titles had been won, as well as the State Cup. The club was back in the Champions League after a one year absence, and were flying the Israeli flag alone in the competition as any other European qualified teams went into the Europa League qualifying rounds. Jésus had proved his worth to Nazareth, and their decision to give him his first gig in football management was a masterstoke. His father’s homeland came calling once again, with Atletico Madrid now chasing Jésus signature. Jésus laughed off interest, and in his mind he now felt free of the torture. The decisions he made off the pitch were justified. It was worth it.
Atletico Madrid were looking for a new manager after previous incumbent, Diego Simeone, let his contract run down Continue reading
Having faith in Jésus
Two seasons in the Israeli Premier Division had brought successive second place finishes for Jésus and his boys from Nazareth, but it was not enough for a man of such ambition. This season progress had to be made. It would start, for the second season in a row, with European football. Having finished in 2nd place last season, it meant Nazareth entered the 3rd Qualifying Round of the Europa League rather than the Champions League, as the coefficient in Israel had been dropping rapidly in the last few seasons. Jésus didn’t mind so much as he assumed some easier competition would mean better odds of getting into the Group Stage and receiving a small windfall. Jésus has been wrong before, and he was proved wrong again here.
FC Basel, who knocked Nazareth out of the Champions League qualifying rounds last season, put Jésus’ team to the sword yet again to prematurely end another European adventure Continue reading
Praise be to Public Beta?
With form improving towards the end of 2021, Nazareth fans were excited to see what was in store in 2022. Having finished second in the previous campaign there were faint hopes at the start of the season that a title push might be on the cards, especially as that was now the only way to get into the Champions League. It was unrealistic for a team in their second top flight season to finish in top spot, however Jésus’ tactical tweaks in December 2021 had proved fruitful.
Good form at the start of ’22 had temporarily pushed Nazareth to the top of the Israeli Premier Division Continue reading
European ambition
It’d been Jésus’ dream to lead a side out in European competition, and now finally he had his chance. Starting in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, the odds were stacked in Nazareth’s favour to draw a decent side from a minor European nation. Progession was key to Nazareth rather than a ‘big tie’. The chairman, Omar Zuabi, and Jésus attended the draw in Cork, and were left distraught by the maiden European match for Nazareth.
European regulars FC Basel were perhaps the worst side that Nazareth could draw at this stage of their European debut season Continue reading
Another day, another miracle
The first opponents for Maccabi Ahi Nazareth in 2021, the second half of their first Jésus-led venture into the Israeli Premier Division, was former European competition regular, Maccabi Haifa. Going into the game on a 7 match winning run, it was widely expected for Nazareth to roll over, and for the status quo to be restored. How wrong unnamed, general people can be…
Nazareth snuck past Maccabi Haifa 1-0 to stretch their winning run to 8 games, and push themselves to the top of the Israeli Premier Division Continue reading
Vision
With the club gaining further exposure by playing in the Israeli Premier Division, it was decided by the board that Jésus could finally have a scouting team. Nazareth would now be able to scout the Middle-East, have a scouting package, and hire a couple of scouts. The increased vision of football in and around Israel brought in a lot of youngsters for trials, as well as some agent offers from further afield.
Amnon Tsalach joined on loan from Maccabi Petach-Tikva, making the left winger spot his own. His loan would later extend for a further season (until the end of the 2021/22 season). Continue reading
Dying for your sins
The remainder of the mourners were leaving the church yard, away from the grave of former assistant manager of Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, Gil Ohayon. Among them were Nazareth players, as well as his boss, Alejandro Jésus. Jésus waited to be alone with his former associate, before sinking to his knees, distraught.
“I wish I saw the signs sooner, Gil, but I’ve been too selfish. You’d been struggling at the club since I arrived. Maybe I should have let you go in that first summer – it would have been hard for you, but it may not have lead to this…” Jésus wept as he spoke to the grave. Gil Ohayon was a lonely man, no friends or family outside of the club, so Jésus felt it was his duty to stand by his side until the end. Continue reading
Trial and error
Having ended the previous campaign in glorious failure, Jésus knew he had to go one better this season. His hopes of picking up silverware early on were dashed in the National League Toto Cup when coming up against relegated Bnei Sakhnin. Nazareth finished second in the group behind the former Israeli Premier Division club, and that was that for the National Toto, forever…or at least Jésus hoped so. One more attempt at the cup would mean hanging around in the division for a third season, something that neither the board nor himself wanted.
Nazareth smashed rivals Hapoel 6-0, however Diego Jésus only watched from the stands… Continue reading
Season one autopsy
Jésus knew it was a big ask for the team to get promoted. 5 points to catch Ramat HaSharon in only four games was entirely unrealistic considering the wretched run of form the team had been on in the last four months, however they made a mighty good fist of it.
TedRedwood 