Liga Alef Explained

Country:	Israel
Confed:	UEFA (Europe)
Founded:	1949
Teams:	32
Divisions:	2
Promotion:	Liga Leumit
Relegation:	Liga Bet
Levels:	3
Domest Cup:	State Cup
Champions:	Hapoel Ra'anana (North) Hapoel Kfar Shalem (South)
Website:	North South
Current:	2025–26 Liga Alef

Liga Alef (he|ליגה א'||League A) is the third tier of the Israeli football league system.^[1] It is divided into two regional divisions, north and south.

History

League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after the Israeli Declaration of 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, while Arad is approximately on the same latitude), 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 2025–26 season:

North	South
	Beitar Yavne
	F.C. Dimona
	F.C. Jerusalem
Hapoel Bnei Araba	F.C. Kfar Saba
Hapoel Bnei Musmus	F.C. Nordia Jerusalem
	F.C. Tzeirei Tira
	Hapoel Azor
	Hapoel Herzliya
	Hapoel Marmorek
	Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon
	Holon Yermiyahu F.C.
	Maccabi Ironi Ashdod
	Maccabi Kiryat Gat
	Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi
	Maccabi Yavne
Tzeirei Tamra	Shimshon Tel Aviv

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

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
2016–17	Hapoel Hadera	Tzeirei Kafr Kanna
2017–18	Hapoel Iksal	Hapoel Beit She'an, Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel
2018–19	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	Ironi Nesher, Hapoel Jerusalem

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
2016–17	Hapoel Marmorek	Bnei Jaffa Ortodoxim, F.C. Shikun HaMizrah
2017–18	Sektzia Nes Tziona	F.C. Dimona, Hapoel Hod HaSharon
2018–19	Hapoel Umm al-Fahm	Hapoel Jerusalem

External links

Israel Football Association

Notes and References

Web site: Nakrani . Sachin . 2020-01-12 . Interview ‘The men were screaming. They made me feel I should not be a referee’ . 2024-03-01 . The Guardian.