Liga Artzit (, lit. Country League) is the defunct third division of Israeli Football League, beneath its highest division Premier League and the second division Liga Leumit. Before being cancelled in 2009, it was run by the Israel Football Association. It was replaced by Liga Alef.
Structure There were 12 teams in Liga Artzit. Each team played 33 matches; the first 22 matches were played on a home and away basis, with the last 11 fixtures based on league positions after 22 games. Like the majority of leagues in the world, three points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. Final League positions were determined firstly by points obtained, then by goal difference, then goals scored, and if necessary, a mini-league of the results between two or more teams ranked using the previous three criteria and finally a series of one or more play off matches.
In the past at the end of the season, providing they met certain criteria, the top two teams weren promoted to Liga Leumit, and were replaced by the bottom two teams from that league. The teams finishing 11th and 12th in Liga Artzit were relegated to Liga Alef, where they were assigned to a geographically suitable division. They were replaced by the champions of Liga Alef North and Liga Alef South providing they meet criteria for entry into Liga Artzit.
However, the league was abolished at the end of the 2008–09 season as part of structural reforms to the Israeli league system that saw the Premier League and Liga Leumit both expanded to 16 clubs.Reforming structure of the leagues – full plan Israeli Football Association, 24 June 2008 At the end of the season the top seven clubs were promoted to Liga Leumit; the 8th placed club was played in a play-off round against the 11th placed club in Liga Leumit for a place in Liga Leumit, whilst the 9–12th placed clubs was relegated to Liga Alef.
History Liga Artzit came into existence in 1976 with a restructuring of Israeli football. It replaced Liga Alef as the second division (below Liga Leumit), and unlike its regionalised predecessor, was a nationwide league (hence its name). For its first season, Liga Artzit comprised twelve teams. Four teams were demoted from Liga Leumit as it was reduced in size, and the top four clubs from Liga Alef North and Liga Alef South were promoted. In later seasons the number of members varied, though the usual number of clubs was 16.
In 1999, Liga Artzit was demoted to the third tier after the creation of the Premier League. Since then it has consisted of 12 teams.
In 2009, Liga Artzit was closed.
Previous seasons SeasonWinnerAlso promotedRelegatedSecond tier1976–77Hapoel Hadera Beitar Netanya, Maccabi Hadera1977–78Bnei YehudaMaccabi Petah Tikva, Hapoel Kfar Saba,Hapoel Rishon LeZionHapoel Beit Shemesh,Maccabi Sha'arayim1978–79Hakoah Ramat GanMaccabi Ramat Amidar, Hapoel Petah TikvaHapoel Marmorek,Hapoel Netanya, Hapoel Ashdod1979–80Hapoel JerusalemHapoel Ramat Gan, Hapoel Rishon LeZionHapoel Bat Yam,Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel, Hapoel Herzliya1980–81Beitar Tel AvivBeitar Jerusalem, Maccabi HaifaHapoel Hadera, Hapoel Holon, Maccabi Herzliya 1981–82Hapoel LodHapoel Ramat Gan, Maccabi YavneMaccabi Kiryat Gat, Beitar Netanya, Hapoel Tiberias1982–83Beitar Tel AvivHakoah Ramat Gan, Maccabi Ramat AmidarMaccabi Shefa-'Amr, Hapoel Acre, Hapoel Tel Hanan1983–84Hapoel HaifaHapoel Kfar Saba, Hapoel Petah TikvaHapoel Beit She'an, Hapoel Nazareth Illit,Hapoel Beit Shemesh1984–85Bnei YehudaMaccabi Sha'arayim, Hapoel JerusalemHapoel Ashkelon, Hapoel Rishon LeZion,Hapoel Kiryat Shmona1985–86Beitar NetanyaBeitar Tel Aviv, Hapoel LodHapoel Ramat HaSharon, Hapoel Beit Shemesh,Beitar Haifa1986–87Tzafririm Holon Hapoel Marmorek1, Hapoel Beit She'an,Beitar Ramla, Beitar Nahariya, Hapoel Dimona1987–88Hapoel JerusalemHapoel TiberiasHakoah Ramat Gan, Hapoel Acre1988–89Hapoel Ramat Gan Hapoel Yehud, Beitar Ramla1989–90Tzafririm HolonHapoel Tel AvivMaccabi Tamra1, Hapoel Rishon LeZion,Hapoel Lod1990–91Maccabi Petah TikvaMaccabi YavneHapoel Bat Yam1, Maccabi Ramat Amidar,Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel1991–92Beitar JerusalemHapoel HaifaBeitar Netanya, Hapoel Tiberias1992–93Maccabi HerzliyaIroni Ashdod, Hapoel Kfar SabaHapoel Ramat Gan, Maccabi Sha'arayim1993–94Hapoel Rishon LeZionHapoel Beit She'an, Beitar Tel AvivMaccabi Acre, Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel1994–95Maccabi JaffaHapoel Kfar SabaHapoel Ashkelon, Hapoel Lod1995–96Hapoel TayibeHapoel JerusalemShimshon Tel Aviv, Hapoel Kfar Shalem1996–97Hapoel AshkelonIroni AshdodHapoel Kiryat Shmona, Hapoel Hadera1997–98Maccabi JaffaTzafririm HolonHapoel Ramat Gan, Maccabi Yavne1998–99Maccabi Netanya Hapoel Ashdod, Beitar Tel Aviv, Hapoel Bat Yam,Maccabi Kafr Kanna, Hapoel Lod,SK Nes Tziona, Hapoel TayibeThird tierHapoel Ramat Gan Hapoel Ironi Dimona, Hapoel Iksal2000–01Hapoel Ra'anana Maccabi Kafr Kanna Maccabi Ashkelon, Maccabi Sha'arayim2001–02Hapoel Jerusalem Hapoel Nazareth Illit Hapoel Tayibe, Maccabi Yavne2002–03Hakoah Ramat Gan Ironi Kiryat Shmona Hapoel Bat Yam, Hapoel Kafr Sumei2003–04Ironi Nir Ramat HaSharon Hapoel Acre Hapoel Tira, Hapoel Beit She'an2004–05Hapoel Ashkelon Maccabi Be'er Sheva Hapoel Majd al-Krum22005–06Hapoel Bnei LodMaccabi Ahi Nazareth Tzafririm Holon, Maccabi Tzur Shalom2006–07Hapoel Ramat GanHapoel Ironi Rishon LeZionHapoel Herzliya,Maccabi Be'er Sheva2007–08Hapoel Jerusalem Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen,Hapoel Kfar Shalem2008–09Sektzia Nes TzionaHapoel Ashkelon, Hapoel Marmorek,Ironi Rishon LeZion, Ironi Bat Yam,Beitar Shimshon Tel Aviv, Hapoel Nazareth Illit Maccabi Kafr Kanna, Bnei Tamra,Hapoel Umm al-Fahm, Maccabi Tirat HaCarmel
1. After promotion/relegation play-offs.
2. Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata finished in 11th place, but were reprieved when Maccabi Ramat Amidar folded.
See also Sports in Israel References
External links Israel Football Association in Hebrew and English Liga Artzit Soccerway in English