Liga Bet

Liga Bet (Hebrew: ליגה ב'‎, lit. League B) is the fourth tier of the Israeli football league system. It is divided into four regional divisions.

Liga Bet
Founded1949 (1949)
CountryIsrael
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Number of teams16X4
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toLiga Alef
Relegation toLiga Gimel
Domestic cup(s)State Cup
Current championsIhud Bnei Majd al-Krum (North A)
Hapoel Bnei Fureidis (North B)
Tzeirei Tayibe (South A)
F.C. Dimona (South B)
(2019–20)
Website (North A)
(North B)
(South A)
(South B)

History

League football started in Israel in 1949–50, a year after independence. However, the financial and security crises gripping the young nation caused the 1950–51 season to be abandoned before it had started. When football resumed in 1951–52, the new top division went by the name of Liga Alef with Liga Bet as the second division. The 1952–53 season was also not played, and Liga Bet resumed in 1953–54.

In the 1955–56 season, Liga Leumit came into existence as the new top division, with Liga Alef becoming the second division and Liga Bet demoted to the third division. Restructuring in 1976 saw the creation of Liga Artzit as a new second tier, and the second demotion of Liga Bet, as it became the fourth division. Further restructuring to create the Israeli Premier League in 1999 saw Liga Bet demoted again, this time to the fifth tier. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Liga Artzit was scrapped as the Premier League and Liga Leumit were expanded to 16 clubs each, resulting in Liga Bet returning to the fourth tier.

Structure

Since the 1959-60 season, Liga Bet is split into four regional divisions, North A, North B, South A and South B. Because Israel's northern half is much more densely populated than the desert south, the divisions are not spread equally and the southernmost division, South B, covers about two-thirds of the country. Although this inequality is partially offset by the fact that there are so few clubs south of Beersheba (Arad, Dimona, Yeroham, Mitzpe Ramon and Eilat are the only sizable towns south of the city), the northern clubs tend to be clustered in the Galilee region, making travel to away matches much less of a chore.

Each division has sixteen clubs, who play each other home and away to make a 30-game season. The club finishing top of each regional division is promoted to Liga Alef, whilst the second to fifth-placed clubs in each division play-off at the end of the season, until the play-off winner of North A faces the play-off winner of North B, and the play-off winner of South A faces the play-off winner of South B. The two winners advance to a decisive match against the two third-bottom clubs in Liga Alef, North and South, for a place in that division. The club finishing bottom of each regional division is relegated to Liga Gimel, the fifth and bottom tier, whilst another club from each division is relegated after relegation play-offs, involving the clubs that finished twelfth to fifteenth in each division. Coming into Liga Bet are the two clubs are relegated from each of the regional Liga Alef divisions (and one or two more, had they failed the play-off) and the eight clubs promoted from Liga Gimel. The clubs are then pooled and assigned to the most geographically appropriate of the four divisions.

Current members

The following teams participating at the 2019-2020 season:

Previous seasons

North A
Season Winner Relegated
Fourth tier
1998–99Hapoel HurfeishHapoel Karmiel, Beitar Tiberias, Hapoel Bu'eine
Fifth tier
1999–2000Tzeirei Nahf 1Maccabi Givat HaRakafot 2
2000–01Maccabi Ironi ShlomiHapoel Bnei Kafr Yasif, Beitar Safed, Hapoel Ironi I'billin
2001–02Hapoel TubaHapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo 3
2002–03Hapoel MakrMaccabi Bnei Yarka, Hapoel Kisra 4
2003–04Hapoel Bnei JadeidiMaccabi Bir al-Maksur 5
2004–05Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha 6Beitar Acre, Maccabi Majd al-Krum
2005–06Beitar Safed 7Hapoel Ironi I'billin 8
2006–07Beitar Ihud MashhadHapoel Kisra, Hapoel Deir Hana
2007–08Ahva Arraba 9Maccabi Kafr Yasif, Hapoel Yanuh
2008–09Maccabi Ironi JattBnei Abu Snan, Beitar Kafr Kanna
Fourth tier
2009–10Ahi AcreMaccabi Ironi Kabul, Hapoel Halat al-Sharif Tamra
2010–11Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-TarshihaHapoel Nahariya, Maccabi Kafr Sumei
2011–12Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur 10Maccabi Ironi Tirat HaCarmel, Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi
2012–13Beitar NahariyaHapoel Ahva Haifa, Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur
2013–14Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum 11Maccabi Tamra, Bnei Arraba
2014–15Hapoel Kafr KannaAhva Arraba, Hapoel Ironi Bnei I'billin
2015–16Tzeirei Kafr KannaAhi Bir al-Maksur, Hapoel Bnei Maghar

1 Hapoel Kafr Sumei were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet North divisions.

2 Hapoel Tel Hanan finished in the relegation zone but were transferred to the North B division.

3 Season played with only 15 teams.

4 Hapoel Sakhnin finished bottom but were not demoted.

5 Beitar Acre finished bottom but were not demoted.

6 Hapoel Umm al-Fahm were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Shefa-'Amr of Liga Alef North.

7 Beitar Haifa were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Tamra of Liga Alef North.

8 Hapoel Deir Hana finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted as both teams relegated from the northern division of Liga Alef folded.

9 Maccabi Tamra were also promoted after play-off victory over Beitar Haifa of Liga Alef North.

10 There was no automatic promotion in the 2011-12 season. Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur lost in promotion play-offs to Hapoel Migdal HaEmek of North B and to Hapoel Hadera of Liga Alef North and remained in Liga Bet.

11 Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel of Liga Alef North.

North B
Season Winner Relegated
Fourth tier
1998–99Maccabi HaderaHapoel Ilut, Maccabi Umm al-Fahm
Fifth tier
1999–2000Maccabi Ironi Tirat HaCarmelIroni Zikhron Ya'akov, Hapoel Barta'a, Maccabi Beit She'an
2000–01Hapoel Asi GilboaHapoel Arab Nujeidat, Beitar Iksal, Ironi Sayid Umm al-Fahm
2001–02Maccabi Tzur ShalomHapoel Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Maccabi Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Hapoel Fureidis
2002–03Hapoel ReinehHapoel Nahliel 1
2003–04Hapoel AfulaHapoel Bnei Nazareth 2
2004–05Hapoel Bnei TamraNone 3
2005–06Hapoel Ahva HaifaHapoel Kafr Misr/Nein 2
2006–07Ironi Sayid Umm Al-Fahm 4Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel, Hapoel Tel Hanan
2007–08Maccabi Kafr QaraHapoel Yokneam, Maccabi Or Akiva
2008–09Maccabi Umm al-FahmHapoel Deir el-Asad, Maccabi Sha'ab
Fourth tier
2009–10Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel 5Beitar Ihud Mashhad, Hapoel Bnei Musmus Ma'ale Iron
2010–11Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel 6Hapoel Ironi Ar'ara, Hapoel Bnei Jisr az-Zarqa
2011–12Hapoel Migdal HaEmekMaccabi Or Akiva, Maccabi Ironi Barta'a
2012–13Hapoel Beit She'an MesilotF.C. Kafr Kama, Ihud Bnei Baqa
2013–14Ironi NesherHapoel Isfiya, F.C. Bu'eine
2014–15Hapoel Ironi Baqa al-Gharbiyye 7Hapoel Bnei Nujeidat, Hapoel Umm al-Ghanem Nein
2015–16F.C Haifa Robi ShapiraIhud Bnei Baqa, F.C. Pardes Hanna-Karkur

1 Hapoel Bnei Nazareth finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.

2 Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.

3 Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel and Hapoel Kafr Misr/Nein finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.

4 Ironi Tiberias were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Kafr Sumei of Liga Alef North.

5 Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi of Liga Alef North.

6 F.C. Givat Olga were also promoted after play-off victory over Ironi Sayid Umm al-Fahm of Liga Alef North.

7 Hapoel Iksal were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Asi Gilboa of Liga Alef North.

South A
Season Winner Relegated
Fourth tier
1998–99Hapoel Kiryat OnoMaccabi Qalansawe, Hapoel Tel Mond, Maccabi Aharon Holon
Fifth tier
1999–2000Hapoel Herzliya 1Hapoel Ar'ara
2000–01Hapoel TiraMaccabi Bnei Tira, Maccabi Kafr Qasim
2001–02Maccabi HaShikma Ramat HenBeitar Holon, Hapoel Kafr Qasim, Maccabi Qalansawe, Beitar Ariel, Beitar Nes Tubruk 2
2002–03F.C. Kafr QasimShimshon Bnei Tayibe 3
2003–04Hapoel QalansaweM.M. Giv'at Shmuel, Maccabi Montefiore 4
2004–05Ironi Bat YamMaccabi Bnei Tira, Beitar Kiryat Ono
2005–06Maccabi Amishav Petah TikvaBeitar Jaffa, A.S. Holon
2006–07Maccabi Ironi Kfar Yona 5Hapoel Kiryat Ono, Hapoel Ihud Bnei Jaffa
2007–08Hapoel HaderaBeitar Pardes Hanna, Hapoel Qalansawe
2008–09Shimshon Bnei Tayibe 6Hapoel Hod HaSharon, Maccabi Ironi Or Yehuda
Fourth tier
2009–10Maccabi Kabilio JaffaOtzma Holon, Hapoel Ramat Yisrael
2010–11Beitar Kfar SabaBeitar Petah Tikva, Hapoel Oranit
2011–12Hapoel AzorHapoel Pardesiya, Shimshon Bnei Tayibe
2012–13Hapoel Mahane Yehuda 7Gadna Tel Aviv, Shikun Vatikim Ramat Gan
2013–14Hapoel Morasha Ramat HaSharon 8Maccabi HaSharon Netanya, Shimshon Bnei Tayibe
2014–15Hapoel Bik'at HaYardenMaccabi Bnei Jaljulia, Otzma Holon
2015–16F.C. Bnei Jaffa Ortodoxim 9Hapoel Tzafririm Holon, Ironi Beit Dagan

1 Hapoel Jaljulia were also promoted as the second best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions, after one spot vacated in Liga Alef South.

2 Season played with 18 teams.

3 Maccabi Yehud finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.

4 Maccabi Yehud finished bottom but were transferred to Liga Bet South B.

5 Beitar Kfar Saba were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions, after one spot vacated in Liga Alef South as Hapoel Maxim Lod folded.

6 Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions, after one spot vacated in Liga Alef South as Hapoel Umm al-Fahm folded.

7 F.C. Kafr Qasim were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Arad of Liga Alef South.

8 Hapoel Hod HaSharon were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Be'er Sheva of Liga Alef South.

9 F.C. Tira were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva of Liga Alef South.

South B
Season Winner Relegated
Fourth tier
1998–99A.S. Ramat EliyahuBeitar Beit Shemesh
Fifth tier
1999–2000Hapoel Marmorek1None
2000–01Ironi Ofakim 2Hapoel Rahat 3
2001–02Maccabi Be'er ShevaTzeirei Rahat, Maccabi Neve Alon Lod, Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba
2002–03Beitar Giv'at Ze'evHapoel Rahat, Hapoel Sde Uzziah
2003–04Hapoel Bnei LodNone 4
2004–05Hapoel Arad 5None 6
2005–06Hapoel Maxim Lod 7 8Maccabi Yehud 9
2006–07Maccabi Ironi NetivotMaccabi Kiryat Ekron, Hapoel Bnei Lakhish
2007–08Hapoel Masos/Segev Shalom 10Hapoel Tel Sheva, Hapoel Oranit
2008–09Hapoel Tzafririm HolonHapoel F.C. Hevel Modi'in, Hapoel Jaljulia
Fourth tier
2009–10Bnei EilatMaccabi Be'er Ya'akov, Hapoel Tirat Shalom
2010–11Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem 11Beitar Giv'at Ze'ev, Ironi Ramla
2011–12Maccabi Sha'arayimMaccabi Ironi Sderot, Hapoel Mevaseret Zion
2012–13Maccabi Be'er Ya'akovHapoel Merhavim, Bnei Yehud
2013–14F.C. Shikun HaMizrahMaccabi Ironi Sderot, Hapoel Abirei Bat Yam
2014–15Bnei EilatF.C. Bnei Ra'anana, Hapoel Arad
2015–16F.C. DimonaHapoel Merhavim, Hapoel Rahat

1 Maccabi Jerusalem/Ma'ale Adumim were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions.

2 Beitar Kiryat Gat were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions.

3 Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.

4 Maccabi Kiryat Ekron and Hapoel Oranit finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.

5 Ironi Nes Tziona were also promoted after play-off victory over Beitar Giv'at Ze'ev of Liga Alef South.

6 Tzeirei Rahat and Maccabi Yehud finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.

7 Ironi Ramla were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Sha'arayim of Liga Alef South.

8 Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi were also promoted due to the merger of Liga Alef South clubs, Beitar Kiryat Gat and Maccabi Kiryat Gat.

9 Hapoel Bnei Lakhish finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.

10 Hapoel Arad were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Tzafririm Holon of Liga Alef South.

11 Hapoel F.C. Ortodoxim Lod were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Nahlat Yehuda of Liga Alef South.

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