Cruyff named new Maccabi sports director
Reuters - Friday 13 April 2012, 21:38
Maccabi Tel Aviv have named
former Dutch international Jordi Cruyff as sports director and
he will start work at the end of the season, the club said on
Friday.
The ex-Manchester United and Barcelona forward, who is
leaving as director of football at Cypriot club AEK Larnaca,
will be presented at a news conference on Sunday.
"Jordi will work closely with the coaching staff and will
make a valuable contribution in strengthening the club," said
Maccabi in a statement.
One of Cruyff's first tasks will be to help appoint a new
coach. The team have been guided by caretaker Nir Levin since
Motti Iwanir was sacked in December.
Maccabi are Israel's richest club but Canadian owner Mitch
Goldhar's $35 million investment on players ahead of the start
of the season has failed to yield the desired results.
They are sixth in the table and face a fight to finish in
the top four to earn a place in next season's Europa League.
"Maccabi are a special club with a great tradition and I am
convinced that with hard work and the right decisions we will
develop something the club and the fans will be proud of," said
Cruyff, 38, son of former Dutch great Johan.
Jordi won nine caps for his country.