Hapoel Ashkelon F.C.

Hapoel Ashkelon
Full name	Hapoel Ashkelon Football Club; מועדון כדורגל הפועל אשקלון
Founded	1955; 2024 (as "Ironi Ashkelon")
Ground	Sala Stadium, Ashkelon
Capacity	5,250
Manager	Yair Azulay
League	Liga Gimel South
Home colours	Away colours

Hapoel Ashkelon F.C. (Hebrew: מועדון כדורגל הפועל אשקלון, Moadon Kaduregel Hapoel Ashkelon) was an Israeli football club based in Ashkelon.

History

After being founded in 1955, Hapoel Ashkelon spent their first few decades in the lower leagues of Israeli football. 1995–96 they won Liga Alef South division and promoted to Liga Artzit (then the second tier) and in 1996–97, they achieved second successive promotion, to Liga Leumit (then the top tier) as Liga Artzit champions. However, the club finished bottom of the division, with a points deduction. In 1999–2000, they were relegated to the third tier (which became Liga Artzit following the formation of the Israeli Premier League as the top tier in 1999), before returning to the second tier (now Liga Leumit), after winning Liga Artzit in the 2004–05 season. The club reached the State Cup final for the first time in 2007, but despite taking the lead, lost 5–4 on penalties to Hapoel Tel Aviv after a 1–1 draw. At the end of the season, the club finished 11th and relegated to Liga Artzit.

In 2008–09, the club finished as runners-up in Liga Artzit and promoted back to Liga Leumit.

In 2009–10, the club finished as runners-up in Liga Leumit and promoted back to the Israeli Premier League. Just a season later, the club finished 15th, and relegated back to Liga Leumit.

In 2013–14, the club finished 15th in Liga Leumit, and relegated to Liga Alef. The club made an immediate return to Liga Leumit, after winning Liga Alef South division in the following season. In 2015–16, the club won the Leumit Toto Cup following a victory of 1–0 against F.C. Ashdod. At the end of the season, they finished as runners-up and made a return to the Israeli Premier League, their second successive promotion under the guidance of Yuval Naim.^[1]

Little Argentina

Over the years, Hapoel Ashkelon has developed a tradition of signing Argentine footballers, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Many times, there were two Argentine players who played together and developed an attacking partnership together.^[2] Among those who have represented Argentina within the squad have been Bryan Man, Carlos Chacana, Naón Isidro, Jonny Tennenbaum, Fernando Fligman and Gastón Sangoy.

Relegation and Dissolution

In the 2022/23 Liga Bet season, Hapoel Ashkelon faced a devastating 9–0 defeat against Bnei Ashdod, leading to their relegation to Liga Gimel. Subsequently, the club dissolved, citing financial and organizational challenges. However, in the following season (2023/2024), Hapoel Ashkelon did not sign up for participation in Liga Gimel, The lack of support from the Ashkelon Municipality also played a pivotal role in the club's downfall. This lack of backing contributed to Hapoel Ashkelon's decline from the first league to the lowest league within a span of just six years, marking a somber end to the once-prominent football club's presence in the competitive football landscape.

Refoundation

In summer 2024 the club refounded in Liga Gimel as "Ironi Ashkelon".^[3]

Notable former players

Notable former managers

Rafi Cohen (born 1965)

References

^ Very nice: Hapoel Ashkelon is officially in the Premier League Gil Michaeli, Doublepass, 6 May 2016 (in Hebrew)
^ Levy, Eli (2008-10-30). אשקלון ג'וניורס [Ashkelon Juniors] (in Hebrew). MyNet. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
^ Dalal, Avihay (2024-07-31). "עירוני אשקלון מתחדשת: הפרויקט שמבקש להחזיר עטרה ליושנה" (in Hebrew). Doublepass. Retrieved 2024-07-31.

External links

Fansite (in Hebrew)
Hapoel Ashkelon – The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew) (archived)

[1] Very nice: Hapoel Ashkelon is officially in the Premier League Gil Michaeli, Doublepass, 6 May 2016 (in Hebrew)

[2] Levy, Eli (2008-10-30). אשקלון ג'וניורס [Ashkelon Juniors] (in Hebrew). MyNet. Retrieved 14 September 2009.

[3] Dalal, Avihay (2024-07-31). "עירוני אשקלון מתחדשת: הפרויקט שמבקש להחזיר עטרה ליושנה" (in Hebrew). Doublepass. Retrieved 2024-07-31.

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[2]

[3]

v t e Israeli Premier League
Clubs	Beitar Jerusalem Bnei Sakhnin F.C. Ashdod Hapoel Be'er Sheva Hapoel Hadera Hapoel Haifa Hapoel Jerusalem Ironi Kiryat Shmona Ironi Tiberias Maccabi Bnei Reineh Maccabi Haifa Maccabi Netanya Maccabi Petah Tikva Maccabi Tel Aviv
Stadiums	Bloomfield Stadium Doha Stadium Green Stadium HaMoshava Stadium Netanya Stadium Sammy Ofer Stadium Teddy Stadium Turner Stadium Yud-Alef Stadium
Former clubs	Bnei Yehuda Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan Hapoel Acre Hapoel Ashkelon Hapoel Kfar Saba Hapoel Nof HaGalil Hapoel Petah Tikva Hapoel Ra'anana Hapoel Ramat Gan Hapoel Ramat HaSharon Hapoel Rishon LeZion Hapoel Tel Aviv Hapoel Tzafririm Holon Maccabi Akhi Nazareth Maccabi Herzliya Maccabi Kiryat Gat Sektzia Ness Ziona
Competition	Champions Foreign players Players with 100+ goals Records All-time table
Associated competitions	Israel Super Cup Toto Cup Israel State Cup UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Europa Conference League
Seasons	1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e Liga Gimel
Upper Galilee	Bnei Maghar Hapoel Ihud Bnei Sumei F.C. Beit Jann Hapoel Mi'ilya Hapoel Nahef Hapoel Fassuta Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum Tzeirei Sakhnin
Lower Galilee	Beitar Kafr Kanna Beitar Kiryat Ata Bnei Kafr Yasif F.C. Kabul F.C. Kafr Yasif Hapoel Bnei Dir al-Asad Hapoel Ironi Ibli'in Maccabi Basmat Tab'un Maccabi Ihud Bnei Ibtin Tzeirei Kafr Manda
Jezreel	Beitar Umm al-Fahm Bnei Daburiyya Bnei Umm al-Fahm F.C. Kafr Kama F.C. Mash'ad Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel Hapoel Ein as-Sahala Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megido Hapoel Reineh Hapoel Tzeirei Nazareth Maccabi Ironi Barta'a Tzeirei Iksal
Samaria	Beitar Pardes Hanna F.C. Kababir F.C. Kiryat Haim F.C. Pardes Hanna-Karkur F.C. Or Akiva F.C. Karmel Haifa Hapoel Bnei Jasr a-Zarqa Hapoel Ihud Bnei Jatt Hapoel Kiryat Haim Maccabi Barkai Tzeirei Haifa Tzofey Haifa
Sharon	Beitar Kfar Saba Beitar Mate Binyamin Beitar Tubruk Bnei Jaljulia Bnei Tira F.C. Bnei Ra'anana F.C. Bnei Zemer F.C. Giv'at Shmuel F.C. Kafr Qasim Nibrass F.C. Ironi Ariel Hapoel 1928 Kfar Saba Hapoel Oranit Hapoel Pardesiya Ironi Rosh HaAyin Maccabi Ironi Kfar Yona Maccabi HaSharon Netanya Shimshon Bnei Tayibe
Tel Aviv	Agudat Sport Holon Beitar Ezra Beitar Jaffa Bnei Herzliya Bnei Yehud Dizengoff Tel Aviv Elitzur Jaffa Tel Aviv Elitzur Yehud Yotel F.C. Tel Aviv Hakoah Gil Ramat Gan Hapoel Neve Golan Hapoel Ramat Yisrael Hapoel Tzafririm Holon Maccabi Giv'at Shmuel Maccabi Hashikma Ramat Hen Maccabi Ironi Or Yehuda Maccabi Pardes Katz Maccabi Spartak Ramat Gan Maccabi Yehud-Monosson Shikun Vatikim Ramat Gan
Central	Ashdod City Beitar Gan Yavne Beitar Gedera Bnei Ramla Bnei Yeechalal Rehovot Beitar Ironi Ma'ale Adumim F.C. Be'er Ya'akov F.C. Rishon LeZion Hapoel Mevaseret Zion Hapoel Tirat Shalom Ihud Tzeirei Abu Gush Ironi Beit Shemesh Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov Maccabi Bnei Abu Gush Macccabi Kiryat Ekron Tzeirei Lod
South	Bnei Yeruham F.C. Be'er Sheva F.C. Be'er Sheva Haim Levy F.C. Meitar Hapoel Bnei Kuseife Hapoel Rahat Maccabi Ashkelon Maccabi Be'er Sheva Maccabi Ironi Hura Otzma Be'er Sheva Tzeirei Rahat
Seasons (fifth tier)	1958–59 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
Seasons (sixth tier)	1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09