Hapoel Beit She'an F.C.

Hapoel Beit She'an
Full name Hapoel Beit She'an Mesilot Football Club
Founded 1953
2009 as Hapoel Beit She'an Mesilot
Ground Municipal Stadium, Beit She'an
Ground Capacity 7,000
Manager Haim Levy
League Liga Alef North
2014–15 4th

Hapoel Beit She'an (Hebrew: הפועל בית שאן) is an Israeli football club based in Beit She'an. The club spent several seasons in the top division in the 1990s, but after several relegations, folded in 2006, and refounded in 2009.

History

The club was founded in 1953, and was re-named Hapoel Beit She'an/Sde Nahum in 1969, as it merged with Hapoel Sde Nahum, which played in Liga Bet, but reverted to their old name two years later. They remained in Liga Bet until 1976 when they were promoted to Liga Alef, and in 1978, to Liga Artzit, then the second tier. The club was relegated back to Liga Alef at the end of the 1983-84 season, but returned to Liga Artzit in 1986. Although they were relegated again, they returned to the second tier in 1993 under the management of Elisha Levy. In 1993-94 they finished second, and were promoted to Liga Leumit (then the top division) for the first time.

Following promotion, the club played its first four home matches in Tiberias whilst their stadium was upgraded. In their first season in Liga Leumit the club survived on the final day of the season, coming from 2-0 down to Maccabi Haifa (who were playing to win the title) to win 3-2. A film was made about the campaign, entitled Underdogs: A War Story.

Levy left the club in 1995 but returned in 1997. On 2 May 1998 the club played Beitar Jerusalem (a match held at Kiryat Eliezer in Haifa on police advice) in a game that became known as the "Shoelaces Match", as Beit She'an were accused of allowing Beitar to win the match (and the title).

After several lower mid-table finishes, Hapoel were relegated at the end of the 1998-99 season. In 2001-02 they finished bottom of the second tier, and were relegated again. A third relegation occurred in 2003-04, this time to Liga Alef. At the end of the 2005-06 season they were relegated from Liga Alef, and folded, although the club's youth teams were still active.

In 2009 the club merged with Hapoel Kvalim Mesilot to form Hapoel Beit She'an Mesilot, which took Mesilot's place in Liga Bet.[1] A year later the team absorbed the local rival Maccabi Beit Shean, which gave up its place in Liga Bet.[2] The club was promoted to Liga Alef after winning Liga Bet North B division.

Current squad

As of 1 February 2016
No. Position Player
1 Israel GK Shlomi Itah
4 Israel DF Oleksandr Zhdanov
6 Israel DF Daniel Itzhak
7 Israel MF Tom Dan
8 Israel FW Itay Manzor
9 Israel FW Aviel Gabay
10 Israel FW Shlomi Mrad
11 Israel MF Liran Shriki
12 Israel DF Shay Knafi
15 Israel MF Yossi Ohana
16 Israel FW Noor Bisan
No. Position Player
17 Israel DF Snir Shitrit
18 Israel GK Yuri Sarkolski
19 Israel FW Shalev Swisa
20 Israel FW Ziv Swisa
22 Israel MF Shalom Shimon
24 Israel DF Dan Robert
77 Israel MF Sahar Cohen
80 Israel MF Tal Hatuil
92 Israel FW Mohammed Kanuati
Israel FW Rajeb Khalil

Honours

League

Honour No. Years
Third tier 3 1973–74, 1975–76, 1985–86
Fourth tier 3 1963–64, 1965–66, 2012–13

Cup competitions

Honour No. Years
Liga Bet North B Division Cup 1 2012–13

References

  1. Hapoel Beit She'an Mesilot Opens the Season Tomer Rona, mynet.co.il, 21 October 2009 (Hebrew)
  2. Shaken 'Arara Amos Keles, Doublepass, 4 September 2010 (Hebrew)

External links

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