The 1960–61 season was the 13th season of competitive football in Israel and the 35th season under the Israeli Football Association, established in 1928, during the British Mandate.
Review and Events The national team competed in the 1960 AFC Asian Cup, hosted in South Korea. The team came out second after winning two matches and losing one, to eventual winners, South Korea. In the 1962 World Cup qualification, Israel was drawn in the European Zone, into Group 7. The group was played in a knockout stage on a home-and-away basis. Israel defeated Cyprus in the first round and then Ethiopia in the second round, to advance to the zonal final, against Italy, which was played in October 1961.
Domestic leagues
Promotion and relegation The following promotions and relegations took place at the end of the season:
Promoted to Liga Leumit Hapoel Tiberias
Promoted to Liga Alef Beitar Netanya Maccabi Ramla
Promoted to Liga Bet Hapoel Kfar Blum Hapoel Beit HaShita HaCarmel Club Haifa Hapoel Bat Yam Hapoel Ya'akov Kfar Saba Hapoel Ein Karem Hapoel Sderot Hapoel Bnei Zion
Relegated from Liga Leumit Beitar Tel Aviv
Relegated from Liga Alef Hapoel Hadera Hapoel Herzliya
Relegated from Liga Bet Hapoel Geva Beitar Binyamina Hapoel Karkur Hapoel Dora Netanya Hapoel Kiryat Shalom 1 Hapoel Zichronot Maccabi Gedera Hapoel Gedera
1. Hapoel Kiryat Shalom merged with Hapoel HaDarom Tel Aviv and remained, as part of the merged club, in Liga Bet.
Domestic cups
Israel State Cup The 1958–59 Israel State Cup started during the previous season, but was carried over the summer break and finished with the final on 19 November 1959, in which Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Petah Tikva 4–3.
On 30 January 1960, the next season's competition began, and once again carried over to the next season.
National Teams
National team
1960 AFC Asian Cup
1960–61 matches