Tenenbaum’s clean sheets are at an end

FOOTBALL AFTER setting an Israeli Premier League clean sheet record, Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum finally conceded a goal in the ninth minute of the 1-1 draw with Nes Ziona.

This was the first goal the Brazilian had conceded in 1,272 minutes of football and the first goal Maccabi have conceded in this season’s 14 league games — it is the seventh best clean-sheet run in top-flight football worldwide. “The record belongs to the entire team,” said Tenenbaum. “This was about hard work by everybody, especially the defence. No goalkeeper likes to concede, but ultimately it is about winning. I’d rather win 2-1 than draw 0-0.”

Remarkably Tenenbaum, 24, had not played a first team game for Maccabi until the final game of last season, when he stepped in to replace the injured Pedrag Rajkovic, who was sold in the summer to Reims.

Maccabi then signed the Greek Andreas Gianniotis, but he was injured pre-season and Tenenbaum seized his chance. Born in Rio, Tenenbaum rose through the ranks of top Brazilian outfit Flamengo, but only ever made one first-team appearance. He came to Israel in 2013 for the Maccabiah with the Brazilian team and caught the eye of Israeli teams. He was signed by Maccabi in 2016.

Tenenbaum took Israeli citizenship and is currently serving in the army. Under FIFA regulations, a player must have five years residency if neither of his parents or grandparents were born in that country, making him eligible to play for Israel in 2021.