The Israeli Premier League is an Israeli league for professional football clubs. It is the country's leading football competition and forms the highest level of the Israeli football league system. The competition began in the 1999–2000 season, following the decision of the Israeli Football Association to form a new league. As of 2011, twelve Premier League seasons have been completed, although only four clubs have been crowned champions. Maccabi Haifa have won the league seven times, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem two times each, and Maccabi Tel Aviv once. The reigning champions are Maccabi Haifa, who won their seventh Premier League title (twelve top division title) in the 2009–10 season.
History
After several years of discussion over the possibility of a so-called "Super League" being formed by Israeli football's leading clubs, the Israeli Premier League came into existence in 1999 when the top clubs broke away from the 44-year-old Liga Leumit. Hapoel Tel Aviv won the first title in the 1999–2000 season, the first time the club had won the championship of Israeli football for 11 years.
The record for the most points accumulated in a Premier League season belongs to Maccabi Haifa, who accumulated 87 points over 35 games in the 2009–10 season (as 3 points for a win not including the playoff points cut, Hapoel Tel Aviv accumulated 85 points in a regular season). At the other end of the scale, Tzafririm Holon accumulated just 16 points in the 2000–01 season (Hapoel Petah Tikva accumulated 14 points but after receiving 4 points deduction in the 2010–11 season). Tzafririm Holon also hold the record for the most goals conceded in a season, having conceded 85 goals in the same season, while Maccabi Haifa hold the record for the fewest goals conceded, with just 16 in the 2009–10 season.
Hapoel Tel Aviv hold the record for the most goals scored in a season, having scored 87 goals in the 2009–10 season, while Ironi Kiryat Shmona, in the 2008–09 season, and Hapoel Ramat Gan, in the 2010–11, are having the record for the fewest goals scored, with just 24.
Seasons
SeasonWinnerRelegated from the Israeli Premier LeaguePromoted to the Israeli Premier LeagueTop ScorerIncludes only goals scored in the Israeli Premier League.PlayerGoalsHapoel Tel AvivHapoel Kfar SabaMaccabi HerzliyaHapoel JerusalemHapoel Tzafririm HolonAssi Tubi (Maccabi Petah Tikva)272000–01Maccabi HaifaBnei YehudaTzafririm HolonHapoel Be'er ShevaMaccabi Kiryat GatAvi Nimni (Maccabi Tel Aviv)25Each team played 38 games. However the last away match of Maccabi Tel Aviv against Maccabi Haifa was abandoned.2001–02Maccabi HaifaHapoel HaifaMaccabi Kiryat GatHapoel Kfar SabaBnei YehudaKobi Refua (Maccabi Petah Tikva)182002–03Hapoel Kfar SabaIroni Rishon LeZionMaccabi Ahi NazarethBnei SakhninYaniv Abargil (Hapoel Kfar Saba)Shay Holtzman (Ironi Rishon LeZion / F.C. Ashdod)182003–04Maccabi HaifaMaccabi NetanyaMaccabi Ahi NazarethHapoel HaifaHapoel Nazareth IllitOfir Haim (Hapoel Be'er Sheva)Shay Holtzman (F.C. Ashdod)162004–05Maccabi HaifaHapoel HaifaHapoel Be'er ShevaHapoel Kfar SabaMaccabi NetanyaRoberto Colautti (Maccabi Haifa)192005–06Maccabi HaifaHapoel Nazareth IllitBnei SakhninMaccabi HerzliyaHakoah Amidar Ramat GanShay Holtzman (F.C. Ashdod)182006–07Hakoah Amidar Ramat GanHapoel Petah TikvaIroni Kiryat ShmonaBnei SakhninYaniv Azran (F.C. Ashdod)152007–08Hapoel Kfar SabaMaccabi HerzliyaHakoah Amidar Ramat GanHapoel Petah TikvaSamuel Yeboah (Hapoel Kfar Saba)152008–09Maccabi HaifaHakoah Amidar Ramat GanIroni Kiryat ShmonaHapoel HaifaHapoel AcreHapoel Be'er ShevaHapoel Ramat GanHapoel Ra'ananaBarak Yitzhaki (Beitar Jerusalem)Shimon Abuhatzira (Hapoel Petah Tikva)Eliran Atar (Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv)142009–10Hapoel Tel AvivHapoel Ra'ananaMaccabi Ahi NazarethIroni Kiryat ShmonaHapoel AshkelonShlomi Arbeitman (Maccabi Haifa)282010–11Maccabi HaifaHapoel Petah TikvaHapoel AshkelonHapoel Ramat GanIroni Ramat HaSharonIroni Rishon LeZionHapoel Kfar SabaToto Tamuz (Hapoel Tel Aviv)21
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