Maccabi Haifa Denies Contact With Edi Iordănescu

Maccabi Haifa denied approaching former Romania national-team coach Edi Iordănescu on Tuesday, saying he was not among its candidates to replace Barak Bakhar. The club is reportedly seeking to appoint a foreign coach by the beginning of next week, following Bakhar’s resignation on November 7. Owner Yaakov Shahar is reportedly directly involved in the search alongside chief executive Itzik Ovadia and sporting director Lior Refaelov. A three-week break gives the club time to recruit a replacement. Bakhar’s assistant David Marten is conducting the upcoming training sessions before the break. The club also said Omer Peretz was not a candidate. Barak Yitzhaki is reportedly not currently a practical option because he has no release clause at Anorthosis Famagusta. If the search for a foreign coach fails, the club would reportedly reconsider domestic options, including Sharon Mimer or Slobodan Drapić, as a possible appointment until the end of the season. Bakhar resigned after Maccabi Haifa’s 4–0 home defeat to Maccabi Netanya on Saturday. In the statement published by the club, he said he had informed Shahar of his decision and believed the team needed a change and new blood. Bakhar said: “I take full responsibility.”