by Associated Press Maccabi Tel Aviv coach quits for safety reasons Associated Press - 26 August 2014 07:48-04:00 TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Maccabi Tel Aviv says its football coach has quit because of the "current security situation" in Israel. The club says Oscar Garcia, who is Spanish, is to be replaced by Pako Ayestaran, another Spaniard. Ayestaran was previously an assistant coach at Liverpool and Valencia under Rafa Benitez. Garcia's resignation came two days before the second leg of the team's Europa League playoff against Greek club Asteras Tripolis, scheduled to be played in Cyprus. Israel is in the eighth week of a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. It has been accompanied by the firing of hundreds of rockets by Islamic militants at Israel, including some at Tel Aviv. News Topics: Sports, Soccer, Men's soccer, Men's sports People, Places and Companies: Israel, Tel Aviv, Middle East Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.