Liga Alef () is the third tier of the Israeli football league system. 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 2026–27
North South Beitar Nahariya F.C. Dimona F.C. Tira F.C. Jerusalem Hapoel Baqa al-Gharbiyye F.C. Kfar Saba Hapoel Beit She'an/Mesilot F.C. Nordia Jerusalem Hapoel Bnei Araba F.C. Sderot Hapoel Bnei Musmus F.C. Tzeirei Tira Hapoel Ihud Bnei Jatt Hapoel Azor Hapoel Ironi Karmiel Hapoel Hadera Hapoel Migdal HaEmek Hapoel Herzliya Hapoel Nof HaGalil Hapoel Mahane Yehuda Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel Hapoel Marmorek Ihud Umm al-Fahm Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon Ironi Nesher Holon Yermiyahu F.C.Maccabi Nujeidat Ironi Beit Shemesh Maccabi Ata Bialik Maccabi Ironi Ashdod Maccabi Neve Sha'anan Eldad Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Malakhi Tzeirei Tamra Maccabi Yavne - Shimshon Tel Aviv
Previous seasons
1951–63 SeasonWinnerRelegatedFirst tier1951–52Maccabi Tel AvivHapoel Rishon LeZion, Maccabi Rishon LeZion1953–54Maccabi Tel AvivNone 11954–55Hapoel Petah TikvaBeitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Hadera, Hapoel BalfouriaSecond tier1955–56Hakoah Tel Aviv 2Ahva Notzrit Haifa, Hapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Balfouria1956–57Hapoel Kfar Saba 3Hapoel Nahariya, Maccabi Ramat Gan1957–58Beitar Jerusalem 4None 41958–59Bnei YehudaMaccabi Sha'arayim, Hapoel Afula1959–60Shimshon Tel AvivMaccabi Rehovot, Hapoel Netanya1960–61Hapoel TiberiasHapoel Hadera, Hapoel Herzliya1961–62Hakoah Tel AvivMaccabi Hadera, Hapoel Rehovot1962–63Hapoel Ramat Gan 5Hapoel Safed, Maccabi Ramla
Northern division SeasonWinnerRelegatedSecond tier1963–64Maccabi NetanyaHapoel Nahariya, Hapoel Givat Haim1964–65Hapoel Mahane YehudaMaccabi Zikhron Ya'akov, Hapoel Ra'anana1965–66Maccabi HaifaHapoel Kiryat Shmona, Beitar Haifa1966–68Hapoel Kfar SabaHapoel Nahariya, Hapoel Safed1968–69Maccabi Petah TikvaHapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Kfar Blum1969–70Hapoel HaderaHapoel Kiryat Haim, Beitar Kiryat Tiv'on1970–71Maccabi JaffaHapoel Zikhron Ya'akov, Maccabi Hadera1971–72Maccabi Petah TikvaHapoel Netanya, Hapoel Kiryat Haim1972–73Hapoel HaderaHapoel Mahane Yehuda, Hapoel Givat Haim1973–74Hapoel Acre 1Hapoel Migdal HaEmek1974–75Maccabi HaifaNone 21975–76Hapoel AcreHapoel Tiberias, Hapoel Kiryat AtaThird tier1976–77Hapoel Tirat HaCarmelHapoel Mahane Yehuda, Hapoel Safed1977–78Hapoel Tiberias 3Hapoel Bnei Nazareth, Hapoel Beit Eliezer1978–79Hapoel Nazareth Illit 4Hapoel Nahliel, Hapoel Givat Haim1979–80Hapoel Kiryat ShmonaMaccabi Ahi Nazareth, Hapoel Umm al-Fahm1980–81Beitar Netanya 5Hapoel Netanya, Maccabi Or Akiva1981–82Hapoel Hadera 6Hapoel Afikim, Hapoel Nahariya1982–83Beitar HaifaHapoel Givat Olga, Hapoel Nahliel1983–84Hapoel TiberiasMaccabi Bnei Hatzor, Hapoel Migdal HaEmek1984–85Beitar Netanya 7Hapoel Bnei Nazareth, Hapoel Tel Hanan1985–86Hapoel Beit She'an 8Hapoel Nazareth Illit, Maccabi Shefa-'Amr1986–87Maccabi Hadera 9Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba, Maccabi Or Akiva1987–88Maccabi TamraHapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Bnei Tamra1988–89Hapoel Tirat HaCarmelHapoel Tira, Hapoel Kiryat Ata1989–90Maccabi AcreHapoel Bnei Nazareth, Beitar Haifa1990–91Maccabi HerzliyaBeitar Nahariya, Maccabi Hadera1991–92Hapoel Daliyat al-KarmelMaccabi Tamra, Maccabi Kafr Kanna1992–93Hapoel Beit She'an 10Maccabi Bnei Hatzor1993–94Hapoel Ramat Gan 11Beitar Nahariya1994–95Maccabi AcreHapoel Tirat HaCarmel, Hapoel Tiberias1995–96Maccabi Kafr KannaHapoel Givat Olga, Maccabi Or Akiva1996–97Bnei SakhninHapoel Migdal HaEmek, Hapoel Iksal1997–98Maccabi Ahi NazarethMaccabi Hadera, Hapoel Karmiel1998–99Hapoel Ra'anana 12Hapoel Umm al-Fahm, Hapoel Kafr QasimFourth tier1999–2000Hapoel Majd al-KrumMaccabi Afula2000–01Ironi Kiryat ShmonaMaccabi Isfiya, Hapoel Iksal2001–02Hapoel Kafr SumeiHapoel Tzeirei Nahf, Hapoel Hurfeish2002–03Hapoel HerzliyaHapoel Hadera, Hapoel Tayibe2003–04Maccabi Hadera 13Hapoel Migdal HaEmek2004–05Maccabi Tzur ShalomHapoel Tuba, Maccabi Tur'an2005–06Hapoel Bnei TamraMaccabi Tamra, Hapoel Beit She'an, Maccabi Shefa-'Amr2006–07Hapoel Bnei JadeidiHapoel Kafr Sumei, Hapoel Reineh, Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha2007–08Hapoel Umm al-FahmBeitar Haifa, Hapoel Ahva Haifa, Hapoel Makr2008–09Ahva ArrabaMaccabi Ironi Shlomi/Nahariya, Beitar Ihud MashhadThird tier2009–10Maccabi Ironi JattHapoel Bnei Jadeidi, Hapoel Bnei Tamra, Maccabi Ironi Tirat HaCarmel2010–11Maccabi Umm al-FahmIroni Sayid Umm al-Fahm, Maccabi Kafr Qara, Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo2011–12Hapoel Asi Gilboa 14Maccabi Ironi Tamra, Ahi Acre2012–13Hapoel AfulaHapoel Kafr Kanna, Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha2013–14Hapoel Kfar Saba 15Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel, Maccabi Kafr Kanna, Ahva Arraba2014–15Hapoel Katamon JerusalemBeitar Nahariya, Maccabi Umm al-Fahm2015–16Ironi NesherMaccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha, Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum2016–17Hapoel HaderaTzeirei Kafr Kanna2017–18Hapoel IksalHapoel Beit She'an, Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel2018–19Hapoel Umm al-FahmIroni Nesher, Hapoel Jerusalem
Southern division SeasonWinnerRelegatedSecond tier1963–64Beitar Tel AvivMaccabi Shmuel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Rishon LeZion1964–65Hapoel Be'er ShevaHapoel Ramla, Beitar Harari Tel Aviv1965–66SK Nes TzionaHaBira Jerusalem, Hapoel Giv'atayim1966–68Beitar JerusalemBeitar Kiryat Ono, Hapoel Kfar Shalem1968–69Beitar Tel AvivHapoel Yehud, Maccabi Holon1969–70Hapoel HolonBeitar Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Sderot1970–71Hapoel Be'er ShevaSK Nes Tziona, Beitar Lod1971–72Hapoel MarmorekHapoel Ashkelon, Maccabi Bat Yam1972–73Bnei YehudaHapoel Eilat, Hapoel Kiryat Ono1973–74Maccabi Sha'arayim 1Maccabi Holon1974–75Maccabi Ramat AmidarNone 21975–76Hapoel YehudBeitar Jaffa, Hapoel LodThird tier1976–77Hapoel Beit ShemeshHapoel Dimona, Hapoel Be'er Ya'akov1977–78Hapoel Marmorek 3Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Gan, Hapoel Rosh HaAyin1978–79Hapoel Beit ShemeshSK Nes Tziona, Beitar Ashdod1979–80Maccabi Yavne 4Hapoel Or Yehuda, Hapoel Kafr Qasim1980–81Maccabi Kiryat GatMaccabi Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Rosh HaAyin1981–82Hapoel AshkelonHapoel Herzliya, Maccabi Lazarus Holon1982–83Hapoel Marmorek 5Hapoel Ashdod, Hapoel Dimona1983–84Maccabi Sha'arayim 6Ironi Ashdod, Maccabi Herzliya1984–85Hapoel Beit ShemeshHapoel Ramla, Hapoel Ihud Tzeirei Jaffa1985–86Hapoel DimonaMaccabi HaShikma Ramat Gan 71986–87Hapoel Bat YamBeitar Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Yeruham1987–88Beitar RamlaHapoel Ramat HaSharon, Hapoel Azor1988–89Hapoel Rishon LeZionHapoel Ramla, Hapoel Beit Shemesh1989–90Hapoel Ashdod 8Hapoel Or Yehuda, Hapoel Dimona1990–91SK Nes Tziona 9Maccabi Shikun HaMizrah, Hapoel Lod1991–92Hapoel AshkelonHapoel Yehud, Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba1992–93Ironi Rishon LeZion 10Beitar Netanya1993–94Maccabi Kiryat Gat 11Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen1994–95Hapoel Kfar ShalemHapoel Be'er Ya'akov, Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel1995–96Hapoel AshkelonHapoel Marmorek, Hapoel Merhavim1996–97Hapoel LodMaccabi Shikun HaMizrah, Hapoel Kiryat Malakhi1997–98Beitar Be'er ShevaHapoel Kiryat Ono, Hapoel Yehud1998–99Hapoel Ironi Dimona 12Hapoel Yeruham, Beitar RamlaFourth tier1999–2000Maccabi Ashkelon 13Hapoel Or Yehuda2000–01Maccabi YavneHapoel Ihud Tzeirei Jaffa, Sektzia Nes Tziona2001–02Maccabi Ramat AmidarHapoel Kiryat Ono, Hapoel Lod, Maccabi Jerusalem/Ma'ale Adumim2002–03Hapoel Tira 14None 152003–04Maccabi Be'er Sheva 16Hapoel Bat Yam2004–05Hapoel Bnei LodHapoel Qalansawe, Hapoel Jaljulia2005–06Sektzia Nes TzionaMaccabi Sha'arayim, F.C. Kafr Qasim, Beitar Givat Ze'ev2006–07Hapoel Maxim Lod 17AS Jaffa, Hapoel Arad2007–08Maccabi Ironi Bat YamTzafririm Holon, Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva, Ironi Ofakim2008–09Maccabi Be'er ShevaIroni Ramla, Hapoel Masos Shaqib al-SalamThird tier2009–10Hapoel HerzliyaBeitar Kfar Saba, Hapoel Mevaseret Zion2010–11Hapoel JerusalemHapoel Nahlat Yehuda, Tzafririm Holon, Shimshon Bnei Tayibe2011–12Maccabi YavneMaccabi Ironi Netivot, Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen, Maccabi Ironi Jatt Alahli2012–13Hapoel KatamonHapoel Arad, Maccabi Ironi Kfar Yona, Ortodoxim Lod2013–14Maccabi Kiryat GatMaccabi Be'er Ya'akov, Bnei Eilat2014–15Hapoel AshkelonMaccabi Be'er Sheva, Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi2015–16Maccabi Sha'arayimMaccabi Amishav Petah Tikva, Bnei Eilat, Hapoel Morasha Ramat HaSharon2016–17Hapoel MarmorekBnei Jaffa Ortodoxim, F.C. Shikun HaMizrah2017–18Sektzia Nes TzionaF.C. Dimona, Hapoel Hod HaSharon2018–19Hapoel Umm al-FahmHapoel Jerusalem
References
External links