Ido Shahar

Shahar grew up in Kibbutz Gat and began playing football from the age of four and a half, competing for Kiryat Gat until he was 11 — often training with older age groups.[3] He then moved to Beitar Tubruk, a period that required him and his father to commute daily from Kiryat Gat to Netanya for six months.[3]

His path to Maccabi Tel Aviv opened during a training match in which Maccabi youth coach Uri David noticed what he described as "a red-haired kid who never stops running." The transfer was completed the following day, and Shahar joined Maccabi's youth department at age 11.[3][5]

Shahar's endurance was apparent even outside football. As a child he competed in running events, and at age 12 he finished 100th in the Tel Aviv Marathon among approximately 17,000 participants.[3]

At international youth level, Shahar captained Israel's under-19 team and was named the outstanding player at a winter tournament that included Germany and Serbia.[3] He was also part of Israel's under-17 side that qualified for the European Championship, and had accumulated 45 appearances across Israel's youth teams with two goals by the time he was profiled in 2020.[3]

Shahar made his senior debut for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Toto Cup final against Bnei Sakhnin, two days after his 19th birthday.[5] He described the journey from the youth teams to the first team as a dream fulfilled.[5] Before establishing himself in Maccabi's senior squad, he undertook a series of loan spells to gain experience: Beitar Tel Aviv/Bat Yam, Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi Petah Tikva, and Apollon Limassol.[5]

During his loan at Beitar Tel Aviv/Bat Yam in the National League, Shahar made 32 starts — while still technically young enough for youth football — scoring six goals and supplying five assists, and helped the club reach the league's upper playoff.[3] In January 2022, Maccabi exercised a contract option extending his deal through the end of the 2023/24 season and sent him on loan to Maccabi Petah Tikva for the remainder of that campaign, with Shahar having requested the move in order to secure regular playing time after 12 appearances for Maccabi that season.[6]

Shahar subsequently went on loan to Apollon Limassol in Cyprus, where the club was identified as the reigning Cypriot champion.[7] A January 2024 report said he had made 25 appearances for Apollon during the previous season.[8] In January 2024 he signed a new three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv, with an option for a fourth year, on reported terms of approximately $200,000 per season and a substantial signing bonus.[8]

Back at Maccabi, Shahar quickly made an impact in European competition. On March 7, 2024, he scored in the ninth minute of Maccabi's UEFA Conference League round-of-16 first leg against Olympiacos in Piraeus — a rebound goal that gave Maccabi a 2–0 lead — as the team went on to win 4–1.[9] That same spring, he scored the third goal in the 69th minute, assisted by Milson, as Maccabi beat Hapoel Beersheba 3–0 to clinch the Israel Premier League title — the club's first championship since 2019/20 and an end to Maccabi Haifa's three consecutive title run.[10]

A 2024 season preview grouped Shahar among Maccabi's midfielders alongside Dor Peretz, Sagiv Yehezkeli, Dan Bitton, Gaby Kanichowsky, and Joris van Overeem, characterizing him as a young talent moving up through the ranks.[11] In September 2024, his departure from the pitch during a 2–0 league win over Ashdod SC was described as leaving a significant gap in Maccabi's midfield, with teammate Dor Turgeman publicly wishing him a speedy recovery.[12]

Shahar's 2025/26 season became his most productive league campaign to date.[2] In August 2025, he scored twice and assisted Osher Davida's goal in a 3–1 win over Hamrun Spartans that sent Maccabi into the Europa League playoff round.[13] His first goal followed a through ball from Raz Shlomo; the second came in first-half injury time from a pass by Davida, and he then set up Davida's 69th-minute clincher.[13] By November 2025 he had scored five league goals for Maccabi, second on the team behind Dor Peretz, despite having played only 439 minutes.[14] He remarked: "I wanted to reach this moment when I would be dominant and influential at Maccabi Tel Aviv. It was a dream and my goal throughout my career."[14]

In September 2025, he scored Maccabi's equalizer in a league match against Hapoel Jerusalem, with the team going on to win 2–1 thanks to a late goal from Ali Camara.[15] In December 2025, he scored the fourth goal and assisted the fifth in a 5–0 State Cup win over Hapoel Haifa, calling it an important result after a difficult spell.[16] Over the full 2025/26 league season, Shahar registered 13 goals and three assists across 24 starts and 10 substitute appearances.[2]

On August 20, 2026 — his 25th birthday — Shahar scored for Maccabi in the 47th minute of a Conference League playoff first leg against Lugano, converting from a Roy Revivo cross, though Lugano won the match 2–1.[17][1] He said afterward: "Honestly, I would have been much happier if we had won and received the perfect birthday present. I'm happy about the goal, but unfortunately we lost in the end. Nevertheless, we fully believe that with the support of the fans next week in Batumi, we will get the job done."[17]

At youth level, Shahar captained Israel's under-19 team and accumulated 45 appearances across Israel's various youth sides, including with the under-17 squad that qualified for the European Championship.[3] By early 2024 he had scored three goals in 19 appearances for Israel's under-21 team.[8]

Shahar was included in Israel's delegation to the 2024 Paris Olympics, held July 26 through August 11, 2024, as part of the national football squad.[4]

Shahar has been profiled as a high-endurance midfielder who can play as a defensive midfielder or in a box-to-box role. A 2020 profile reported that he often covered 12 kilometers per match and sometimes exceeded 13, while Maccabi's youth-department director said he could "run for two days without stopping."[3]

His coaches also emphasized his two-way contribution. Israel youth coach Nir Levin praised his ability to stop opposition attacks and join play in the penalty area, while Beitar Tel Aviv coach Raymond Atteveld described him as a dynamic box-to-box midfielder who could create in attack and was willing to take risks.[3]

In 2026, reports emerged of a contract dispute between Shahar and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi exercised a contractual option retaining him for the coming season, but Shahar sought a new deal paying approximately €450,000 annually, while the club was reportedly willing to offer around $300,000.[18] Sources close to Shahar indicated his existing pay was approximately €200,000 per season.[18]

The June report concerned negotiations and intentions rather than a completed move.[18] As of October 18, 2026, current player listings still identified Shahar as a Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder.[1][2]