Mohammed Awaed

Awaed was born in Tamra and joined Maccabi Haifa's youth academy at the age of eight, growing up as a supporter of the club.[1] In a 2018 interview, he recalled that his family loved football and that he had always believed from a young age that he would become a professional footballer.[1]

He proved exceptionally productive in the youth ranks, scoring more than 30 league goals across several age groups and registering a season in which he reached 30 goals alone.[1] He was described as one of Maccabi Haifa's leading youth scorers of the preceding decade and also recorded three assists in a single Toto Cup match against Hapoel Hadera.[1] One report noted he had scored more goals than Shon Weissman in Maccabi Haifa's youth league.[2]

Throughout his time in the academy, Awaed said he was the only player from what he described as the "Arab sector" in each age group he played in.[1] He recalled that he initially did not know Hebrew and that teammates helped him settle in, and he expressed the view that Maccabi Haifa welcomed players from all sectors.[1]

Awaed made his debut for Maccabi Haifa's senior side in the summer of 2014.[3] He became a consistent presence in the squad over the following seasons, and a 2019/20 preview identified him alongside Yarden Shua and Maxim Plachusheko as a player expected to be a central figure under coach Marko Balbul.[4]

On the pitch, he contributed in a variety of ways. In a December 2018 match against Kiryat Shmona, he supplied the cross from which Shlomi Azoulay scored Maccabi Haifa's go-ahead goal in the 59th minute — though the match ultimately ended 2–2 after Kiryat Shmona goalkeeper Dziugas Bartkus headed in a late equalizer from a corner.[5] In a separate league encounter against Hapoel Beersheba, a powerful second-half shot from Awaed was heading for the top-left corner before goalkeeper Guy Haimov made the save in a match Maccabi Haifa lost 2–0.[6]

He scored in Maccabi Haifa's 3–1 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield Stadium in June 2020, netting in the second half after Sintayehu Sallallich and Tjaron Chery had already put the side ahead.[7] He served as club captain on at least one occasion, with a Jerusalem Post caption identifying him as such during a 3–2 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv in which he scored twice — though that report used the spelling "Muhamad Awad."[8]

By the end of his time at Maccabi Haifa, Awaed had accumulated 21 goals in 120 appearances for the club.[2] He was part of the squad that won the 2020/21 Israel Premier League championship — described as coach Barak Bakhar's first title with the club.[9]

Awaed's Maccabi Haifa contract ran through 2023.[3] During his final two years at the club, he spent time on loan with Lech Poznań and Maccabi Petah Tikva.[9] He first joined Polish club Lech Poznań, where he made nine league appearances and scored one goal, as well as five Europa League group-stage appearances.[10] He returned to Maccabi Haifa in February of the following season after limited playing time, with the club requiring attacking reinforcements.[10] After returning, he also scored twice in a State Cup match against Hapoel Afula.[10] His cumulative record for Lech stood at two goals in 16 appearances.[2]

In September 2021, Awaed joined Maccabi Petah Tikva on loan after being told he had no place in the reigning champions' squad.[3] A move to the Greek league had been considered but fell through on the final day of the European transfer window, and M.S. Ashdod had also expressed interest before Petah Tikva secured the loan.[3] He went on to score three goals in 16 matches for the club.[2]

Following his stint with Petah Tikva, Awaed had a spell with Bnei Sakhnin, for whom he scored two goals in 13 appearances.[2] He subsequently joined Andorran club FC Pas de la Casa, making five appearances before being released.[2] In February 2026, he registered with Israeli second-division club M.S. Kafr Qasim and made his debut as a substitute in the 76th minute of a 2–0 loss to Maccabi Herzliya — his first appearance in Israeli football since May 2023.[2]

Awaed represented Israel's youth national teams at various levels during his development at Maccabi Haifa.[9] He was called up to the senior national team at the age of 21.[2]

During his loan spell at Maccabi Petah Tikva, Awaed suffered a serious groin injury.[11] After feeling pain and continuing to play, an MRI revealed a partial tear of a groin tendon; a subsequent scan in Germany confirmed the injury had become a complete tear.[11] He stopped training with the club in April and underwent surgery in May, but continued to experience pain on returning to training and required further rehabilitation.[11]

A specialist advised him not to play for 40 days, and he later received care from a doctor associated with Eintracht Frankfurt, who recommended two months of rehabilitation.[11] People close to Awaed reported that he had taken around 100 painkillers in under four months because of the pain.[11] By the time a follow-up report was published, fitness coach Ofer Ekstein said Awaed was sprinting and shooting at full power with both feet and was physically and mentally ready to return.[11] Injuries were subsequently noted as a factor that disrupted his career trajectory.[9]

In his 2018 interview, Awaed argued that young, locally developed players in Israel were not trusted enough by clubs, while acknowledging that Maccabi Haifa's youth players were receiving genuine opportunities that season.[1] On the subject of Arab players serving as captains, he argued that captaincy should depend on leadership qualities and support for teammates rather than a player's background, and said that politics should not be mixed with sport.[1]

In May 2021, following a match at Bloomfield Stadium, Awaed said he was upset because Maccabi Tel Aviv fans had directed an ethnic slur at him.[12] Maccabi Tel Aviv stated that the club had recorded a supporter insulting Awaed and banned that supporter for life from home and away matches and all other club activities.[12] Maccabi Haifa publicly welcomed the decision.[12]