Hapoel Beit She'an F.C.

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.

Hapoel Beit She'an
Full nameHapoel Beit She'an Mesilot Football Club
Founded1953
2009 as Hapoel Beit She'an Mesilot
GroundMunicipal Stadium, Beit She'an
Capacity7,000
OwnerMunicipality of Beit She'an
ChairmanBeber Alkasalsi
ManagerRafi Buskila
LeagueLiga Bet North B
2019–20Liga Bet North B, 10th

History

The club was founded in 1953, and was renamed 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 6 February 2020
No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ISR Guy Salama
2 DF  ISR Nir Prizada
4 DF  ISR Shalev Knafi
5 DF  ISR Shai Yaakov
7 MF  ISR Michael Azulay
8 MF  ISR Guy Vaitzman
9 FW  ISR Tal Dagan
10 MF  ISR Eyal Barazani
11 FW  ISR Idan Levy
12 MF  ISR Assaf Buskila
13 GK  ISR Sharon Semo
14 MF  ISR Adir Dayan
15 MF  ISR Elior Ohayon
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF  ISR Yarin Avitan
18 DF  ISR Ziv Swisa
19 DF  ISR Ron Hayat
20 DF  ISR Sarel Azulay
22 GK  ISR Gili Levi
24 MF  ISR Yaniv Deri
55 FW  ISR Roy Sabag
70 DF  ISR Noam Yona
77 MF  ISR Sahar Cohen
— DF  ISR Tael Tayeb
— MF  ISR Ram Sofer
— MF  ISR Shimon Shilo
— FW  ISR Hen Elbaz

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 (in Hebrew)
  2. Shaken 'Arara Amos Keles, Doublepass, 4 September 2010 (in Hebrew)
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