Israel
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The Israeli football league system has five levels and 14 different divisions. Promotion and relegation operates between each level, theoretically allowing clubs to progress from bottom to top. The leagues are run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).
The Israeli Premier League (Ligat HaAl) is the country's primary football competition and is contested by 14 clubs. This Israeli professional league was formed in 1999 and the most successful club since the competition's conception has been Maccabi Haifa followed by Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv. Liga Leumit (National League) is the second tier of the Israeli football league system. There are 16 clubs in this division which along with the Ligat HaAl form the national levels of the league system. Below is the Liga Alef, the third tier which is split into two regional leagues (north and south) and has 32 member clubs (16 in each division). Liga Bet is the fourth tier and is divided into four regional leagues (two in the north, two in the south) and has 64 member clubs (16 in each division). At the lowest level is the Liga Gimel, the fifth tier, which is split into six regional leagues and has 94 member clubs. The State Cup is the Israeli equivalent of the English FA Cup, and is open to all Israeli clubs, with clubs at the higher levels entering in the later rounds. The final is played at the Ramat Gan Stadium and the winner qualifies for the UEFA Europa League. |
The State Cup was first held in 1928 as the People's Cup. Maccabi Tel Aviv have had the most success in the competition followed by Hapoel Tel Aviv.
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Main league tables & results
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See Current League Tables - for more coverage
Season by season matrix
Appreciation: Full recognition and acknowledgement is made to the Claudio Nicoletti and contributors to the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation who have catalogued the above tables.
See Historic League Tables - for more coverage
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