Liga Leumit (Hebrew: ליגה לאומית, lit. National League) is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.
[edit] Structure
There are 16 clubs in the Liga Leumit. Each team plays thirty rounds of matches, as determined by the Israel Football Association and is awarded three points for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. From these points a league table is constructed. Final League position is determined firstly by points obtained, then by goal difference, then goals scored, and if necessary, a mini-league of the results between two or more teams ranked using the previous three criteria and finally a series of one or more play off matches.
The league was expanded to 16 clubs at the 2009–10 season as part of wholesale restructuring agreed on 24 June 2008 (the Premier League will also expand to 16 clubs, whilst Liga Artzit, the third tier from 1999 until 2009, was abolished).[1]
[edit] Broadcast Rights
One match is broadcast live on Sport 5+ Live channel on Friday or Saturday afternoons.
[edit] History
Liga Leumit came into existence at the start of the 1954–55 season, replacing Liga Alef as the top division in Israeli football. However, it was usurped as the top flight in 2000, when it was replaced by the Premier League. Since then it has operated as the second tier in the Israeli football league system.
[edit] 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 | Hakoakh Amidar 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 |
[edit] Member clubs, 2009–10
[edit] Current Liga Leumit clubs (2009–10)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| Second division football seasons in Israel | | 1940–41 · 1941–42 · 1942–43 · 1943–44 · 1944–45 · 1945–46 · 1946–47 · 1947–48 · 1948–49 · 1949–50 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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