Hapoel Ashdod F.C. (Hebrew: הפועל אשדוד) is an Israeli football club based in Ashdod. In 1999, it merged with local rivals Ironi Ashdod to create F.C. Ashdod.
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| Full name | Hapoel Ashdod Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Reds | ||
| Founded | 1957 2015 (Re-established) | ||
| Dissolved | 1999 (Original club, merged with Ironi Ashdod). | ||
| Ground | Yud-Alef Stadium, Ashdod | ||
| Capacity | 7,800 | ||
| Chairman | Merav Ayash | ||
| Manager | Stav Elimelech | ||
| League | Liga Alef South | ||
| 2023–24 | Liga Alef South, 6th of 16 | ||
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In 2015, the club was resurrected by its fans.[1]
History
editOriginal club
editThe club was founded in 1957 and reached the second tier after winning Liga Bet South B Division in the 1970–71 season. After several lower-table finishes, the club was relegated to Liga Alef at the end of the 1978–79 season, in which they finished bottom. They returned to the second division at the end of the 1989–90 season, in which they won the southern division of Liga Alef, beating local rivals Maccabi Ironi Ashdod to the title by a single point. They narrowly avoiding relegation in 1993–94, when they finished one place above the relegation zone, but after several more lower-table finishes, in 1997–98 the club finished third, one place below promotion to the top division, but the following season finished tenth,[2] and were due to be relegated two divisions due to financial problems. However, the club merged with Maccabi Ironi Ashdod, to form F.C. Ashdod.
In 2001 a new club, Hapoel Namal Ashdod was established, playing in Liga Gimel. Although the club was initially successful, winning its division and gaining promotion to Liga Bet, at the end of the 2003–04 season, in which it finished fourth, it was disbanded.
Re-established club
editIn March 2015, fans of Hapoel Ashdod gathered and re-established the club, with the purpose of joining Liga Gimel in the 2015–16 season.[3][4]
Later on that month, F.C. Ashdod's chairman, Jacky Ben-Zaken, decided to rename F.C. Ashdod to Hapoel Ashdod and to play in red shirts, following a dispute with fans of the previous club, Maccabi Ironi Ashdod.[5] Despite warnings from the Israel Football Association, which informed the club that such changes during season are illegal,[6] F.C. Ashdod did show up for their Bottom playoff match against Hapoel Ra'anana in red shirts, with the caption "F.C. Hapoel Ashdod",[7] and was eventually disciplined.[8] However, Hapoel Ashdod fans have decided that the club will be registered in Liga Gimel, rather than joining forces with Ben-Zaken's F.C. Ashdod.[1]
At the same time, another group of Hapoel Ashdod fans, headed by lawyer Ya'akov Shitrit, formed a second club, due to play in 2015–16 Liga Gimel. As Shitrit's group was affiliated with the Hapoel organization, this club was registered in the IFA under the name Hapoel Bnei Ashdod (Hebrew:הפועל בני אשדוד),[9] while the fans' club was forced to drop the name Hapoel from their club and registered under the name of Agudat Sport Ashdod (Hebrew: אגודת ספורט אשדוד),[10] (or in short Hebrew: א.ס. אשדוד, Aleph Samekh Ashdod, lit. A.S. Ashdod).[11]
On 18 September 2015 the club played it first official match, beating F.C. Tzeirei al-Hoshla 6–0 in the first round of the State Cup.[12] The club's first manager, former Hapoel Tel Aviv player Moris Zano led the club through its first matches, but was fired in October 2015.[13] In December 2015, the club signed Pini Balili as its new manager.[14]
Current squad
edit- As of 30 October 2024
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Honours
edit| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Third tier | 2 | 1970–71, 1989–90 |
| Fourth tier | 1 | 1963–64, 1986–87[15] |
Notable former managers
edit- Gili Landau (born 1958)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Hapoel Ashdod was re-established last night in enthusiastic conference Bar Rabinovich & Noam Altman, Ashdod 10, 30.3.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Israel Second Level 1998/99 RSSSF
- ^ Hapoel Ashdod resurrected Erez Na'aman & Avihai Haim, Goler1, 4.3.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Restored to its former glory: Hapoel Ashdod returns Kobi Portal, Doublepass, 4.3.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Ben Zaken decided: The team will be called Hapoel Ashdod Shirley Bar Dayan, Sport 5, 14.3.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Ashdod can't change name Sport 2, 18.3.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Red of shame: 4:0 for Ra'anana over Ashdod. Watch David Nathan, Ynet, 21.3.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Not a bargain: Ashdod to be disciplined for the red shirts Sport 5, 30.3.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Hapoel Ashdod Vs Hapoel Ashdod war Shahar Kahlon, Ashdodnet, 23.7.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Agudat Sport Ashdod Archived 2015-11-22 at the Wayback Machine The Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)
- ^ Derby every week? 3 teams from Ashdod were assigned to the same district Kobi Portal, Doublepass, 27.8.2015 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Hallelujah to the Red Teams of Ashdod: First Wins in the League Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Noam Altahan, 20 September 2015, Ashdod 10 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Breaking: Moris Zano, Coach of the Reds, Goes Home After Derby Loss to Ironi[permanent dead link] Noam Altahan, 22 October 2015, Ashdod 10 (in Hebrew)
- ^ Pini Balili: I Have Won Championships and Cup, But I Still Haven't Won Promotion Kobi Portal, 7 December 2015, Doublepass (in Hebrew)
- ^ Isfiya and Ashdod Promoted to Liga Bet[permanent dead link] Ma'ariv, 26 April 1987, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
External links
edit- Agudat Sport Ashdod – Israel Football Association (in Hebrew) (archived 22 November 2015)