Liga Artzit
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Liga Artzit (Hebrew: ליגה ארצית, lit. Nationwide League) is the tier of Israeli football after Ligat Ha'Al and Liga Leumit, and is run by the Israel Football Association.
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[edit] Structure
There are 12 teams in Liga Artzit. Each team plays thirty three matches; the first 22 matches are played on a home and away basis, with the last 11 fixtures based on league positions after 22 games. Like the majority of leagues in the world, three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. Final League positions are 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.
At the end of the season, providing they meet certain criteria, the top two teams are promoted to Liga Leumit, and are replaced by the bottom two teams from that league. The teams finishing 11th and 12th in Liga Artzit are relegated to Liga Alef, where they are assigned to a geographically suitable division. They are replaced by the champions of Liga Alef North and Liga Alef South providing they meet criteria for entry into Liga Artzit.
[edit] History
Liga Artzit came into existence in 1974 with a restructuring of Israeli football. It replaced Liga Alef as the second division (below Liga Leumit), and unlike its regionalised predecessor, was a nationwide league (hence its name). For its first season, Liga Artzit was comprised of 12 teams. Four teams were demoted from Liga Leumit as it was reduced in size, and the top four clubs from Liga Alef North and Liga Alef South were promoted. In later seasons the number of members varied, though the usual number of clubs was 14.
In 1999 Liga Artzit was demoted to the third tier after the creation of Ligat Ha'Al. Since then it has consisted of 12 teams.
[edit] Previous seasons
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Relegated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-00 | Hapoel Ramat Gan | Beitar Tel Aviv¹ | Hapoel Ironi Dimona, Hapoel Iksal |
| 2000-01 | Hapoel Ra'anana | Maccabi Kfar Kana | Maccabi Ashkelon, Maccabi Sha'arim |
| 2001-02 | Hapoel Jerusalem | Hapoel Nazareth Illit | Hapoel Taibe, Maccabi Yavne |
| 2002-03 | Hakoakh Ramat Gan | Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona | Hapoel Bat Yam, Hapoel Kfar Semia |
| 2003-04 | Ironi Nir Ramat HaSharon | Hapoel Acre | Hapoel Tira, Hapoel Beit She'an |
| 2004-05 | Hapoel Ashkelon | Maccabi Be'er Sheva | Hapoel Majdal al-Karoum² |
| 2005-06 | Hapoel Bnei Lod | Maccabi Akhi Nazareth | Tzafririm Holon, Maccabi Tzur Shalom |
| 2006-07 | Hapoel Ramat Gan | Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion | Hapoel Herzliya, Maccabi Beersheba |
| 2007-08 | Hapoel Jerusalem | Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata | Maccabi HaShikma/Ramat Hen, Hapoel Kfar Shalem |
¹ Beitar Tel Aviv were not promoted
² Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata finished in 11th place, but were reprieved when Maccabi Ramat Amidar folded
[edit] External links
- Israel Football Association
- Liga Artzit Soccerway
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Liga Artzit 2008-09
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| Beitar/Shimshon Tel Aviv | Bnei Tamra | Hapoel Ashkelon | Hapoel Bnei Jadida | Hapoel Nazareth Illit | Hapoel Marmorek | Hapoel Umm al-Fahm | Ironi Rishon LeZion | Maccabi Kafr Kanna | Maccabi Bat Yam | Maccabi Tirat Carmel | Sektzia Nes Tziona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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