Hapoel Rishon LeZion F.C.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hapoel Rishon leZion
Hapoel Rishon LeZion's emblem
Full nameHapoel Rishon LeZion
הפועל ראשון לציון
Nickname(s)Rishonia
Founded1940; 82 years ago (1940)
GroundHaberfeld Stadium, Rishon LeZion
Capacity6,000
Owner
General DirectorMeni Koretski
ManagerHaim Shabo
LeagueLiga Leumit
2020–21Liga Leumit, 4th
Away colours

Hapoel Rishon LeZion F.C. (Hebrew: הפועל ראשון לציון) is an Israeli football club based in the city of Rishon LeZion, which currently plays in Liga Leumit, Israel's second football division. Home matches are hosted at the Haberfeld Stadium. In 1991, the club changed its name to Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion (Hebrew: הפועל עירוני ראשון לציון), and in June 2008 the name was switched back to Hapoel Rishon LeZion following a change in ownership.[1]

History[]

Hapoel Rishon LeZion was one of the first clubs in the history of league football in Israel. The football section of the Sports club was established in 1929,[2] and played several matches since 1933,[3][4] including competing at the Palestine Cup in 1937 and 1939. The club was formally established in 1940.[5][6]

Its best achievements were runner-up of the Israel State Cup in 1946 and 1996. On both occasions it lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Following its cup final in 1996, it played in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, but was eliminated in the qualifying round by Constructorul Chisinau of Moldova on away goals rule (0:1, 3:2).

The club played at the top division in Mandatory Palestine for the first time at the 1941–42 season and after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, became founder members of the Israeli League in 1949. In 1951–52, the club finished second bottom and dropped to the second tier.

Between 1952 and 1994 the club played just three seasons in the top division: 1978-79, 1980–81 (where they finished sixth) and 1981–82. In the 1991–92 season, while playing in Liga Alef, the third tier, it added the word Ironi to its name, and in the next two seasons, made two successive promotions and returned to the top flight once again after winning Liga Artzit in the 1993–94 season.[1] This time the club managed to stay nine consecutive seasons in the top league until it was relegated to the second tier, (Liga Leumit), at the end of the 2002–03 season, and three seasons later dropped further down to Liga Artzit, the third tier at the time.

In 2008–09, after the club changed its name back to Hapoel Rishon LeZion, it was promoted to Liga Leumit, the second tier.

In 2010–11, the club was promoted to the Israeli Premier League, the top tier. They were relegated back to Liga Leumit the following season.

On 4 December 2012, Hapoel Rishon LeZion won the 2012–13 Toto Cup Leumit.

In 2017-18, the club was just one point short of being promoted to the top tier, The Israeli Premier League, finishing third. In the following year, 2018-19, the club finished twelfth, and narrowly avoided relegation.

Season By Season
Season League Tier League Position
2015-16 2 12th
2016-17 2 10th
2017-18 2 3rd
2018-19 2 12th
2019-20 2 5th
2020-21 2 4th

Current squad[]

As to 8 August 2021
No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Israel ISR
3 DF Israel ISR
4 DF Israel ISR
5 DF Israel ISR Adi Nimni
6 MF Israel ISR
7 MF Israel ISR Sean Malka
8 FW Israel ISR
9 FW Israel ISR Amir Khalaila
10 MF Ivory Coast CIV
11 MF Israel ISR
12 DF Ivory Coast CIV
14 MF Israel ISR
15 MF Israel ISR Vladimir Broun
16 FW Israel ISR
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF Israel ISR
18 FW Israel ISR
19 DF Israel ISR
20 MF Israel ISR
21 FW Brazil BRA Mateus Lima
22 GK Israel ISR
23 DF Israel ISR
24 DF Israel ISR
26 DF Israel ISR Omri Luzon
28 MF Israel ISR
29 FW Israel ISR
31 DF Israel ISR
70 DF Israel ISR
84 GK Israel ISR

Notable former players[]

Managers[]

Honours[]

League[]

Honour No. Years
Second tier 1 1993–94
Third tier 3 1964–65, 1988–89, 1992–93

Cups[]

Honour No. Years
Toto Cup (second division) 1 2012–13

European Record[]

Season Round Opponents Home leg Away leg Aggregate
1996–97 Qualifying Round Moldova Constructorul Chişinău 3–2 0–1 3–3 (a)

References[]

  1. ^ a b History of Hapoel Rishon LeZion F.C. Hapoel Rishon LeZion fans Official Site (in Hebrew)
  2. ^ At the centennial, Rishon LeZion will be at the top (Page 9) Hadshot HaSport, 16 May 1980, archive.football.co.il (in Hebrew)
  3. ^ At the EIFA Davar, 1 December 1933, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  4. ^ Activities in Liga Bet South division , 15 December 1933, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  5. ^ The Stadium Hapoel Rishon LeZion Official Site (in Hebrew)
  6. ^ Club Hapoel Rishon LeZion fans Official Site (in Hebrew)

External links[]

Retrieved from ""