Hapoel Ashkelon F.C.

Hapoel Ashkelon F.C. (Hebrew: מועדון כדורגל הפועל אשקלון‎, Moadon Kaduregel Hapoel Ashkelon) is an Israeli football club based in Ashkelon. The club currently competes in Liga Alef and plays at the 5,250-capacity Sala Stadium.

Hapoel Ashkelon
Full nameHapoel Ashkelon Football Club
מועדון כדורגל הפועל אשקלון
Founded1955 (1955)
GroundSala Stadium, Ashkelon
Capacity5,250
ManagerAsi Elimelech
LeagueLiga Alef South
2020–21Liga Alef South (Group B), 7th

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.

Current squad
As to 12 September 2021
No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ISR Tomer Asor
2 DF  ISR Yaniv Pashay
3 DF  ISR Yehonathan Levi
4 DF  ISR Amit Buhbut
6 DF  ISR Mishel Sarizky
7 MF  ISR Zion Tzemah
8 MF  ISR Rotem Baruch
9 FW  ISR Ron Jano
10 MF  ISR Yoni Yaacov
11 MF  ISR Noam Albalach
12 DF  ISR Or Azulay
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 GK  ISR Emmanuel Frenkel
14 DF  ISR Daniel Bohanada
15 FW  ISR Dolev Abergel
16 DF  ISR Yuval Kaninka
17 MF  ISR Shay Imlek
19 MF  ISR Gal Livne
20 MF  ISR Amos Shfirer
24 MF  ISR Afek Haddad
33 MF  ISR Ehud Elisha
45 DF  ISR Roei Sallem
99 FW  ISR Roy Abuhatzira

Notable former players

References
  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.
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