Maccabi Ahi Nazareth F.C.

Maccabi Ahi Nazareth
Full name Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Football Club
Nickname(s) The Green Nazarenes, Akhaa', Nazaret, Kvutsat HaMegzar, HaYarokim MeNatzrat
Founded 1968 (1968)
Ground Ilut Stadium, Ilut
Ground Capacity 4,932
Chairman Israel Kayed Abu Ayash
Manager Rifaat Turk
League Liga Leumit
2014–15 7th

Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Football Club (Hebrew: מכבי אחי נצרת, Mo'adon Kaduregel Maccabi Aḥi Natzrat; Arabic: نادي كرة القدم اخاء الناصرة, Nade Korat Alqadam Maccabi Ekhaa Al-Nasera) is an Israeli football club based in Nazareth. The club is currently in the Liga Leumit and plays at the Ilut Stadium in Ilut on the outskirts of the city.

History

The club was formed in 1968, and played in Liga Gimel until 1975. In 1998 they were promoted to Liga Artzit (then the second tier), finishing eighth in the league. In 1999–2000 and 2000–01 they finished one place above the relegation zone.

The 2002–03 season saw the club claim the Liga Leumit title, despite being deducted three points for playing an ineligible player, under the leadership of Azmi Nassar. They were promoted to the Israeli Premier League for the first time in their history. Fellow Israeli Arab club Bnei Sakhnin were also promoted, marking the first time two Arab clubs had been in the top division.

However, in their first season in the top division, the club finished bottom and were relegated back to Liga Leumit. The following season they were relegated again (due to a two-point deduction), and dropped back into the third division. In 2005–06 they finished as Liga Artzit runners-up, to make an immediate return to Liga Leumit, where they have remained since.

In 2008–09, the club was promoted to the Israeli Premier League.

After one of the worst seasons in the Israeli Premier League the club finished in the last spot of the league, In the last match she lost to Hapoel Ramat Gan 0–7 and were directly relegated to Liga Leumit for the 2010–11 season.

In the 2014–15 Israel State Cup, the club reached the Semi-finals for the first time in their history, after eliminating Maccabi Netanya, F.C. Ashdod and Hapoel Kfar Saba. However, in the Semi-finals, they were beaten 0-3 by the eventual cup winners, Maccabi Tel Aviv in Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem.

Current squad

As of 3 February 2016.

No. Position Player
1 Israel GK Gad Amos
2 Nigeria DF Taye Babalola
3 Israel DF Wesam Rabah
5 Israel DF Akram Shariach
6 Israel MF Adham Hadiya
7 Israel MF Moamen Saleh
8 Israel MF Amjad Sliman
9 Argentina FW Luciano Leonel Cigno
10 Israel MF Anas Dabour
11 Israel FW Mohammed Khatib
13 Democratic Republic of the Congo DF Paty Yeye Lenkebe
14 Israel MF Baha Abu Shibab
15 Israel DF Gal Sapir
17 Israel FW Omri Ron
No. Position Player
18 Israel DF Muhammed Shakhbari
19 Israel MF Habeb Jaber
20 Israel MF Sfouan Hilou
21 Israel FW Zidan Amar
23 State of Palestine FW Ali El-Khatib
24 Democratic Republic of the Congo DF Savity Lipenia
25 Israel MF Ravid Gazal
26 Israel MF Itay Elkaslasy
29 Israel DF I'yad Hutba
33 Israel GK Ibrahim Nijem
45 Israel GK Ahmed Akriya
88 Israel MF Isa Bakir
Israel DF Mohammed Tales
Israel MF Obieda Abu Rabiya

Past managers

Honours

Notable former and present players

External links

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