The Lililan Cup (, Gvia Lililan), which was also known as The League Cup (, Gvia HaLiga) was an Israeli men's football competition open to the top 4 clubs in Liga Leumit between 1981–82 and 1988–89. The competition was contested at the start of each football season. It was cancelled after the 1989 tournament.
History The competition was established in 1982, as a season opening tournament, and was named after Yehuda Lilian, a former IFA treasurer and Hapoel member, who died in February 1982.Yehuda Lilian Dies , Davar, 16 February 1982, Historical Jewish Press
Parallel to this competition the IFA also held the Israel Super Cup, which was played at the end of the season, and the Toto Cup, which was played throughout the season, mostly on weekdays.
Due to dwindling interest in the competition, and the preference to give more weight to hold most of the Toto Cup matches before the beginning of the league season, the cup was cancelled in 1989.
Format The format of the competition varied during its years between a straight knock-out competition, held in two match days, and between a preliminary group, played as a single round-robin tournament, followed by a third place match and final.Knock-out Instead of League Maariv, 15 April 1985, Historical Jewish Press
Results YearFinalThird Place MatchChampionsScoreRunners-UpThird PlaceScoreFourth Place1982Maccabi Netanya3–1Hapoel Be'er ShevaHapoel Kfar Saba2–0Bnei Yehuda1983Maccabi Netanya3–2 Hapoel Be'er ShevaHapoel Tel Aviv2–1Shimshon Tel Aviv1984Maccabi Haifa5–4Hapoel Tel AvivMaccabi Netanya1–0Beitar Jerusalem1985Beitar Jerusalem3–1Maccabi Petah TikvaMaccabi Haifa3–0Shimshon Tel Aviv1986Maccabi Tel Aviv2–1Maccabi HaifaHapoel Tel Aviv1–0Beitar Jerusalem1987Maccabi Tel Aviv2–0Bnei YehudaHapoel Lod3–2Beitar Jerusalem1988Hapoel Be'er Sheva1–0Hapoel Tel AvivShimshon Tel Aviv3–2Maccabi Netanya1989Hapoel Petah Tikva4–2Beitar Tel AvivMaccabi Netanya Maccabi Haifa 1
1. Third place match wasn't played.
Source:
Performance by club TeamParticipationsWinnersRunners-upThird-placeFourth-placeMaccabi Netanya 5 2 – 1 1Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 2 – – –Hapoel Be'er Sheva 3 1 2 – –Maccabi Haifa 4 1 1 2 –Beitar Jerusalem 4 1 – – 3Hapoel Petah Tikva 1 1 – – –Hapoel Tel Aviv 4 – 2 2 –Bnei Yehuda 2 – 1 – 1Maccabi Petah Tikva 1 – 1 – –Beitar Tel Aviv 1 – 1 – –Shimshon Tel Aviv 3 – – 1 2Hapoel Kfar Saba 1 – – 1 –Hapoel Lod 1 – – 1 –
References 100 Years of Football 1906-2006, Elisha Shohat (Israel), 2006 Official Tournaments – Maccabi Haifa