Liga Gimel
| Country |
 Israel |
|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Number of teams | 16X8 |
| Levels on pyramid | 5 |
| Promotion to | B League |
| Domestic cup(s) | State Cup |
| Current champions |
Hapoel Bu'eine (Upper Galilee) Hapoel Bnei Nujeidat (Lower Galilee) Null (South) Hapoel Bnei Nugidat (Jezreel) Hapoel Yokneam (Samaria) Shimshon Bnei Tayibe (Sharon) Hapoel Ramat Yisrael (Tel Aviv) Maccabi Ironi Sderot (Central) (2012–13) |
Liga Gimel (Hebrew: ליגה ג', lit. C League) is the fifth and bottom tier of Israeli football league system, a position it has held since 2009.
History
Liga Gimel was first established in 1951 as a third division, below Liga Alef and Liga Bet. In 1954, after designating the first tier as Liga Leumit, Liga Gimel was demoted to the fourth tier. Further demotions followed in 1976, after the second tier Liga Artzit to the fifth tier and in 1999, after the establishment of Liga Ha'Al to the sixth tier. In 2008 Liga Artzit was scrapped and Liga Gimel was brought up back to the fifth tier.
Although currently Liga Gimel is the bottom tier in the Israeli league pyramid, up until the 1984-85 season a further tier, Liga Dalet was below Liga Gimel, until it was scrapped due to declining number of teams.
Structure
As of 2013-14 season, Liga Gimel consists of eight divisions of varying size, four in the north and four in the less-populated south, with a total of 114 member clubs.
If they meet criteria laid down by the IFA, the top club from each division is promoted at the end of the season to the Liga Bet (the fourth level). Teams are assigned to their new Liga Bet divisions based on their geographical locations. As it is the lowest division, no clubs are relegated.
Liga Gimel Upper Galilee
The champion of Liga Gimel Upper Galilee is promoted to Liga Bet North A. For the 2013–14 season, the division is composed of:
- Beitar Julis
- F.C. Aramshe Danun
- F.C. Hatzor HaGlilit
- F.C. Julis
- F.C. Maccabi Nahariya
- F.C. Sallama Misgav
- Hapoel Bnei Hurfeish
- Hapoel Bnei Peki'in
- Hapoel Bnei Rameh
- Hapoel Ironi Safed
- Hapoel Merom HaGalil
- Hapoel Nahariya
- Hapoel Tarshiha
- Maccabi Ahva Yarka
- Maccabi Bnei Nahf
- Merkaz Kehilati Golan Katzrin
Past champions
- 1999–2000: Beitar Safed
- 2003–04: Hapoel Ironi I'billin
- 2004–05: Maccabi Kafr Yasif
- 2005–06: Maccabi Sha'ab
- 2006–07: Ahi Acre
- 2007–08: Hapoel Kaukab
- 2008–09: Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum
- 2009–10: Hapoel Shefa-'Amr
- 2010–11: F.C. Bu'eine
- 2011–12: Hapoel Bnei Maghar
- 2012–13: Hapoel Bu'eine
Liga Gimel Lower Galilee
The champion of Liga Gimel Lower Galilee is promoted to Liga Bet North A. It formed in 2013-14. For the 2013–14 season, the division is composed of:
- Ahi Bir al-Maksur
- Beitar Ein Mahil
- Beitar Kafr Kanna
- Bnei Kafr Yasif
- F.C. Kfar Kama
- F.C. Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur
- F.C. Tzeirei Tamra
- Hapoel Bnei Bi'ina
- Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi Makr
- Hapoel Bnei Makr
- Hapoel Ironi Bnei I'billin
- Ironi Bnei Sha'ab
- Maccabi Bnei Deir Hanna
- Maccabi Ironi Yafia
- Maccabi Kafr Manda
Liga Gimel Jezreel
The champion of Liga Gimel Jezreel is promoted to Liga Bet North B. For the 2013–14 season, the division is composed of:
- Beitar Afula
- Beitar al-Amal Nazareth
- Beitar Umm al-Fahm
- Bnei Umm al-Fahm
- F.C. Al-Nahda Nazareth
- F.C. Nazareth Illit Hanan Ohayon
- Hapoel Bnei Nazareth
- Hapoel Bnei Zilfa
- Hapoel Elitihad Nazareth
- Hapoel F.C. Sandala Gilboa
- Hapoel Ka'abiyye
- Hapoel Kafr Qara
- Hapoel Muawiyah
- Maccabi Ironi Barta'a
- Maccabi Isfiya
Past champions
- 1999–2000: Hapoel Yafia
- 2003-04: Hapoel Kafr Masr/Nein
- 2004-05: Hapoel Kafr Kama
- 2005-06: F.C. Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur
- 2006–07: Maccabi Beit She'an Nissim
- 2007–08: Hapoel Umm al-Ghanem Nein
- 2008–09: Maccabi Ahi Iksal
- 2009–10: F.C. Kfar Kama
- 2010–11: F.C. Daburiyya
- 2011–12: F.C. Tzeirei Tur'an
- 2012–13: Hapoel Bnei Nujeidat
Liga Gimel Samaria
The champion of Liga Gimel Samaria is promoted to Liga Bet North B. For the 2013–14 season, the division is composed of:
- Beitar Hadera
- Beitar Pardes Hanna
- F.C. Baqa
- F.C. Pardes Hanna
- Hapoel Ahva Haifa
- Hapoel Bnei Fureidis
- Hapoel Halissa
- Hapoel Ihud Bnei Jatt
- Hapoel Ironi Or Akiva
- Hapoel Spartak Haifa
- Hapoel Tirat HaCarmel
- Ihud Bnei Baqa
- Maccabi Ironi Tirat HaCarmel
- Maccabi Moriah
- Maccabi Neve Sha'anan Eldad
Past champions
- 1999–2000: Hapoel Baqa al-Gharbiyye
- 2003–04: Maccabi Or Akiva
- 2004–05: Maccabi Umm al-Fahm
- 2005–06: Ihud Bnei Baqa
- 2006–07: Maccabi Ironi Barta'a
- 2007–08: Maccabi Ironi Jatt
- 2008–09: Maccabi Or Akiva
- 2009–10: F.C. Givat Olga
- 2010–11: Hapoel Ironi Baqa al-Gharbiyye
- 2011–12: Hapoel Umm al-Fahm
- 2012–13: Hapoel Yokneam
Liga Gimel Sharon
The champion of Liga Gimel Sharon is promoted to Liga Bet South A. For the 2013–14 season, the division is composed of:
- Beitar Ironi Ariel
- Beitar Nes Tubruk
- Beitar Oranit
- F.C. Bnei Qalansawe
- F.C. Bnei Ra'anana
- F.C. Kafr Qasim Nibrass
- F.C. Netanya
- Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba
- Hapoel Jaljulia
- Hapoel Kafr Bara
- Hapoel Kafr Qasim Shouaa
- Hapoel Oranit Ironi
- Hapoel Pardesiya Noam
- Hapoel Tzeirei Qalansawe
- Shimshon Kafr Qasim
Past champions
- 1999–2000: Shimshon Bnei Tayibe
- 2003–04: Beitar Kfar Saba
- 2004–05: Maccabi Ironi Amishav Petah Tikva
- 2005–06: Beitar Pardes Hanna
- 2006–07: Hapoel Pardesiya Noam
- 2007–08: Maccabi HaSharon Netanya
- 2008–09: Beitar Petah Tikva
- 2009–10: Maccabi Bnei Jaljulia
- 2010–11: F.C. Tira
- 2011–12: Hapoel Morasha Ramat HaSharon
- 2012–13: Shimshon Bnei Tayibe
Liga Gimel Tel Aviv
The champion of Liga Gimel Tel Aviv is promoted to Liga Bet South A. For the 2013–14 season, the division is composed of:
- Agudat Sport Holon
- Beitar Ezra
- Beitar Jaffa Zion
- Bnei Yehud
- Brit Sport Ma'of
- Elitzur Jaffa Tel Aviv
- Elitzur Yehud Yotel
- F.C. Mahanaim Ramat Gan
- F.C. Roah Tel Aviv
- Hapoel F.C. Givat Shmuel
- Hapoel Kiryat Shalom
- Hapoel Neve Golan
- Ironi Beit Dagan
- Maccabi Ironi Or Yehuda
- Maccabi Pardes Katz
- Shikun Vatikim Ramat Gan
Past champions
- 1999–2000: Beitar City Holon
- 2003-04: Hapoel Ramat Yisrael
- 2004-05: Agudat Sport Holon
- 2005-06: Shikun Vatikim Ramat Gan
- 2006–07: F.C. Ironi Or Yehuda
- 2007–08: Maccabi Ironi Or Yehuda
- 2008–09: Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa
- 2009–10: Hapoel Oranit Ironi
- 2010-11: Gadna Tel Aviv Yehuda
- 2011-12: Otzma F.C. Holon
- 2012-13: Hapoel Ramat Yisrael
Liga Gimel Central
The champion of Liga Gimel Central is promoted to Liga Bet South B. Until 2012-13 it was known as Liga Gimel Central-South. For the 2013–14 season, the division is composed of:
- F.C. Beitar Yavne
- F.C. Rishon LeZion
- Hapoel F.C. Hevel Modi'in
- Hapoel Ironi Gedera
- Hapoel Matzliah
- Hapoel Mevaseret Zion
- Hapoel Ramla
- Hapoel Tirat Shalom
- Maccabi Hashikma Ramat Hen
- Maccabi Rehovot
- Maccabi Spartak Ramat Gan
Past champions
- 1999–2000: Hapoel Sde Uzziah/Be'er Tuvia
- 2002–03: Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi
- 2003–04: Hapoel Tirat Shalom
- 2004–05: F.C. Maxim Lod
- 2006–07: Bnei Eilat
- 2007–08: Hapoel F.C. Ortodoxim Lod
- 2008–09: Hapoel Rahat
- 2009–10: Bnei Yichalel Rehovot
- 2010–11: Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov
- 2011–12: Ironi Modi'in
- 2012–13: Maccabi Ironi Sderot
Liga Gimel South
The champion of Liga Gimel South is promoted to Liga Bet South B. Since 2013-14, it split from Liga Gimel Central-South and re-formed after three seasons of inactivity. For the 2013–14 season, the division is composed of:
- Bnei Elsalam Rahat
- F.C. Arad
- F.C. Ashkelon
- F.C. Hapoel Yeruham
- F.C. Ironi Kuseife
- F.C. Tzeirei Elhoshla
- Hapoel Merhavim
- Hapoel Tel Sheva
- Hapoel Tzeirei Elmahdi
- Maccabi Segev Shalom
- Moadon Kaduregel Be'er Sheva
Past champions
- 1999–2000: Hapoel Rahat
- 2003-04: Maccabi Ironi Netivot
- 2004-05: Hapoel Masos Shaqib al-Salam
- 2009–10: Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem
Defunct division champions
Western Galilee
- 1999–2000: Hapoel Maghar
- 2003-04: Hapoel Bnei Julis
- 2004-05: Beitar Ihud Mashhad
Bay Area
- 1999–2000: Hapoel Bnei Manda
Haifa
- 1999–2000: Maccabi Tzur Shalom
Gush Dan
- 1999–2000: Maccabi Yehud
External links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||