Liga Leumit

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Liga Leumit
IPL201112newlogo.png
Liga Leumit logo
Country Israel Israel
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Founded 1955; 69 years ago (1955)
Number of teams 16
Level on pyramid 2
Promotion to Premier League
Relegation to Liga Alef
Domestic cup(s) State Cup
Toto Cup Leumit
Current champions Bnei Yehuda
(2014–15)
TV partners Sport 5
Website football.org.il
2015–16 Liga Leumit

Liga Leumit (Hebrew: ליגה לאומית‎, lit. National League) is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.

Structure

There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the two lowest-placed teams are relegated to Liga Alef while the two highest-placed teams from Liga Alef are promoted in their place. The two highest-placed Liga Leumit teams are promoted to the Israeli Premier League while the bottom two teams from Israeli Premier League are relegated in their place.

The participating clubs were first play a conventional round-robin schedule for a total of 30 matches, with all points accumulated by the clubs are halved.

Following this, the top eight teams will first play in a promotion playoff. To determine the promoted teams. and the eight clubs play a single round-robin schedule.

The Israeli State Cup winners qualify for the third qualifying round of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.

In addition, the bottom eight teams play out to avoid two relegation spots.

Broadcast Rights

Television

Since the 2010–11 season, One match is broadcast live on Sport +5 LIVE channel on Friday or Saturday afternoons. The rest of the matches has no TV cover.

History

Liga Leumit came into existence at the start of the 1955–56 season, replacing Liga Alef as the top division in Israeli football. However, it was usurped as the top flight in the 1999–2000 season, when it was replaced by the Premier League. Since then it has operated as the second tier in the Israeli football league system.

Past seasons Champions

Season Winner Also promoted Relegated
1999–2000 Tzafririm Holon Hapoel Ashkelon
2000–01 Hapoel Be'er Sheva Maccabi Kiryat Gat Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata
2001–02 Hapoel Kfar Saba Bnei Yehuda Hakoah Ramat Gan, Hapoel Beit She'an
2002–03 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Bnei Sakhnin Beitar Be'er Sheva, Maccabi Kafr Kanna
2003–04 Hapoel Haifa Hapoel Nazareth Illit Hapoel Ramat Gan, Maccabi Kiryat Gat
2004–05 Hapoel Kfar Saba Maccabi Netanya Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, Tzafririm Holon
2005–06 Maccabi Herzliya Hakoakh Amidar Ramat Gan Ironi Rishon LeZion, Maccabi Be'er Sheva
2006–07 Ironi Kiryat Shmona Bnei Sakhnin Hapoel Ashkelon, Hapoel Jerusalem
2007–08 Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan Hapoel Petah Tikva Ironi Rishon LeZion, Hapoel Nazareth Illit
2008–09 Hapoel Haifa Hapoel Acre, Hapoel Be'er Sheva,
Hapoel Ramat Gan, Hapoel Ra'anana,
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth
Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata
2009–10 Ironi Kiryat Shmona Hapoel Ashkelon Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Marmorek
2010–11 Ironi Ramat HaSharon Hapoel Rishon LeZion Maccabi Ironi Jatt, Ahva Arraba
2011–12 Hapoel Ramat Gan Ironi Bat Yam, Hapoel Herzliya, Maccabi Be'er Sheva
2012–13 Maccabi Petah Tikva Hapoel Ra'anana Sektzia Nes Tziona, Hapoel Kfar Saba
2013–14 Maccabi Netanya Hapoel Petah Tikva Hapoel Katamon, Hapoel Ashkelon, Maccabi Umm al-Fahm
2014–15 Bnei Yehuda Hapoel Kfar Saba Ironi Tiberias, Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan

Member clubs, 2015–16

Current Liga Leumit clubs (2015–16)

External links