Sousa departs Mac TA after year to coach Basel

Sousa signed a two-year contract to succeed Oscar, but he too has moved on after a single campaign.

By ALLON SINAI
Paulo Sousa (photo credit: REUTERS)
Paulo Sousa
(photo credit: REUTERS)
For a second straight year, Maccabi Tel Aviv has lost its coach just a few weeks after winning the Premier League championship, with Paulo Sousa announcing on Wednesday that he is leaving the club to join Swiss side FC Basel as its head coach.
After guiding Maccabi to its first Premier League championship in 10 years last season, Spanish coach Oscar Garcia left after a single year due to personal reasons before eventually signing with English Championship side Brighton.
Sousa signed a two-year contract to succeed Oscar, but he too has moved on after a single campaign, being lured to Switzerland by Basel, which knocked out Maccabi in the Champions League qualifiers in 2013/14, as well as the Europa League round-of-32.
Maccabi’s sporting director Jordi Cruyff admitted last week that he has a list of alternatives should Sousa decide to leave, and he will want to bring in a replacement as soon as possible, with the yellowand- blue to already resume training in a couple of weeks ahead of the start of its Champions League qualifying campaign in mid-July.
“Maccabi Tel Aviv, the owner and management, wishes to thank Paulo Sousa and all of his staff for their tremendous contribution in what was a highly successful season,” read a club statement.
“Paulo has helped the club continue its progress embodying the work ethic and professionalism which Maccabi Tel Aviv values.
“The club wishes Paulo all the best in his new challenge as the Head Coach of FC Basel.
“A successor will be announced in due course.”