# Liga Bet

Liga Bet (Hebrew: ליגה ב', lit. 'League B') is the fourth tier of the Israeli football league system. It is divided into four regional divisions.

## History

League football started in Israel in 1949–50, a year after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. However, the financial and security crises gripping the young nation caused the 1950–51 season to be abandoned before it had started. When football resumed in 1951–52, the new top division went by the name of Liga Alef with Liga Bet as the second division. The 1952–53 season was also not played, and Liga Bet resumed in 1953–54.
In the 1955–56 season, Liga Leumit came into existence as the new top division, with Liga Alef becoming the second division and Liga Bet demoted to the third division. Restructuring in 1976 saw the creation of Liga Artzit as a new second tier, and the second demotion of Liga Bet, as it became the fourth division. Further restructuring to create the Israeli Premier League in 1999 saw Liga Bet demoted again, this time to the fifth tier. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Liga Artzit was scrapped as the Premier League and Liga Leumit were expanded to 16 clubs each, resulting in Liga Bet returning to the fourth tier.

## Structure

Since the 1959-60 season, Liga Bet is split into four regional divisions, North A, North B, South A and South B. Because Israel's northern half is much more densely populated than the desert south, the divisions are not spread equally and the southernmost division, South B, covers about two-thirds of the country. Although this inequality is partially offset by the fact that there are so few clubs south of Beersheba (Arad, Dimona, Yeroham, Mitzpe Ramon and Eilat are the only sizable towns south of the city), the northern clubs tend to be clustered in the Galilee region, making travel to away matches much less of a chore.
Each division has sixteen clubs, who play each other home and away to make a 30-game season. The club finishing top of each regional division is promoted to Liga Alef, whilst the second to fifth-placed clubs in each division play-off at the end of the season, until the play-off winner of North A faces the play-off winner of North B, and the play-off winner of South A faces the play-off winner of South B. The two winners advance to a decisive match against the two third-bottom clubs in Liga Alef, North and South, for a place in that division. The club finishing bottom of each regional division is relegated to Liga Gimel, the fifth and bottom tier, whilst another club from each division is relegated after relegation play-offs, involving the clubs that finished twelfth to fifteenth in each division. Coming into Liga Bet are the two clubs are relegated from each of the regional Liga Alef divisions (and one or two more, had they failed the play-off) and the eight clubs promoted from Liga Gimel. The clubs are then pooled and assigned to the most geographically appropriate of the four divisions.

## Current members

The following teams participating at the 2020/2021 season:

## Previous seasons
### North A

| Season | Winner | Relegated |
| Fourth tier |||
| 1998–99 | Hapoel Hurfeish | Hapoel Karmiel, Beitar Tiberias, Hapoel Bu'eine |
| Fifth tier |||
| 1999–2000 | Tzeirei Nahf $^1$ | Maccabi Givat HaRakafot $^2$ |
| 2000–01 | Maccabi Ironi Shlomi | Hapoel Bnei Kafr Yasif, Beitar Safed, Hapoel Ironi I'billin |
| 2001–02 | Hapoel Tuba | Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo $^3$ |
| 2002–03 | Hapoel Makr | Maccabi Bnei Yarka, Hapoel Kisra $^4$ |
| 2003–04 | Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi | Maccabi Bir al-Maksur $^5$ |
| 2004–05 | Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha $^6$ | Beitar Acre, Maccabi Majd al-Krum |
| 2005–06 | Beitar Safed $^7$ | Hapoel Ironi I'billin $^8$ |
| 2006–07 | Beitar Ihud Mashhad | Hapoel Kisra, Hapoel Deir Hana |
| 2007–08 | Ahva Arraba $^9$ | Maccabi Kafr Yasif, Hapoel Yanuh |
| 2008–09 | Maccabi Ironi Jatt | Bnei Abu Snan, Beitar Kafr Kanna |
| Fourth tier |||
| 2009–10 | Ahi Acre | Maccabi Ironi Kabul, Hapoel Halat al-Sharif Tamra |
| 2010–11 | Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha | Hapoel Nahariya, Maccabi Kafr Sumei |
| 2011–12 | Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur $^{10}$ | Maccabi Ironi Tirat HaCarmel, Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi |
| 2012–13 | Beitar Nahariya | Hapoel Ahva Haifa, Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur |
| 2013–14 | Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum $^{11}$ | Maccabi Tamra, Bnei Arraba |
| 2014–15 | Hapoel Kafr Kanna | Ahva Arraba, Hapoel Ironi Bnei I'billin |
| 2015–16 | Tzeirei Kafr Kanna | Ahi Bir al-Maksur, Hapoel Bnei Maghar |
$^1$ Hapoel Kafr Sumei were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet North divisions.
$^2$ Hapoel Tel Hanan finished in the relegation zone but were transferred to the North B division.
$^3$ Season played with only 15 teams.
$^4$ Hapoel Sakhnin finished bottom but were not demoted.
$^5$ Beitar Acre finished bottom but were not demoted.
$^6$ Hapoel Umm al-Fahm were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Shefa-'Amr of Liga Alef North.
$^7$ Beitar Haifa were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Tamra of Liga Alef North.
$^8$ Hapoel Deir Hana finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted as both teams relegated from the northern division of Liga Alef folded.
$^9$ Maccabi Tamra were also promoted after play-off victory over Beitar Haifa of Liga Alef North.
$^{10}$ There was no automatic promotion in the 2011-12 season. Tzeirei Bir al-Maksur lost in promotion play-offs to Hapoel Migdal HaEmek of North B and to Hapoel Hadera of Liga Alef North and remained in Liga Bet.
$^{11}$ Maccabi Sektzia Ma'alot-Tarshiha were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel of Liga Alef North.

### North B

| Season | Winner | Relegated |
| Fourth tier |||
| 1998–99 | Maccabi Hadera | Hapoel Ilut, Maccabi Umm al-Fahm |
| Fifth tier |||
| 1999–2000 | Maccabi Ironi Tirat HaCarmel | Ironi Zikhron Ya'akov, Hapoel Barta'a, Maccabi Beit She'an |
| 2000–01 | Hapoel Asi Gilboa | Hapoel Arab Nujeidat, Beitar Iksal, Ironi Sayid Umm al-Fahm |
| 2001–02 | Maccabi Tzur Shalom | Hapoel Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Maccabi Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Hapoel Fureidis |
| 2002–03 | Hapoel Reineh | Hapoel Nahliel $^1$ |
| 2003–04 | Hapoel Afula | Hapoel Bnei Nazareth $^2$ |
| 2004–05 | Hapoel Bnei Tamra | None $^3$ |
| 2005–06 | Hapoel Ahva Haifa | Hapoel Kafr Misr/Nein $^2$ |
| 2006–07 | Ironi Sayid Umm Al-Fahm $^4$ | Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel, Hapoel Tel Hanan |
| 2007–08 | Maccabi Kafr Qara | Hapoel Yokneam, Maccabi Or Akiva |
| 2008–09 | Maccabi Umm al-Fahm | Hapoel Deir el-Asad, Maccabi Sha'ab |
| Fourth tier |||
| 2009–10 | Hapoel Daliyat al-Karmel $^5$ | Beitar Ihud Mashhad, Hapoel Bnei Musmus Ma'ale Iron |
| 2010–11 | Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel $^6$ | Hapoel Ironi Ar'ara, Hapoel Bnei Jisr az-Zarqa |
| 2011–12 | Hapoel Migdal HaEmek | Maccabi Or Akiva, Maccabi Ironi Barta'a |
| 2012–13 | Hapoel Beit She'an Mesilot | F.C. Kafr Kama, Ihud Bnei Baqa |
| 2013–14 | Ironi Nesher | Hapoel Isfiya, F.C. Bu'eine |
| 2014–15 | Hapoel Ironi Baqa al-Gharbiyye $^7$ | Hapoel Bnei Nujeidat, Hapoel Umm al-Ghanem Nein |
| 2015–16 | F.C Haifa Robi Shapira | Ihud Bnei Baqa, F.C. Pardes Hanna-Karkur |
$^1$ Hapoel Bnei Nazareth finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.
$^2$ Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.
$^3$ Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel and Hapoel Kafr Misr/Nein finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.
$^4$ Ironi Tiberias were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Kafr Sumei of Liga Alef North.
$^5$ Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi of Liga Alef North.
$^6$ F.C. Givat Olga were also promoted after play-off victory over Ironi Sayid Umm al-Fahm of Liga Alef North.
$^7$ Hapoel Iksal were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Asi Gilboa of Liga Alef North.

### South A

| Season | Winner | Relegated |
| Fourth tier |||
| 1998–99 | Hapoel Kiryat Ono | Maccabi Qalansawe, Hapoel Tel Mond, Maccabi Aharon Holon |
| Fifth tier |||
| 1999–2000 | Hapoel Herzliya $^1$ | Hapoel Ar'ara |
| 2000–01 | Hapoel Tira | Maccabi Bnei Tira, Maccabi Kafr Qasim |
| 2001–02 | Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen | Beitar Holon, Hapoel Kafr Qasim, Maccabi Qalansawe, Beitar Ariel, Beitar Nes Tubruk $^2$ |
| 2002–03 | F.C. Kafr Qasim | Shimshon Bnei Tayibe $^3$ |
| 2003–04 | Hapoel Qalansawe | M.M. Giv'at Shmuel, Maccabi Montefiore $^4$ |
| 2004–05 | Ironi Bat Yam | Maccabi Bnei Tira, Beitar Kiryat Ono |
| 2005–06 | Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva | Beitar Jaffa, A.S. Holon |
| 2006–07 | Maccabi Ironi Kfar Yona $^5$ | Hapoel Kiryat Ono, Hapoel Ihud Bnei Jaffa |
| 2007–08 | Hapoel Hadera | Beitar Pardes Hanna, Hapoel Qalansawe |
| 2008–09 | Shimshon Bnei Tayibe $^6$ | Hapoel Hod HaSharon, Maccabi Ironi Or Yehuda |
| Fourth tier |||
| 2009–10 | Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa | Otzma Holon, Hapoel Ramat Yisrael |
| 2010–11 | Beitar Kfar Saba | Beitar Petah Tikva, Hapoel Oranit |
| 2011–12 | Hapoel Azor | Hapoel Pardesiya, Shimshon Bnei Tayibe |
| 2012–13 | Hapoel Mahane Yehuda $^7$ | Gadna Tel Aviv, Shikun Vatikim Ramat Gan |
| 2013–14 | Hapoel Morasha Ramat HaSharon $^8$ | Maccabi HaSharon Netanya, Shimshon Bnei Tayibe |
| 2014–15 | Hapoel Bik'at HaYarden | Maccabi Bnei Jaljulia, Otzma Holon |
| 2015–16 | F.C. Bnei Jaffa Ortodoxim $^9$ | Hapoel Tzafririm Holon, Ironi Beit Dagan |
$^1$ Hapoel Jaljulia were also promoted as the second best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions, after one spot vacated in Liga Alef South.
$^2$ Season played with 18 teams.
$^3$ Maccabi Yehud finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.
$^4$ Maccabi Yehud finished bottom but were transferred to Liga Bet South B.
$^5$ Beitar Kfar Saba were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions, after one spot vacated in Liga Alef South as Hapoel Maxim Lod folded.
$^6$ Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions, after one spot vacated in Liga Alef South as Hapoel Umm al-Fahm folded.
$^7$ F.C. Kafr Qasim were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Arad of Liga Alef South.
$^8$ Hapoel Hod HaSharon were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Be'er Sheva of Liga Alef South.
$^9$ F.C. Tira were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva of Liga Alef South.

### South B

| Season | Winner | Relegated |
| Fourth tier |||
| 1998–99 | A.S. Ramat Eliyahu | Beitar Beit Shemesh |
| Fifth tier |||
| 1999–2000 | Hapoel Marmorek$^1$ | None |
| 2000–01 | Ironi Ofakim $^2$ | Hapoel Rahat $^3$ |
| 2001–02 | Maccabi Be'er Sheva | Tzeirei Rahat, Maccabi Neve Alon Lod, Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba |
| 2002–03 | Beitar Giv'at Ze'ev | Hapoel Rahat, Hapoel Sde Uzziah |
| 2003–04 | Hapoel Bnei Lod | None $^4$ |
| 2004–05 | Hapoel Arad $^5$ | None $^6$ |
| 2005–06 | Hapoel Maxim Lod $^7$ $^8$ | Maccabi Yehud $^9$ |
| 2006–07 | Maccabi Ironi Netivot | Maccabi Kiryat Ekron, Hapoel Bnei Lakhish |
| 2007–08 | Hapoel Masos/Segev Shalom $^{10}$ | Hapoel Tel Sheva, Hapoel Oranit |
| 2008–09 | Hapoel Tzafririm Holon | Hapoel F.C. Hevel Modi'in, Hapoel Jaljulia |
| Fourth tier |||
| 2009–10 | Bnei Eilat | Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov, Hapoel Tirat Shalom |
| 2010–11 | Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem $^{11}$ | Beitar Giv'at Ze'ev, Ironi Ramla |
| 2011–12 | Maccabi Sha'arayim | Maccabi Ironi Sderot, Hapoel Mevaseret Zion |
| 2012–13 | Maccabi Be'er Ya'akov | Hapoel Merhavim, Bnei Yehud |
| 2013–14 | F.C. Shikun HaMizrah | Maccabi Ironi Sderot, Hapoel Abirei Bat Yam |
| 2014–15 | Bnei Eilat | F.C. Bnei Ra'anana, Hapoel Arad |
| 2015–16 | F.C. Dimona | Hapoel Merhavim, Hapoel Rahat |
$^1$ Maccabi Jerusalem/Ma'ale Adumim were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions.
$^2$ Beitar Kiryat Gat were also promoted as the best runners-up in Liga Bet South divisions.
$^3$ Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.
$^4$ Maccabi Kiryat Ekron and Hapoel Oranit finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.
$^5$ Ironi Nes Tziona were also promoted after play-off victory over Beitar Giv'at Ze'ev of Liga Alef South.
$^6$ Tzeirei Rahat and Maccabi Yehud finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.
$^7$ Ironi Ramla were also promoted after play-off victory over Maccabi Sha'arayim of Liga Alef South.
$^8$ Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi were also promoted due to the merger of Liga Alef South clubs, Beitar Kiryat Gat and Maccabi Kiryat Gat.
$^9$ Hapoel Bnei Lakhish finished in the relegation zone but were not demoted.
$^{10}$ Hapoel Arad were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Tzafririm Holon of Liga Alef South.
$^{11}$ Hapoel F.C. Ortodoxim Lod were also promoted after play-off victory over Hapoel Nahlat Yehuda of Liga Alef South.