Liga Alef

















































Liga Alef
Founded 1949; 70 years ago (1949)
Country
Israel Israel
Confederation
UEFA (Europe)
Number of teams 16X2
Level on pyramid 3

Promotion to
National League

Relegation to
Liga Bet
Domestic cup(s) State Cup
Current champions
Hapoel Hadera (North)
Hapoel Marmorek (South)
(2016–17)
Website
[1] (North)
[2] (South)

2017–18

Liga Alef (Hebrew: ליגה א'‎, lit. A League) is the third tier of the Israeli football league system.




Contents






  • 1 History


  • 2 Structure


  • 3 Current members


  • 4 Previous seasons


    • 4.1 1951–63


    • 4.2 Northern division


    • 4.3 Southern division




  • 5 External links





History


League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after independence. However, the financial and security crises gripping the young nation caused the 1950–51 season to be abandoned before it had started. When football resumed in 1951–52, the new top division went by the name of Liga Alef. The 1952–53 season was also not played, and Liga Alef resumed in 1953–54.


In the 1955–56 season, Liga Leumit came into existence as the new top division, with Liga Alef becoming the second division. In the summer of 1976, restructuring saw the creation of Liga Artzit as a new second tier, and the second demotion of Liga Alef, as it became the third division. Further restructuring to create the Israeli Premier League in the summer of 1999 saw Liga Alef demoted again, this time to the fourth tier. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Liga Artzit was scrapped as the Premier League and Liga Leumit were expanded to 16 clubs each, with Liga Alef becoming the third tier once more.



Structure


Today, Liga Alef is split into two regional divisions on a north-south basis. Because Israel's northern half is much more densely populated than the desert south, the dividing line between the northern and southern divisions is somewhere between Haifa and Tel Aviv, meaning that the southern "half" covers about three-quarters of the country. Although this inequality is partially offset by the fact that there are so few clubs south of Beersheba (Dimona, Yeroham, Mitzpe Ramon and Eilat are the only sizable towns south of the city), the northern clubs tend to be clustered in the Galilee region, making travel to away matches much less of a chore.


Each division has sixteen clubs, who play each other home and away to make a 30-game season. The club finishing top of each regional division is promoted to Liga Leumit, whilst the eight second to fifth placed clubs have a play-off, with the winner playing-off against the third-bottom club in Liga Leumit for a place in that division. The bottom two from each division are relegated to Liga Bet, the fourth tier, and the two third-bottom clubs playing-off against play-off winners from Liga Bet for a place in Liga Alef. Coming into Liga Alef are the two or three clubs relegated from Liga Leumit and the four to six clubs promoted from Liga Bet (the winner of each of the four regional divisions, and one or two more runners-up, had they are successful in the play-off). The clubs are then pooled and assigned to the most geographically appropriate of the two divisions.



Current members


The following clubs are participating in the 2016–17 season:






Liga Alef North



  • F.C. Haifa Robi Shapira

  • F.C. Karmiel Safed

  • F.C. Tira

  • F.C. Tzeirei Kafr Kanna

  • Hapoel Asi Gilboa

  • Hapoel Beit She'an

  • Hapoel Hadera

  • Hapoel Herzliya

  • Hapoel Iksal

  • Hapoel Ironi Baqa al-Gharbiyye

  • Hapoel Kafr Kanna

  • Hapoel Migdal HaEmek

  • Ironi Tiberias

  • Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel

  • Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata

  • Maccabi Tzur Shalom



Liga Alef South



  • Beitar Kfar Saba

  • F.C. Bnei Jaffa Ortodoxim

  • F.C. Dimona

  • F.C. Kafr Qasim

  • F.C. Shikun HaMizrah

  • Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan

  • Hapoel Azor

  • Hapoel Bik'at HaYarden

  • Hapoel Hod HaSharon

  • Hapoel Kfar Shalem

  • Hapoel Mahane Yehuda

  • Hapoel Marmorek

  • Maccabi Jaffa Kabilio

  • Maccabi Kiryat Gat

  • Maccabi Yavne

  • Sektzia Nes Tziona




Previous seasons



1951–63

































































Season
Winner
Relegated
First tier
1951–52 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Maccabi Rishon LeZion
1953–54 Maccabi Tel Aviv
None 1
1954–55 Hapoel Petah Tikva
Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Hadera, Hapoel Balfouria
Second tier
1955–56
Hakoah Tel Aviv 2

Ahva Notzrit Haifa, Hapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Balfouria
1956–57
Hapoel Kfar Saba 3

Hapoel Nahariya, Maccabi Ramat Gan
1957–58
Beitar Jerusalem 4

None 4
1958–59 Bnei Yehuda
Maccabi Sha'arayim, Hapoel Afula
1959–60 Shimshon Tel Aviv
Maccabi Rehovot, Hapoel Netanya
1960–61 Hapoel Tiberias
Hapoel Hadera, Hapoel Herzliya
1961–62 Hakoah Tel Aviv
Maccabi Hadera, Hapoel Rehovot
1962–63
Hapoel Ramat Gan 5

Hapoel Safed, Maccabi Ramla

1 No clubs were relegated as the league was expanded to 14 clubs in the following season.


2 There was no automatic promotion in the 1955-56 season. Hakoah Tel Aviv lost in the promotion play-offs to Maccabi Jaffa of Liga Leumit.


3 First placed Hapoel Kfar Saba and third placed Hapoel Jerusalem were promoted after promotion play-offs.


4 No clubs were promoted or relegated after the Israel Football Association decided to abandon the league before the end of the season, due to suspicions of bribery.


5Hapoel Lod and Maccabi Sha'arayim were also promoted.



Northern division
















































































































































































































































































Season
Winner
Relegated
Second tier
1963–64 Maccabi Netanya
Hapoel Nahariya, Hapoel Givat Haim
1964–65 Hapoel Mahane Yehuda
Maccabi Zikhron Ya'akov, Hapoel Ra'anana
1965–66 Maccabi Haifa
Hapoel Kiryat Shmona, Beitar Haifa
1966–68 Hapoel Kfar Saba
Hapoel Nahariya, Hapoel Safed
1968–69 Maccabi Petah Tikva
Hapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Kfar Blum
1969–70 Hapoel Hadera
Hapoel Kiryat Haim, Beitar Kiryat Tiv'on
1970–71 Maccabi Jaffa
Hapoel Zikhron Ya'akov, Maccabi Hadera
1971–72 Maccabi Petah Tikva
Hapoel Netanya, Hapoel Kiryat Haim
1972–73 Hapoel Hadera
Hapoel Mahane Yehuda, Hapoel Givat Haim
1973–74
Hapoel Acre 1

Hapoel Migdal HaEmek
1974–75 Maccabi Haifa
None 2
1975–76 Hapoel Acre
Hapoel Tiberias, Hapoel Kiryat Ata
Third tier
1976–77 Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel
Hapoel Mahane Yehuda, Hapoel Safed
1977–78
Hapoel Tiberias 3

Hapoel Bnei Nazareth, Hapoel Beit Eliezer
1978–79
Hapoel Nazareth Illit 4

Hapoel Nahliel, Hapoel Givat Haim
1979–80 Hapoel Kiryat Shmona
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, Hapoel Umm al-Fahm
1980–81
Beitar Netanya 5

Hapoel Netanya, Maccabi Or Akiva
1981–82
Hapoel Hadera 6

Hapoel Afikim, Hapoel Nahariya
1982–83 Beitar Haifa
Hapoel Givat Olga, Hapoel Nahliel
1983–84 Hapoel Tiberias
Maccabi Bnei Hatzor, Hapoel Migdal HaEmek
1984–85
Beitar Netanya 7

Hapoel Bnei Nazareth, Hapoel Tel Hanan
1985–86
Hapoel Beit She'an 8

Hapoel Nazareth Illit, Maccabi Shefa-'Amr
1986–87
Maccabi Hadera 9

Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba, Maccabi Or Akiva
1987–88 Maccabi Tamra
Hapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Bnei Tamra
1988–89 Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel
Hapoel Tira, Hapoel Kiryat Ata
1989–90 Maccabi Acre
Hapoel Bnei Nazareth, Beitar Haifa
1990–91 Maccabi Herzliya
Beitar Nahariya, Maccabi Hadera
1991–92 Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel
Maccabi Tamra, Maccabi Kafr Kanna
1992–93
Hapoel Beit She'an 10

Maccabi Bnei Hatzor
1993–94
Hapoel Ramat Gan 11

Beitar Nahariya
1994–95 Maccabi Acre
Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel, Hapoel Tiberias
1995–96 Maccabi Kafr Kanna
Hapoel Givat Olga, Maccabi Or Akiva
1996–97 Bnei Sakhnin
Hapoel Migdal HaEmek, Hapoel Iksal
1997–98 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth
Maccabi Hadera, Hapoel Karmiel
1998–99
Hapoel Ra'anana 12

Hapoel Umm al-Fahm, Hapoel Kafr Qasim
Fourth tier
1999–2000 Hapoel Majd al-Krum
Maccabi Afula
2000–01 Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Maccabi Isfiya, Hapoel Iksal
2001–02 Hapoel Kafr Sumei
Hapoel Tzeirei Nahf, Hapoel Hurfeish
2002–03 Hapoel Herzliya
Hapoel Hadera, Hapoel Tayibe
2003–04
Maccabi Hadera 13

Hapoel Migdal HaEmek
2004–05 Maccabi Tzur Shalom
Hapoel Tuba, Maccabi Tur'an
2005–06 Hapoel Bnei Tamra
Maccabi Tamra, Hapoel Beit She'an, Maccabi Shefa-'Amr
2006–07 Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi
Hapoel Kafr Sumei, Hapoel Reineh, Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha
2007–08 Hapoel Umm al-Fahm
Beitar Haifa, Hapoel Ahva Haifa, Hapoel Makr
2008–09 Ahva Arraba
Maccabi Ironi Shlomi/Nahariya, Beitar Ihud Mashhad
Third tier
2009–10 Maccabi Ironi Jatt
Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi, Hapoel Bnei Tamra, Maccabi Ironi Tirat HaCarmel
2010–11 Maccabi Umm al-Fahm
Ironi Sayid Umm al-Fahm, Maccabi Kafr Qara, Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo
2011–12
Hapoel Asi Gilboa 14

Maccabi Ironi Tamra, Ahi Acre
2012–13 Hapoel Afula
Hapoel Kafr Kanna, Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha
2013–14
Hapoel Kfar Saba 15

Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel, Maccabi Kafr Kanna, Ahva Arraba
2014–15 Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem
Beitar Nahariya, Maccabi Umm al-Fahm
2015–16 Ironi Nesher
Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha, Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum

1 There was no automatic promotion in the 1973-74 season. Hapoel Acre finished fifth in the promotion play-offs and remained in Liga Alef. However, runners-up, Shimshon Tel-Aviv, finished second in the promotion play-offs and were promoted to Liga Leumit.


2Hapoel Kiryat Shmona and Hapoel Safed were reprieved from relegation after the Israel Football Association decided to expand Liga Leumit to 18 clubs and Liga Alef to 17 clubs in each division for the following season.


3Maccabi Herzliya and Hapoel Beit She'an were also promoted.


4Hapoel Herzliya were also promoted after play-off victory over runners-up of Liga Alef South, Maccabi Kiryat Gat.


5Hapoel Tel Hanan were also promoted after play-off victory over runners-up of Liga Alef South, Hapoel Ramla.


6Maccabi Shefa-'Amr were also promoted after play-off victory over runners-up of Liga Alef South, Hapoel Bat Yam.


7Hapoel Acre were also promoted after play-off victory over runners-up of Liga Alef South, Maccabi Lazarus Holon.


8Beitar Nahariya were also promoted after play-off victory over runners-up of Liga Alef South, Hapoel Rishon LeZion.


9 There was no automatic promotion in the 1986-87 season. Maccabi Hadera finished third in the promotion play-offs after Hapoel Bat Yam of Liga Alef South and Hapoel Ramat Gan of Liga Artzit and remained in Liga Alef.


10Hapoel Tayibe were also promoted as runners-up.


11Hapoel Kiryat Shmona were also promoted as runners-up.


12Hapoel Nazareth Illit, Hapoel Iksal and Hapoel Acre were also promoted.


13 Although Maccabi Hadera finished top, they folded and second-placed Maccabi Ironi Tirat HaCarmel were promoted instead.


14 There was no automatic promotion in the 2011-12 season. Hapoel Asi Gilboa lost in promotion play-offs to the South division champions, Maccabi Yavne in away goals (2-2 on aggregate) and remained in Liga Alef.


15Ironi Tiberias were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Katamon of Liga Leumit.



Southern division
















































































































































































































































































Season
Winner
Relegated
Second tier
1963–64 Beitar Tel Aviv
Maccabi Shmuel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Rishon LeZion
1964–65 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Hapoel Ramla, Beitar Harari Tel Aviv
1965–66 SK Nes Tziona
HaBira Jerusalem, Hapoel Giv'atayim
1966–68 Beitar Jerusalem
Beitar Kiryat Ono, Hapoel Kfar Shalem
1968–69 Beitar Tel Aviv
Hapoel Yehud, Maccabi Holon
1969–70 Hapoel Holon
Beitar Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Sderot
1970–71 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
SK Nes Tziona, Beitar Lod
1971–72 Hapoel Marmorek
Hapoel Ashkelon, Maccabi Bat Yam
1972–73 Bnei Yehuda
Hapoel Eilat, Hapoel Kiryat Ono
1973–74
Maccabi Sha'arayim 1

Maccabi Holon
1974–75 Maccabi Ramat Amidar
None 2
1975–76 Hapoel Yehud
Beitar Jaffa, Hapoel Lod
Third tier
1976–77 Hapoel Beit Shemesh
Hapoel Dimona, Hapoel Be'er Ya'akov
1977–78
Hapoel Marmorek 3

Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Gan, Hapoel Rosh HaAyin
1978–79 Hapoel Beit Shemesh
SK Nes Tziona, Beitar Ashdod
1979–80
Maccabi Yavne 4

Hapoel Or Yehuda, Hapoel Kafr Qasim
1980–81 Maccabi Kiryat Gat
Maccabi Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Rosh HaAyin
1981–82 Hapoel Ashkelon
Hapoel Herzliya, Maccabi Lazarus Holon
1982–83
Hapoel Marmorek 5

Hapoel Ashdod, Hapoel Dimona
1983–84
Maccabi Sha'arayim 6

Ironi Ashdod, Maccabi Herzliya
1984–85 Hapoel Beit Shemesh
Hapoel Ramla, Hapoel Ihud Tzeirei Jaffa
1985–86 Hapoel Dimona
Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Gan 7
1986–87 Hapoel Bat Yam
Beitar Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Yeruham
1987–88 Beitar Ramla
Hapoel Ramat HaSharon, Hapoel Azor
1988–89 Hapoel Rishon LeZion
Hapoel Ramla, Hapoel Beit Shemesh
1989–90
Hapoel Ashdod 8

Hapoel Or Yehuda, Hapoel Dimona
1990–91
SK Nes Tziona 9

Maccabi Shikun HaMizrah, Hapoel Lod
1991–92 Hapoel Ashkelon
Hapoel Yehud, Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba
1992–93
Ironi Rishon LeZion 10

Beitar Netanya
1993–94
Maccabi Kiryat Gat 11

Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen
1994–95 Hapoel Kfar Shalem
Hapoel Be'er Ya'akov, Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel
1995–96 Hapoel Ashkelon
Hapoel Marmorek, Hapoel Merhavim
1996–97 Hapoel Lod
Maccabi Shikun HaMizrah, Hapoel Kiryat Malakhi
1997–98 Beitar Be'er Sheva
Hapoel Kiryat Ono, Hapoel Yehud
1998–99
Hapoel Ironi Dimona 12

Hapoel Yeruham, Beitar Ramla
Fourth tier
1999–2000
Maccabi Ashkelon 13

Hapoel Or Yehuda
2000–01 Maccabi Yavne
Hapoel Ihud Tzeirei Jaffa, Sektzia Nes Tziona
2001–02 Maccabi Ramat Amidar
Hapoel Kiryat Ono, Hapoel Lod, Maccabi Jerusalem/Ma'ale Adumim
2002–03
Hapoel Tira 14

None 15
2003–04
Maccabi Be'er Sheva 16

Hapoel Bat Yam
2004–05 Hapoel Bnei Lod
Hapoel Qalansawe, Hapoel Jaljulia
2005–06 Sektzia Nes Tziona
Maccabi Sha'arayim, F.C. Kafr Qasim, Beitar Givat Ze'ev
2006–07
Hapoel Maxim Lod 17

AS Jaffa, Hapoel Arad
2007–08 Maccabi Ironi Bat Yam
Tzafririm Holon, Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva, Ironi Ofakim
2008–09 Maccabi Be'er Sheva
Ironi Ramla, Hapoel Masos Shaqib al-Salam
Third tier
2009–10 Hapoel Herzliya
Beitar Kfar Saba, Hapoel Mevaseret Zion
2010–11 Hapoel Jerusalem
Hapoel Nahlat Yehuda, Tzafririm Holon, Shimshon Bnei Tayibe
2011–12 Maccabi Yavne
Maccabi Ironi Netivot, Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen, Maccabi Ironi Jatt Alahli
2012–13 Hapoel Katamon
Hapoel Arad, Maccabi Ironi Kfar Yona, Ortodoxim Lod
2013–14 Maccabi Kiryat Gat
Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov, Bnei Eilat
2014–15 Hapoel Ashkelon
Maccabi Be'er Sheva, Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi
2015–16 Maccabi Sha'arayim
Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva, Bnei Eilat, Hapoel Morasha Ramat HaSharon

1 There was no automatic promotion in the 1973-74 season. Maccabi Sha'arayim finished sixth and bottom in the promotion play-offs and remained in Liga Alef.


2SK Nes Tziona and Beitar Jaffa were reprieved from relegation after the Israel Football Association decided to expand Liga Leumit to 18 clubs and Liga Alef to 17 clubs in each division for the following season.


3Hapoel Lod and Hapoel Bat Yam were also promoted.


4Beitar Ramla were also promoted after play-off victory over runners-up of Liga Alef North, Hapoel Ramat HaSharon.


5Hapoel Holon were also promoted after play-off victory over runners-up of Liga Alef North, Maccabi Hadera.


6Hapoel Ramat HaSharon were also promoted after play-off victory over runners-up of Liga Alef North, Beitar Netanya.


7 Season played with 13 clubs after Tzafririm Holon merged with Liga Artzit club, Hapoel Holon.


8Ironi Ashdod were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Tamra of Liga Artzit.


9Hakoah Ramat Gan were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Bat Yam of Liga Artzit.


10Hapoel Bat Yam were also promoted as runners-up.


11Hapoel Lod were also promoted as runners-up.


12Hapoel Ramat Gan, Maccabi Sha'arayim and Shimshon Tel Aviv were also promoted.


13Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Alef, following the merger of Liga Artzit clubs, Beitar Tel Aviv and Shimshon Tel Aviv.


14Hapoel Marmorek were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Alef, after Beitar Be'er Sheva (which were relegated from Liga Leumit to Liga Artzit) folded.


15 No club relegated as both Beitar Be'er Sheva (which were relegated from Liga Leumit to Liga Artzit) and Hapoel Ironi Dimona folded.


16Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Alef, after Maccabi Kiryat Gat were demoted from Liga Leumit to Liga Alef.


17 Although Hapoel Maxim Lod finished top, they folded and second-placed Hapoel Kfar Shalem were promoted instead.



External links


  • Israel Football Association









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