Dolev Haziza

Haziza was born on July 5, 1995, in Lod, where he grew up and spent much of his childhood at Hapoel Lod.[1][2] Maccabi Petah Tikva identified him at a young age and recruited him, though he later left the club.[2] As a teenager he moved to Ness Ziona, working his way through the youth teams before making his senior debut for the club — then competing in Liga Alef — at the age of approximately 16½.[2][3]

After his time at Ness Ziona, Haziza moved to Bnei Yehuda on a four-year contract, following a player-status committee process that reportedly saw Bnei Yehuda pay around 30,000 shekels.[2] He made an impression during Bnei Yehuda's return to the Premier League, but a cruciate-ligament tear interrupted his progress.[3] Following a lengthy recovery, he spent time on loan at Hapoel Ramat Gan in the National League before returning to Bnei Yehuda's squad ahead of the 2018/19 season.[3]

The 2018/19 season proved to be the high point of Haziza's time at Bnei Yehuda, as he became a prominent figure in the club's State Cup-winning campaign.[3] He won the State Cup twice during his time with the club before attracting the attention of larger sides.[4]

Maccabi Haifa announced Haziza's signing in June 2019, alongside his Bnei Yehuda teammate Yuval Ashkenazi.[3] His early months at the club were not without challenge. After a 1–0 defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in September 2019, coach Marco Balbul spoke with him directly about the need to believe in himself as a legitimate first-team player; the conversation is credited with helping Haziza bring more of his leadership qualities onto the pitch.[3]

Haziza's versatility made him a key tactical asset. He was deployed across several roles — on either wing, in attacking midfield, and even at right-back — with coach Barak Bachar credited with expanding the defensive dimension of his game.[5] Statistical tracking during official matches at the start of the 2022/23 season recorded 79 defensive ball contests, 51 recoveries, and a 64.6% success rate for him.[5]

Haziza's years at Maccabi Haifa produced sustained success at the domestic level. The club clinched the 2022 Israeli Premier League title despite losing 3–1 to Maccabi Tel Aviv on the day, as second-placed Hapoel Beersheba's defeat left Haifa clear with two matches remaining.[6] Haziza described it as his second league championship with the club.[6] The following season, Haifa secured the 2022/23 title with a 5–1 away win at Maccabi Netanya, completing three consecutive championships under Barak Bachar.[7] Haziza called it "one of the greatest accomplishments in my career."[7]

On the continental stage, Haziza was central to Maccabi Haifa's remarkable run through the 2022 Champions League play-off round. In the first leg against Red Star Belgrade at Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa won 3–2 and Haziza supplied all three assists, earning a "masterful" label from The Jerusalem Post and recognition as the best player on the pitch.[8] Coach Barak Bachar remarked that Haziza had made a significant physical and mental leap that season.[8]

The return leg in Belgrade was equally dramatic. Haifa trailed 2–0 before recovering to draw 2–2, advancing 5–4 on aggregate. Haziza had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Milan Borjan just before half-time, with Daniel Sundgren and an own goal in the 90th minute completing the comeback.[9] After the final whistle, Haziza called the achievement "history" and said he had been so motivated that he had not slept the night before the match.[9]

In Haifa's 2022/23 Champions League campaign, Haziza recorded six assists across eight matches — five in qualifying and one in the group stage, the latter coming against Paris Saint-Germain.[5] His five qualifying assists were more than those of any other player in that qualifying phase.[5]

Haziza made his senior Israel national team debut on November 16, 2019, entering as a substitute against Poland.[10] By August 2023, he had accumulated 14 senior international appearances.[4] Speaking ahead of Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures against Belarus and Andorra in June 2023, he stressed the importance of winning both games and cautioned against underestimating opponents, urging the squad to focus on its own performance.[11]

An Achilles-tendon problem first emerged near the start of Maccabi Haifa's 2022/23 championship playoffs.[12] Haziza chose to continue playing through the pain, determined to help the club win the title, then pushed through national-team fixtures and Haifa's subsequent Champions League qualifying campaign.[12] After months of failed conservative treatment, he underwent surgery in November 2023, with a recovery period estimated at a minimum of six weeks beyond that point.[12]

In an October 2023 interview, Haziza described the anxiety and disrupted sleep he experienced following the October 7 attacks.[13] He spoke of visiting wounded soldiers and the families of those killed in combat, including the family of a reservist whose children included a young Maccabi Haifa supporter. Haziza said the child's reaction moved him to tears and that he intended to maintain contact with the family.[13]

Ahead of the 2026/27 season, Maccabi Haifa informed Haziza — by then the club's captain — that he was no longer part of its plans.[14] He departed after seven years at the club, during which he made 247 appearances across all competitions, scoring 43 goals and contributing 41 assists.[15] In the Israeli Premier League specifically, he recorded 182 appearances and 33 goals.[14]

Haziza joined Maccabi Netanya ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, beginning a new chapter after his long tenure with Haifa.[16][1]