Hapoel Ashkelon

Full name	Hapoel Ashkelon Football Club מועדון כדורגל הפועל אשקלון‎
Founded	1955
Ground	Sala Stadium, Ashkelon (Capacity: 10,000)
Chairman	Sharon Habazi
Manager	Uri Malmilian
League	Liga Leumit
2008-09	Liga Artzit, 2nd (promoted)
Home colours Away colours

Hapoel Ashkelon F.C. (Hebrew: מועדון כדורגל הפועל אשקלון‎, Moadon Kaduregel Hapoel Ashkelon) is an Israeli football club based in Ashkelon. The club is currently in Liga Leumit and plays at the 10,000-capacity Sala Stadium

Contents 1 History 1.1 Little Argentina 2 Current squad 3 Notable former players 4 Honours 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

After being founded in 1955, Hapoel Ashkelon spent their first few decades in the lower leagues of Israeli football. In 1997, they were promoted to Liga Leumit (then the top division) as Liga Artzit champions. However, the club finished bottom of the division, with a points deduction. They were later relegated to the third tier (which became Liga Artzit following the formation of the Israeli Premier League as the top division in 1999), before returning to the second division (now Liga Leumit) in 2004. 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 was relegated to Liga Artzit.

In 2008-09, the club finished second in the division and were promoted back to Liga Leumit.

[edit] 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.^[1] Among those who have represented Argentina within the squad have been Bryan Man, Carlos Chacana, Naón Isidro, Jonny Tennenbaum, Fernando Fligman and Gastón Sangoy.

[edit] Current squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Tzahi Gigi 3 DF Haim Izrin 4 DF Ran Kuzok 6 DF Ron Copperly 7 FW Bryan Man (holds teudat zehut) 8 MF Moshe Abutbul 9 FW Eliran Asao 10 MF Yossi Rosen 11 MF Nissim Assayag 12 DF Dudu Ben-Shushan 14 MF Oz Brandwein 15 MF Avi Avino

No. Position Player 16 DF Daniel Unger 17 FW Oshri Turgeman 18 FW Yinon Barda 19 FW Kwabena Agouda 20 DF Shuki Nagar 21 DF Yair Azulay 22 GK Yaniv Wahaba 23 GK Shai Fatlak 25 FW David Azulay 26 FW Omer Hadar 77 FW Sharon Gormazano

[edit] Notable former players

Bonni Ginzburg Messai Dego Asi Rahamim Barak Yitzhaki

Carlos Chacana Fernando Fligman Gastón Sangoy Jonny Tennenbaum Oseias Jales Dos Santos John de Wolf Sunday Rotimi

See Also: Category:Hapoel Ashkelon F.C. players

[edit] Honours

• Liga Artzit
  • Champions 1996-97, 2004-05
• Toto Cup
  • Liga Artzit winners 1985, 2002, 2003, 2005

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Fansite (Hebrew)

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