There’s little doubt that Hapoel Tel Aviv is firmly in the Israeli Premier League championship conversation. Head Coach Elyaniv Barda may prefer to avoid discussing title aspirations or making predictions about where the Reds’ season could lead, but one thing has become increasingly clear with each passing week: this team has all the ingredients to compete for the championship.

With a blend of experienced veterans, exciting young talent and high-quality foreign players, Barda has assembled a squad capable of going toe-to-toe with the best in the league.

Fresh off capturing the Toto Cup against bitter rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel followed that triumph with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa, collecting two major wins in quick succession. Now, on Sunday night, just before the international break, the Reds head south for a massive top-of-the-table showdown against defending champions Hapoel Beer Sheva.

If you want to be champions, you have to beat the champions.

One of the players helping put Hapoel in this position is midfielder Roei Alkukin.

The 22-year-old has taken his game to another level this season, continuing to develop into an increasingly important piece of Barda’s lineup. With three goals and three assists in 15 appearances across all competitions, Alkukin has become a genuine difference-maker for the Reds.

Originally from Mevaseret Zion, just outside Jerusalem, Alkukin came through Beitar Jerusalem’s youth system before joining Hapoel Tel Aviv at the age of 15. He went on to feature for the Reds’ Under-16 and Under-17 championship-winning teams before taking his next steps in senior football. After spending half a season with Maccabi Herzliya in the second division, he returned to Hapoel, where he has spent the past three full seasons. His first campaign, 2024/25, came in the Leumit League, as the Reds secured promotion back to the Premier League.

Barda has been particularly pleased with Alkukin’s continued maturity and development. The young midfielder has become one of the emerging talents in Israeli football, combining intelligent movement, an ability to break down opposing defenses and an impressive understanding of how to bring his teammates into the game.

Having signed a contract extension through the 2028/29 season last April, Alkukin is set to remain an important part of Hapoel’s plans for years to come. But if his development continues at its current pace, it would hardly be surprising to see him attract interest from clubs abroad sooner rather than later.

“Roei brings a lot to the team,” Barda said following the victory over Maccabi Haifa. “He’s a young player who has come a long way with me, making the journey from the second division to the Premier League. At the same time, he’s still very young, with tremendous potential and a long way to go in terms of developing and improving.

“He trains exceptionally well, which helps him translate that into his performances on the pitch. He understands what the coaching staff expects of him, executes it well and proves every week that he deserves the minutes he’s getting. He still has a very high ceiling.”

The relationship between Barda and Alkukin has been a productive one, with the coach helping the midfielder refine different aspects of his game. One area that has received particular attention is his movement off the ball, something Alkukin has quickly embraced and incorporated into his performances.

“The coach has been instilling certain things in us throughout the season, and I’m always waiting for my opportunity,” Alkukin explained. “It’s something the coaching staff demands, and you see it being emphasized both here and around the world.

“I work on it through individual video sessions and in training, and I’m happy to see it paying off. Off-the-ball movement is part of the game. You always have to want the ball, make yourself available, play between the lines, make runs in behind and create space for other players.”

Last season, Alkukin finished with four goals and four assists. He is already just one away from matching both totals, and with the league only approaching Matchday 10, there is plenty of time for him to improve on those numbers. As his role continues to grow, so too does his opportunity to establish the consistency and maturity needed to become an even more complete player.

“Every player goes through this. As you get older, you understand the game better and learn what is expected of you,” Alkukin said. “You understand how to bring out the best in yourself, maintain consistency and play more intelligently. Last season, I had more dips in form than I expected, which disappointed me. This year, I know how to maintain a more consistent level. I learned a lot from those experiences. I was disappointed at the time, but today I’m putting those lessons into practice and continuing to improve.”

One of the defining moments of Alkukin’s young career came just last week when he scored a spectacular goal in the Tel Aviv Derby, helping Hapoel capture the Toto Cup against Maccabi. It was a particularly meaningful moment for the midfielder after the heartbreak of missing a crucial penalty late in the shootout during last January’s State Cup Derby, a contest ultimately won by the yellow-and-blue.

“I believe everyone at the club knows how much that meant to me,” an emotional Alkukin began. “I dreamed about scoring that goal. I suffered a lot after missing that penalty in last season’s derby in the State Cup. I had some very difficult days.

“I remember Erez (Erez Naaman, the club’s media officer) immediately sent me a video of Roberto Baggio missing a penalty for the Italian national team after I had missed and told me, ‘You’ll get your chance to make up for it and you’ll win a derby.’ A year later, here we were, with me scoring the goal. I dreamed about it at night. I wanted to give something back to the fans. It had been weighing on me, but I also learned how to overcome difficult moments.”

While the derby goal was undoubtedly a special moment, Alkukin understands that football offers little time to dwell on past achievements. With Hapoel firmly in the championship race, he knows that maintaining his level and continuing to work hard will be essential if the Reds are to remain in contention when the Championship Playoffs arrive.

“I don’t believe in having to bring players back down to earth after scoring goals. Everyone knows what their job is and what they need to do to help the team. We suffered a lot during these matches, but that’s part of football. You have to stay alert, focused and train hard. Consistency brings results.”

Having already represented Israel at the Under-21 level, Alkukin also has his sights set on earning a call-up to the senior national team. His performances this season have certainly strengthened his case, although he insists that his immediate focus remains on helping Hapoel.

“It’s my biggest dream. I’m not thinking about it at the moment and it hasn’t really crossed my mind. Obviously, it’s what I want more than anything in the world and I would be incredibly happy to get that opportunity, but I’m focused on what I need to do and I know that will eventually get me there. Ultimately, it’s up to the coaching staff to decide.”

For now, Alkukin’s attention is firmly on Hapoel Tel Aviv and the challenge ahead. The Reds have already delivered a statement by lifting the Toto Cup and following it up with an important victory over Maccabi Haifa. With a crucial showdown against defending champions Hapoel Beer Sheva next on the schedule, the stakes are only getting higher.

And if Alkukin continues to develop at his current rate, Barda will have another major weapon at his disposal as Hapoel looks to turn its championship ambitions into reality.