JERUSALEM, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli football champions Maccabi Haifa on Sunday announced the appointment of Messay Dego as head coach in place of Barak Bachar who left for Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade.
This season, 37-year-old Dego coached the club's youth team, which played in the group stage of the UEFA Youth League, and also led the team to win the Israeli Youth Premier League title.
His coaching career also includes five senior teams in the two top Israeli leagues, in which he did not win any titles.
"It is a big challenge to lead Maccabi Haifa to further achievements," Dego said. "Hard work awaits us."
Bachar led the club to three Israeli Premier League titles after a decade in which the team failed to finish in first place.
He also led the team to the Champions League group stage this season, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Juventus. ■
