Zandberg, Michael

Zandberg, an attacking midfielder was recently acquired by Maccabi Haifa to strengthen the squad. He is an occasional goalscorer, but excels at passing and has good feel on the ball.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. April 16, 1980

Career Highlights:
Zandberg made his mark as a member of Hapoel Petah Tikva, a team that often challenges for the title but never wins. At the age of 20, he was already an iron-clad certainty in the starting lineup, scoring five goals and adding three assists during the 2000-01 season, and Hapoel enjoyed a good run at the top. He then made a similar contribution in 2001-02, registering four goals and three assists, though Petah Tikva underwent a very poor year despite Zandberg's best efforts.

Zandberg proved a capable replacement for Yossi Benayoun in the 2002-03 campaign. The winger tore up the left side scoring a career high 14 goals and making nine asist passes. In 2002-03 during the group stage of the Champions League, Maccabi Haifa came in third and qualified for the UEFA Cup. Zandberg substituted in all the games with Manchester United (5-2) and Bayer Leverkusen (2-0) -- bothlosses for the Israeli side, and in two famous 3-0 wins over Olympiakos and Manchester United. Haifa was the first Israeli team to make it to the group stage in the Champions League and the first to register a win.

Though Zandberg was not a perpetual feature in Maccabi Haifa's 2003-04 season starting eleven, he played an important part in its achievements. His offensive contribution helped Haifa reach the 2nd round of the UEFA Cup, as he scored a goal apiece in the home and away leg of the preliminary ties against Cwmbran Town of Wales. Haifa won the Israeli Premier League title, as Michael chipped in with 5 goals and two assists in 25 league appearances. Zandberg also scored in the State Cup quarter-final vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv, but Haifa lost on penalties.

Origin:
Ramat Gan, Israel

Position:
Left sided midfielder

Career Statistics:
12 caps/ 3 goals

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