Levy given Haifa hot seat

Ligat Ha'Al side Maccabi Haifa FC have announced the appointment of their former player Elisha Levy as coach for the 2008/09 season.

Replaces namesake
The Israeli club and Levy have agreed on a one-year deal with an optional extension and the 51-year-old is due to take over from namesake Roni Levy whose five-year reign will end as Haifa's coach. The newly-appointed coach led his current club Bnei Sakhnin FC to promotion last season and looks likely to guide them to a European berth this term.

Haifa return
Levy returns to the club he made 23 league appearances for as a midfielder in the early 1980s and Haifa owner Ya'acov Schahar said: "We are delighted that Elisha's response to our approach was a positive one. We chose Elisha because he answered every criteria we set before naming our short list of candidates: a former player at the club who knows our players, we all rate his work and he is not new to this league."

'Massive club'
Levy said: "I am delighted to have accepted what is certainly a great job. The large media interest is a clear sign of how big this job really is. Maccabi Haifa is a massive club and this is the second time I find myself joining this great club."