Moti Ivanir and Roni Levy remain the favorites to be named as the next coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv after another day of meetings and deliberations at the club.
Israel under-21 coach Guy Luzon announced on Thursday that he has no interest in the job and intends to continue working for the Israel Football Association.
“I’m not the type of person who breaches a contract,” said Luzon, who met with Maccabi officials on Wednesday night. “To be the coach of the Israel under-21 team is not only a great commitment, but also a privilege. In the future, when I’m no longer under contract, I would be more than happy to join a club like Maccabi Tel Aviv.”
The yellow-and-blue were guided by interim coach Itzik Ovadia in Wednesday’s 4-1 humbling at the hands of Maccabi Petah Tikva in the Toto Cup semifinals. However, the club’s management is hoping to name Avi Nimni’s successor before Monday’s match against Betar Jerusalem at Bloomfield Stadium, with Ivanir and Levy the likely candidates to take over the dysfunctional team.
On Saturday, Hapoel Tel Aviv will be looking to put league-leader Maccabi Haifa under pressure when it visits Hapoel Ashkelon.
Tel Aviv has won 10 of its past 12 league matches and has scored almost at will in recent weeks, claiming its last four games by a combined goal difference of 15-1.
Ashkelon has won two of three matches after losing six straight, but was hammered 5-1 by the Reds when the teams met earlier this season.
Maccabi Haifa visits Maccabi Petah Tikva on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Ironi Kiryat Shmona will be hoping to end its losing streak when it hosts Ashdod SC on Saturday.
Ran Ben-Shimon’s team led the league for much of the first 11 weeks of the season, but since defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 on November 20, it has gone winless in five straight matches, losing its last three by a 1-0 score line.
Kiryat Shmona is still in fourth place in the standings, but eighth-placed Ashdod is only three points back, and will be confident of moving tied on points with the northerners after winning two straight games in impressive fashion.
Also Saturday, Hapoel Haifa hosts Hapoel Ramat Gan, Bnei Sakhnin pays a visit to Maccabi Netanya, Bnei Yehuda welcomes Hapoel Beersheba and Hapoel Petah Tikva travels north to face Hapoel Acre.