Israeli Premier League

The Israeli Premier League (Hebrew: ליגת העל‎, Ligat Ha`Al, lit. The Super League), officially The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange League (Hebrew: ליגת הבורסה לניירות ערך‎) for sponsorship purposes,[1] is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Israeli Football League – the state's league of Israel. The league is contested by 14 clubs, and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with its second division Liga Leumit. Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing between 33 and 36 matches each, totalling 240 matches in every season.

For the top division of Israeli basketball, see Israeli Basketball Premier League.
Israeli Premier League
The Israeli Premier League logo
Organising bodyIsrael Football Association
Founded1999 (1999)
CountryIsrael
ConfederationUEFA
Number of teams14 (from 2013–14)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLiga Leumit
Domestic cup(s)Israel State Cup
Toto Cup (Al)
Israel Super Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Europa League
UEFA Europa Conference League
Current championsMaccabi Tel Aviv
(23rd title)
Most championshipsMaccabi Tel Aviv
(23 titles)
TV partnersCharlton Sport, Sport5.co.il
Websitefootball.co.il
Current: 2020–21 Israeli Premier League

The competition formed in 1999 following the decision of the Israel Football Association to form a new league. It is also ranked 21st in the UEFA coefficients of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last five years.[2]

Since 1923, a total of 14 clubs have been crowned champions of the Israeli Football League. Of the twenty-nine clubs to have competed since the inception of the Israeli Premier League in 1999, seven have won the title: Beitar Jerusalem (twice), Hapoel Be'er Sheva (three times), Hapoel Tel Aviv (twice), Maccabi Haifa (seven times), Maccabi Tel Aviv (six times), and Ironi Kiryat Shmona (once). The current champions are Maccabi Tel Aviv, who won the 2019–20 season.

Background
Main article: Football in Israel

The Israeli Premier League was founded in 1999 to replace its predecessor Liga Leumit (which became the second division) when the Israel Football Association decided to reshuffle all the leagues in hopes of improving competition. In its first season there were 14 clubs; the top thirteen clubs from the 1998–99 season and the top place club from the Liga Artzit (then, the third division). That season three clubs were relegated and one from Liga Leumit was promoted.

Competition

There are 14 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the two lowest-placed teams are relegated to Liga Leumit while two highest-placed teams of Liga Leumit are promoted in their place. For the 2012–13 season the league was decreased from 16 to 14 clubs as a result of reforms passed by the IFA on 27 June 2011.[3]

The participating clubs first play a conventional round-robin schedule for a total of 26 matches.

Following this, the top six teams play in a championship playoff, where they meet each other twice. Upon its conclusion, the first place team wins the Israeli championship and qualifies to participate in the first qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League. The runners-up and the third-placed teams qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.

In addition, the Israeli State Cup winners qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.

If the State Cup winners are also one of the teams to finish in the league's top three places then the fourth-placed team will also play in Europa League. In case the State Cup winners also win the Israeli Premier League then the fourth-placed league team will play in second qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.

In addition, the bottom eight teams will play each other once to avoid two relegation spots.

Clubs
See also: List of Israeli football champions, List of Israeli Premier League seasons, and § All-time table

A total of 29 clubs have played in the Israeli Premier League from its inception in 1999 and the start of the 2020–21 season. For a list of winners and runners-up of the Israeli Premier League since its inception, and top scorers for each season, see List of Israeli football champions.

Three clubs have been members of the Israeli Premier League for every season since its inception. This group is composed of Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi Haifa, and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Members for 2020–21
Locations of the 2020–21 Israeli Premier League teams

The following 14 clubs will compete in the Israeli Premier League during the 2019–20 season.

Club
 Position
in 2019–20		 First season in
the Israeli Premier League		 Number of seasons
in the Israeli Premier League		 First season of
current spell in
Israeli Premier League		 Top division
titles		 Last top division title
Beitar Jerusalemab 3rd 1999–2000 21st 1999–2000 6 2007–08
Bnei Sakhnin 2nd Liga Leumit 2009–10 9th 2020–21 0 Never
Bnei Yehudab 7th 1999–2000 19th 2015–16 1 1989–90
F.C. Ashdod 8th 2009–10 7th 2013–14 0 Never
Hapoel Be'er Sheva 4th 2001–02 15th 2009–10 5 2017–18
Hapoel Haifab 6th 1999–2000 15th 2009–10 1 1998–99
Hapoel Hadera 9th 2018–19 2nd 2018–19 0 Never
Hapoel Kfar Saba 11th 1999–2000 7th 2019–20 1 1981–82
Ironi Kiryat Shmona 12th 2003–04 12th 2007–08 1 2011–12
Hapoel Tel Avivb 5th 1999–2000 20th 2018–19 14 2009–10
Maccabi Haifaab 2nd 1999–2000 21st 1999–2000 12 2010–11
Maccabi Netanya 10th 2003–04 18th 2017–18 5 1982–83
Maccabi Petah Tikva 1st Liga Leumit 1999–2000 20th 2020–21 0 Never
Maccabi Tel Avivab 1st 1999–2000 21st 1999–2000 22 2018–19

a: Never been relegated from the Israeli Premier League
b: One of the original Israeli Premier League teams

Sponsorship

In recent years, the league has been sponsored. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:

  • 1999–2002: Pelephone – a mobile phone company (Ligat Pelephone)[4]
  • 2005–2010: Toto Winner Organization – the Israeli Sports Betting Board (Ligat Toto)
  • 2010–2016: Toto Winner Organization – the Israeli Sports Betting Board (Ligat Winner)[5]
  • 2016–2018: Toto Winner Organization – the Israeli Sports Betting Board (Ligat Ha'al)[6]
  • 2018–2019: Japanika – Asian restaurant (Ligat Japanika)[7]
  • 2019–present: Tel Aviv Stock Exchange – Stock Exchange (Ligat Habursa Leniyarot Erech)[1]

Number of foreigners

Teams are limited to six foreign players per team. Special circumstances such as Druze players from the Golan (no citizenship) or cases such as that of Toto Tamuz, do not count against the foreign player limit. In addition, players who play in the league for 6 consecutive years do not count against the foreign player limit. Also, Jewish players and players who are married to Israelis are exempt from these restrictions, as they are entitled to Israeli citizenship.

Broadcast Rights

Television

Israeli Premier League games are broadcast live on Sport 1, Sport 1 HD, and Sport 2 channels, with the big match of the week which is reserved to be shown by Sport 5 and Channel 1 HD network television. There is also a league review show on Saturday nights at Sport 5 channel.

Abroad, rights to broadcasting in Hebrew are owned by The Israeli Network which broadcasts the matches in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Panama, Costa Rica and in Europe.

In the United Kingdom, William Hill broadcasts matches live with English commentary on their online television service, William Hill TV.

Radio

The rights of broadcasting on the radio belongs to Radio Tel Aviv since 2011, which broadcast alongside Radio Haifa, Radio Darom, Radio Galei Zahal and Radio Darom 101.5 in a show called Saturday of Football which also broadcasts live on ONE TV channel.

Internet

The big match of the week is shown on the Channel 1 website. Since 2010, games summaries are shown online by Ynet, ONE and Sport 5.

Cellular

Since 2012, ONE owns the broadcasting rights, which was previously owned by Sport 5.

Revenue

Main sources of revenue for the clubs:

  • Television
  • Ticket sales
  • Merchandise
  • Toto Winner – The Israeli Sports Betting Council
  • Sponsorship

UEFA league ranking

In European Leagues:

Source: UEFA Coefficients Graphs, 2021 UEFA Country Ranking
For updated information on UEFA coefficients as they change throughout the 2020–21 season, see UEFA coefficient § League coefficient.


Champions

For the complete list read the main article.

Main article: List of Israeli football champions

Israeli Premier League (1999–present)
Maccabi Tel Aviv celebrating their league winners title at the end of the 2012–13 season

When the Israeli Premier League became the top division of Israeli football in 1999–2000, Liga Leumit became the second division. Since then, only six clubs have won the title; Hapoel Tel Aviv, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem are sometimes referred to as the "Big Four" of Israeli football.[8]

Having won seven titles in the league's 21 seasons, the most successful club during this period is Maccabi Haifa; during the same period Maccabi Tel Aviv have added six to their total while Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv have won two championships each. Although Hapoel Tel Aviv have only finished top of the league twice since 1999—in 1999–2000 and ten years later in 2009–10—they have won the double on both occasions.

This achievement was matched by Beitar Jerusalem in 2007–08. Ironi Kiryat Shmona won their first championship during the 2011–12 season, thereby becoming the first northern title-winners. Maccabi Tel Aviv then won three titles in a row, including a Treble in 2014–15.

Key
Won the Israel State Cup during the same season.
Won the League Cup during the same season.
§ Won both cups during the same season.
(titles) A running tally of the total number of championships won by each club is kept in brackets.
Season Winner (titles) Runners-up Third place Top Scorer Goals Notes
1999–2000 Hapoel Tel Aviv (12) Maccabi Haifa Hapoel Petah Tikva Assi Tubi (Maccabi Petah Tikva) 27 –
2000–01 Maccabi Haifa (6) Hapoel Tel Aviv Hapoel Haifa Avi Nimni (Maccabi Tel Aviv) 25 [11]
2001–02 Maccabi Haifa (7) Hapoel Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv Kobi Refua (Maccabi Petah Tikva) 18 –
2002–03 Maccabi Tel Aviv (18) Maccabi Haifa Hapoel Tel Aviv Yaniv Abargil (Hapoel Kfar Saba)
Shay Holtzman (Ironi Rishon LeZion / F.C. Ashdod)		 18 –
2003–04 Maccabi Haifa (8) Maccabi Tel Aviv Maccabi Petah Tikva Ofir Haim (Hapoel Be'er Sheva)
Shay Holtzman (F.C. Ashdod)		 16 –
2004–05 Maccabi Haifa (9) Maccabi Petah Tikva F.C. Ashdod Roberto Colautti (Maccabi Haifa) 19 –
2005–06 Maccabi Haifa (10) Hapoel Tel Aviv Beitar Jerusalem Shay Holtzman (F.C. Ashdod) 18 –
2006–07 Beitar Jerusalem (5) Maccabi Netanya Maccabi Tel Aviv Yaniv Azran (F.C. Ashdod) 15 –
2007–08 Beitar Jerusalem (6) Maccabi Netanya Ironi Kiryat Shmona Samuel Yeboah (Hapoel Kfar Saba) 15 –
2008–09 Maccabi Haifa (11) Hapoel Tel Aviv Beitar Jerusalem Barak Yitzhaki (Beitar Jerusalem)
Shimon Abuhatzira (Hapoel Petah Tikva)
Eliran Atar (Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv)		 14 –
2009–10 Hapoel Tel Aviv (13) Maccabi Haifa Maccabi Tel Aviv Shlomi Arbeitman (Maccabi Haifa) 28 –
2010–11 Maccabi Haifa (12) Hapoel Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv Toto Tamuz (Hapoel Tel Aviv) 21 –
2011–12 Ironi Kiryat Shmona (1) Hapoel Tel Aviv Bnei Yehuda Achmad Saba'a (Maccabi Netanya) 20 –
2012–13 Maccabi Tel Aviv (19) Maccabi Haifa Hapoel Tel Aviv Eliran Atar (Maccabi Tel Aviv) 22 –
2013–14 Maccabi Tel Aviv (20) Hapoel Be'er Sheva Ironi Kiryat Shmona Eran Zahavi (Maccabi Tel Aviv) 29 –
2014–15 Maccabi Tel Aviv (21)§[nb 1] Ironi Kiryat Shmona Hapoel Be'er Sheva Eran Zahavi (Maccabi Tel Aviv) 27 –
2015–16 Hapoel Be'er Sheva (3) Maccabi Tel Aviv Beitar Jerusalem Eran Zahavi (Maccabi Tel Aviv) 35 –
2016–17 Hapoel Be'er Sheva (4) Maccabi Tel Aviv Beitar Jerusalem Viðar Örn Kjartansson (Maccabi Tel Aviv) 19 –
2017–18 Hapoel Be'er Sheva (5) Maccabi Tel Aviv Beitar Jerusalem Dia Saba (Maccabi Netanya) 24 –
2018–19 Maccabi Tel Aviv (22) Maccabi Haifa Hapoel Be'er Sheva Ben Sahar (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) 15 –
2019–20 Maccabi Tel Aviv (23) Maccabi Haifa Beitar Jerusalem Nikita Rukavytsya (Maccabi Haifa) 22 –

"Big Four" dominance
"Big Four" since the start of the Israeli Premier League[12]
SeasonBEIHTAMHAMTA
1999–2000 5126
2000–01 5214
2001–02 10213
2002–03 9321
2003–04 9512
2004–05 4918
2005–06 3216
2006–07 1453
2007–08 1756
2008–09 3216
2009–10 5123
2010–11 11213
2011–12 9256
2012–13 10321
2013–14 7451
2014–15 4851
2015–16 3942
2016–17 31462
2017–18 3–102
2018–19 7821
2019–20 3521

Since the past few seasons, the Big Four Dominance has been challenged by 3 successive championships for Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

Top scorers by season
SeasonPlayerGoalsClub
1999–2000 Assi Tubi 27 Maccabi Petah Tikva
2000–01 Avi Nimni 25 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2001–02 Kobi Refua 18 Maccabi Petah Tikva
2002–03 Yaniv Abargil 18 Hapoel Kfar Saba
Shay Holtzman 18 Ironi Rishon LeZion / FC Ashdod
2003–04 Ofir Haim 16 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Shay Holtzman 16 FC Ashdod
2004–05 Roberto Colautti 19 Maccabi Haifa
2005–06 Shay Holtzman 18 FC Ashdod
2006–07 Yaniv Azran 15 FC Ashdod
2007–08 Samuel Yeboah 15 Hapoel Kfar Saba
2008–09 Barak Yitzhaki 14 Beitar Jerusalem
Shimon Abuhatzira 14 Hapoel Petah Tikva
Eliran Atar 14 Bnei Yehuda
2009–10 Shlomi Arbeitman 28 Maccabi Haifa
2010–11 Toto Tamuz 21 Hapoel Tel Aviv
2011–12 Ahmad Saba'a 20 Maccabi Netanya
2012–13 Eliran Atar 22 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2013–14 Eran Zahavi 29 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2014–15 Eran Zahavi 27 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2015–16 Eran Zahavi 35 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2016–17 Viðar Örn Kjartansson 19 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2017–18 Dia Saba 24 Maccabi Netanya
2018–19 Ben Sahar 15 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
2019–20 Nikita Rukavytsya 22 Maccabi Haifa

All-time table

The All-time Israeli Premier League table is a cumulative record of all match results, points and goals of every team that has played in the Israeli Premier League since its inception in 1999. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the 2019–20 season. Teams in green are part of the 2020–21 Israeli Premier League. Numbers in bold are the record (highest) numbers in each column.

Pos. Club S Pld W D L GF GFPG GA GAPG GD Pts 1° 2° 3° R Avg. Pts
1Maccabi Haifa 2169736616716411341.6276710.96346312657663.25
2Maccabi Tel Aviv 2170036516716811251.6076160.885091262[nb 2]64463.1
3Hapoel Tel Aviv 206523031861639801.5036440.9883361081[nb 3]262156.89
4Beitar Jerusalem 216912851842229441.3668161.1811281039[nb 4]2651.95
5Maccabi Petah Tikva 196482291862337401.1577811.205–41873[nb 5]11245.95
6Bnei Yehuda 196222121672437131.1467921.273–798031244.61
7Hapoel Be'er Sheva 154842231191427201.4885671.171153788312156.38
8F.C. Ashdod 206462001772697501.1619111.41–1617771140.89
9Maccabi Netanya 195842031622197361.267871.348–517712344.88
10Bnei Sakhnin 155101551522135241.0276641.302–140607[nb 6]241.43
11Hapoel Haifa 154821831441875671.1766211.288–545971343.08
12Ironi Kiryat Shmona 123781461091234781.2654211.11457547112149.73
13Hapoel Petah Tikva 134481351151985481.2236781.513–130508[nb 7]1339.08
14Hapoel Acre 827072811102881.0673891.441–101295[nb 8]236.88
15Hapoel Ra'anana 823664701022240.9493051.292–81262237.43
16Hapoel Kfar Saba 8237567610523713491.473–112241[nb 9]448.2
17Hapoel Rishon LeZion 51804141981951.0833161.756–121164232.8
18Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon 3106322351970.91541.5–57119139.67
19Maccabi Herzliya 31052524561131.0761801.714–6799233
20Hapoel Ashkelon 3101202556800.7921591.574–7985228.33
21Hapoel Ramat Gan 3103192955950.9221611.563–6682[nb 10]227.33
22Hapoel Hadera26922163143–59––168241
23Hapoel Nof HaGalil 266202026711.076931.409–2280140
24Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan 266122133580.8791001.515–4257228.5
25Maccabi Ahi Nazareth 268151340731.0741432.103–7055[nb 11]227.5
26Sektzia Nes Tziona 133881723–46––3532–––132
27Maccabi Kiryat Gat 1337620341.03581.758–2427127
28Hapoel Jerusalem 1396627330.846822.103–4924124
29Hapoel Tzafririm Holon 1384430250.658852.237–6016116

League or status at 2020–21:

Ligat HaAl
Liga Leumit
Liga Alef
Liga Bet
Liga Gimel
Clubs that no longer exist


Notes
  1. Champions also won both cups during the same season.
  2. Maccabi Tel Aviv were deducted 7 points and had 0-0 tie without points
  3. Hapoel Tel Aviv were deducted 13 points and had 0-0 tie without points
  4. Beitar Jerusalem were deducted 9 points
  5. Maccabi Petah Tikva were deducted 3 points
  6. Bnei Sakhnin were deducted 2 points
  7. Hapoel Petah Tikva were deducted 12 points
  8. Hapoel Ironi Acre were deducted 2 points
  9. Hapoel Kfar Saba were deducted 3 points
  10. Hapoel Ramat Gan were deducted 4 points
  11. Maccabi Ahi Nazareth were deducted 3 points

References
  1. Ben Shimol, David (28 May 2019). "שמה החדש של ליגת העל: ליגת הבורסה לניירות ערך" [The New Name of the Premier League: The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange League]. ynet (in Hebrew).
  2. "UEFA Country Ranking 2021". kassiesa.net. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  3. "This season will have no halving of points" (in Hebrew). . ONE. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  4. }Daskal, Oriel (7 August 2013). "80 מיליון שקל על ליגת העל, לא הגזמנו?" [80 million shekel for the Premier League, haven't we exaggerated?]. Calcalist (in Hebrew).
  5. "ליגת העל בכדורגל היא מהיום "ליגת ווינר"" [The Football Premier League is from now on "Winner League"]. Maariv (in Hebrew). 1 July 2010.
  6. Blech, Dor (18 July 2016). "כך ייראה הסכם השיווק הבא של ליגת העל" [This is how the next sponsorship deal of the Premier League will look]. Haaretz (in Hebrew).
  7. "ליגת העל תיקרא מעתה "ליגת ג'פניקה"" [The Premier League will be called "Japanika League" from now on]. ynet (in Hebrew). 23 August 2018.
  8. Sinai, Allon (2011-07-20). "Local Soccer: Season schedule released". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
  9. Bleicher, Yaniv (2001-09-13). "Israel 2000/01". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  10. Adar, Shaul (October 2010). "Walid objection". When Saturday Comes. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  11. Maccabi Haifa's final match of the 2000–01 season, at home against Maccabi Tel Aviv, was abandoned after 82 minutes with Maccabi Haifa 3–2 ahead when supporters attempted to invade the pitch, resulting in a crush which injured 41 people. Maccabi Tel Aviv were awarded a 2–0 victory.[9][10]
  12. "Israel Football Association". Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
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