The 2014–15 Liga Leumit was the 16th season as second tier since its re-alignment in 1999 and the 73rd season of second-tier football in Israel.
A total of sixteen teams are contesting in the league, including eleven sides from the 2013–14 season, the three promoted teams from 2013–14 Liga Alef and the two relegated teams from 2013–14 Israeli Premier League.
Changes from 2013–14 season
Team changes Maccabi Netanya and Hapoel Petah Tikva, were promoted to the 2014–15 Israeli Premier League.
Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon and Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv were directly relegated to the 2014–15 Liga Leumit after finishing the 2013–14 Israeli Premier League season in the bottom two places.
Hapoel Ashkelon, and Maccabi Umm al-Fahm were directly relegated to Liga Alef after finishing in the previous season in last two league places. They were replaced by Hapoel Kfar Saba and Maccabi Kiryat Gat who finished first their respective 2013–14 Liga Alef Liga Alef. Ironi Tiberias won the Liga Alef playoffs, and after relegation play-offs replaced Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem in Liga Leumit.
Overview
Stadia and locations Club Home City Stadium Capacity Beitar Tel Aviv Ramla Tel Aviv and Ramla Ramla Municipal Stadium 2,000 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv Bloomfield Stadium 14,413 Hakoah Ramat Gan Ramat Gan Winter Stadium 8,000 Hapoel Afula Afula Afula Illit Stadium 3,000 Hapoel Bnei Lod Lod Lod Municipal Stadium 3,000 Hapoel Jerusalem Jerusalem Teddy Stadium 31,733 Hapoel Nazareth Illit Nazareth Illit Green Stadium 4,000 Hapoel Ramat HaSharon Ramat HaSharon Grundman Stadium 4,300 Hapoel Ramat Gan Ramat Gan Winter Stadium 8,000 Hapoel Rishon LeZion Rishon LeZion Haberfeld Stadium 6,000 Ironi Tiberias Tiberias Afula Illit Stadium 3,000 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Nazareth Ilut Stadium 4,932 Maccabi Herzliya Herzliya Herzliya Municipal Stadium 8,100 Hapoel Kfar Saba Kfar Saba Levita Stadium 5,800 Maccabi Kiryat Gat Kiryat Gat Sala Stadium 5,250 Maccabi Yavne Yavne Ness Ziona Stadium 3,500
The club is playing their home games at a neutral venue because their own ground does not meet Premier League requirements.While Kiryat Gat Municipal Stadium is under construction. Maccabi Kiryat Gat will host their home games in Sala Stadium.While Yavne Municipal Stadium is under construction. Maccabi Yavne will host their home games in Ness Ziona Stadium until January 2014.
Regular season
Playoffs Key numbers for pairing determination (number marks position after 30 games):
Rounds 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th1 – 52 – 73 – 64 – 81 – 25 – 86 – 47 – 32 – 53 – 14 – 78 – 61 – 42 – 35 – 67 – 83 – 54 – 26 – 78 – 11 – 62 – 83 – 45 – 74 – 56 – 27 – 18 – 39 – 1310 – 1511 – 1412 – 169 – 1013 – 1614 – 1215 – 1110 – 1311 – 912 – 1516 – 149 – 1210 – 1113 – 1415 – 1611 – 1312 – 1014 – 1516 – 99 – 1410 – 1611 – 1213 – 1512 – 1314 – 1015 – 916 – 11
Top Playoff
Bottom Playoff
Relegation playoff
Relegation playoff The 14th-placed Hapoel Nazareth Illit faced 2014–15 Liga Alef promotion play-offs winner, Ironi Nesher. The matches took place on May 26 and 29, 2015.
Hapoel Nazareth Illit won 5–1 on aggregate and remained in Liga Leumit. Ironi Nesher remained in Liga Alef.
Season statistics
Scoring
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Pedro GalvánBnei Yehuda222 Ido ExbardMaccabi Ahi Nazareth213 Lanry KahindaHapoel Afula204 Ran ItzhakHapoel Kfar Saba175 Shalom AkivaIroni Tiberias136 Jordan FaucherMaccabi Herzliya127 Nevo MizrahiHapoel Jerusalem11 Yossi OfirMaccabi Yavne9 Moshe Ben LuluHapoel Bnei Lod10 Ali KhatibMaccabi Ahi Nazareth Omri ShekelHapoel Rishon LeZion Yossi ShivhonHapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon Gal TzruyaBnei Yeuhda14 Yinon BardaHapoel Bnei Lod9 Almog BuzagloHapoel Ramat Gan Idan DavidHapoel Kfar Saba Liron ElimelechIroni Tiberias Uri MagboBeitar Tel Aviv Ramla19 Ben AzubelHapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon8 Liron DiamantHapoel Ramat Gan Eli ElbazMaccabi Ahi Nazareth/Ironi Tiberias Didier KougbenyaBeitar Tel Aviv Ramla Issoumaila LinganeHapoel Ramat Gan Branko MihajlovićHapoel Kfar Saba Nir NachumHapoel Rishon LeZion265 players73111 players64213 players55525 players48022 players310223 players212573 players1198Own goals10Total739Average per game Updated: 25 May 2015Source: Israel Football Association
Discipline Most yellow cards: 11 Osher Abu (Hapoel Jerusalem) Netanel Goldman (Hapoel Afula) Maor Kandil (Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon) Most red cards: 3 Sun Menahem (Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon)
See also 2014–15 Israel State Cup
References