Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona Football Club ( he, מועדון כדורגל הפועל עירוני קרית שמונה) known as Ironi Kiryat Shmona is an Israeli

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

club based in

Kiryat Shmona Kiryat Shmona ( he, קִרְיַת שְׁמוֹנָה, ''lit.'' Town of the Eight) is a city in the Northern District of Israel on the western slopes of the Hula Valley near the Lebanese border. The city was named after the eight people, includi ...

. The club is a current member of the

Israeli Premier League The Israeli Premier League ( he, ליגת העל, ''Ligat Ha`Al'', ), is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Israeli Football League – the state's league of Israel. The league is contested b ...

, and plays at the Ironi Stadium. They won their first league title in 2011–12.

History

The club was founded in 2000 by a merger of Hapoel Kiryat Shmona of

Liga Alef Liga Alef ( he, ליגה א', , League A) is the third tier of the Israeli football league system. It is divided into two regional divisions, north and south. History League football began in Israel in 1949–50, a year after the Israeli Declar ...

and Maccabi Kiryat Shmona of

Liga Bet Liga Bet ( he, 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 ...

, and took Hapoel Kiryat Shmona's place in Liga Alef, as well as playing at Hapoel's stadium. The merger was initiated by businessman Izzy Sheratzky owner of Ituran Location and Control, who are the official sponsors of the team. In the new club's first season they won the North Division of Liga Alef and were promoted to

Liga Artzit Liga Artzit ( he, ליגה ארצית, lit. ''Country League'') is the defunct third division of Israeli Football League, beneath its highest division Premier League and the second division Liga Leumit. Before being cancelled in 2009, it was run b ...

. In 2002–03 they finished as runners-up to

Hakoah Ramat Gan Hakoah Maccabi Amidar Ramat Gan Football Club ( he, מועדון כדורגל הכח מכבי עמידר רמת גן) is an Israeli football club based in Ramat Gan. The club is currently in Liga Alef South division and plays at the Winter Stadiu ...

and were promoted to

Liga Leumit Liga Leumit ( he, ליגה לאומית, lit. ''National League'') is the second division of the Israeli Football League, and below its Premier League. Structure There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the two lowest-place ...

. In their first season at the second level they narrowly missed out on promotion, only finishing below runners-up

Hapoel Nazareth Illit Hapoel Nof HaGalil Football Club (, ar, هبوعيل نوف هچليل) is an Israeli football club based in the city of Nof HaGalil, Formally known by the name "Nazareth Illit" until 2019 (The club accordingly was named as Hapoel Nazareth Ill ...

on goal difference. They finished third again in 2005–06, but won the league in 2006–07 to earn promotion to the

, the first time a club from the town had played in the top division. In the same season they also won the Liga Leumit

Toto Cup The Israel Toto Cup ( he, גביע הטוטו, ''Gvia Ha'Toto'') is an association football tournament that features clubs in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Israeli Premier League ( Ligat Ha'Al), and the second division Liga Leumit. Fro ...

. The club's first season in the Premier League saw them finish third and qualify for the

UEFA Cup A cup is an open-top used to hold hot or cold liquids for pouring or drinking; while mainly used for drinking, it also can be used to store Solid, solids for pouring (e.g., sugar, flour, grains, salt). Cups may be made of glass, metal, porcela ...

. In their first season in Europe, home matches had to be played at the

Kiryat Eliezer Stadium The Haifa Municipal Stadium ( he, האצטדיון העירוני חיפה, ''Etztadion HaIroni Haifa''), more commonly known as Kiryat Eliezer (), was a multi-use stadium in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood of Haifa, Israel. It was mostly used fo ...

Haifa Haifa ( he, חֵיפָה ' ; ar, حَيْفَا ') is the third-largest city in Israel—after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—with a population of in . The city of Haifa forms part of the Haifa metropolitan area, the third-most populous metropol ...

. After knocking out

FK Mogren FK Mogren was a football club based in Budva, Montenegro. Founded in 1920, it was two times champion of Montenegrin First League and once winner of Montenegrin Cup. In 2015, following the bankruptcy and debts, FK Mogren was relegated to the lowest ...

, they lost to

Litex Lovech Litex ( bg, Литекс) is a Bulgarian professional association football club based in Lovech, which currently competes in the Second League. The club was founded in 1921 as Hisarya Sports Club. The club's home ground is the Gradski Stadion ...

in the second qualifying round. In 2008–09, the club finished bottom of the Premier League and were relegated to

. However, the following season they won the division and were promoted back to the Premier League. On 15 December 2009, Ironi Kiryat Shmona won the

2009–10 Toto Cup Leumit The 2009–10 Toto Cup Leumit was the twenty-eight season of the third most important football tournament in Israel since its introduction and sixth under the current format. It was held in two stages. First, sixteen Liga Leumit teams were divided ...

. On 19 January 2011, Ironi Kiryat Shmona won the

2010–11 Toto Cup Al The 2010–11 Toto Cup Al was the twenty-nine season of the third most important football tournament in Israel since its introduction and seventh under the current format. It was held in two stages. First, sixteen Premier League teams were divided ...

, a year after winning the Leumit version of the cup, it was their first major title. In addition, Ironi Kiryat Shmona became the first team to win both first and second Toto Cup trophy in a back-to-back year. On 24 January 2012, Ironi Kiryat Shmona defended their Toto Cup Al by beating Hapoel Tel Aviv in the

2011–12 Toto Cup Al The 2011–12 Toto Cup Al was the thirtieth season of the third most important football tournament in Israel since its introduction and the first under the current format. It was held in two stages. First, sixteen Premier League teams were divided ...

finals. On 2 April 2012, Ironi Kiryat Shmona won the Israeli Premier League and became the 14th Israeli champions. They won the league after finishing their match against runner-up Hapoel Tel Aviv in a goalless draw with five rounds left in the league. Their championship was the first to be won by a team outside the three major cities (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa) for almost 30 years. On 20 May 2012, The club changed its badge due to UEFA sponsorship rules which forbids the use of a sponsor name in both the kit and team badge. The new badge includes a number of footballs including a big one which used in the former badge, the

Lion of Judah The Lion of Judah ( he, אריה יהודה, ) is a Jewish national and cultural symbol, traditionally regarded as the symbol of the tribe of Judah. The association between the Judahites and the lion can first be found in the blessing given by ...

statue from the

Battle of Tel Hai The Battle of Tel Hai was fought on 1 March 1920 between Arab irregulars and a Jewish defensive paramilitary force protecting the village of Tel Hai in Northern Galilee. In the course of the event, a Shiite Arab militia, accompanied by Bedouin fro ...

and a gold star to mark the only team championship. In 2020, the club were on the verge of relegation to the

, trailing three points behind the 12th placed team (safe from relegation) with one match to go, but managed to stay in the Israeli Premier league and finished 12th thanks to

goal difference Goal difference, goal differential or points difference is a form of tiebreaker used to rank sport teams which finish on equal points in a league competition. Either "goal difference" or "points difference" is used, depending on whether matches ar ...

European record

Current squad

Out on loan

Foreigners for 2022–23 season

Only up to six non-Israeli nationals can be in an Israeli club squad. Those with Jewish ancestry, married to an Israeli, or have played in Israel for an extended period of time, can claim a passport or permanent residency which would allow them to play with Israeli status. * Ivan Bakhar *

Gian Gian is a masculine Italian given name. It is a variant of Gianni and is likewise used as a diminutive of Giovanni, the Italian form of John. In Italian, any name including Giovanni can be contracted to Gian, particularly in combination with other ...

* Marlon Santos * Senin Sebai *

Džiugas Bartkus Džiugas Bartkus (born 7 November 1989) is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Saudi Arabian club Al-Orobah. Club career He started his career with FBK Kaunas in 2008. During 2010 and 2011 he was loaned to Belarusi ...

Joseph Mbong Joseph Essien Mbong (born 15 July 1997) is a professional footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American footbal ...

Former players

Luis Alberto Gutiérrez Luis Alberto Gutiérrez Herrera (born January 15, 1985, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra) is a Bolivian Association football, football Defender (association football), defender. He currently plays for Club Bolivar, Bolivar. Club career Gutiérrez be ...

Yves Yuvuladio Yves Yuvuladio (born 5 March 1978) is a retired Congolese Association football, footballer who played as a defender. Yuvuladio was a member of the DR Congo squad for the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. Reference ...

* Ezechiel N'Douassel * Ahmed Abed *

Shimon Abuhatzira Shimon Abuhatzira (or Abu Hazira, he, שמעון אבו חצירא; born 10 October 1986) is an Israeli footballer who plays as a striker. He is related to the Baba Sali. Early life Abuhatzira was born in Netanya, Israel, to a family of Seph ...

* Danny Amos *

Barak Badash Barak Badash ( he, ברק בדש) is an Israeli former footballer who played as a striker. He is of a Tunisian-Jewish descent. Career Badash began his senior career with the semi-professional team of Maccabi Hadera, from there he transferred to ...

Barak Bakhar Barak Bakhar ( he, ברק בכר; born 21 September 1979) is an Israeli association football manager and former footballer. He is the head coach of Israeli Premier League champions Maccabi Haifa. Early and personal life Bakhar was born in mosha ...

Benny Ben Zaken Benny Ben Zaken ( he, בני בן זקן; born 18 October 1982) is a retired Israeli footballer and currently manager. Honours *Israeli Premier League The Israeli Premier League ( he, ליגת העל, ''Ligat Ha`Al'', ), is a professional ass ...

* Shavit Elimelech * Elad Gabai * Guy Haimov *

Roi Kahat Roi Kehat (or Roei Kaat, he, רועי קהת; born 12 May 1992) is an Israeli footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Club career Maccabi Tel Aviv Kahat began his career in the youth system of Maccabi Tel Aviv. ...

Adrian Rochet Adrian Rochet ( he, אדריאן רוצ'ט, born on March 26, 1987) is an Israeli former footballer and current assistant-coach of Israeli club Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Early and personal life Rochet was born in kibbutz Sa'ar, Israel, to parents A ...

Abbas Suan Abbas Suan (sometimes spelled Suwan or Swan, ar, عباس صوان, he, עבאס סואן, born January 27, 1976) is a retired Arab-Israeli footballer from Sakhnin in the Galilee. As a footballer he was considered by many as one of the best Isra ...

* Guy Tzarfati * Shir Tzedek *

Eitan Tibi Eitan Tibi (or Eytan, he, איתן טיבי; born 16 November 1987) is an Israeli association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football), centre-back for Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C., Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Early life Tibi was ...

* Sean Weissman *

Radu Gînsari Radu Gînsari (born 10 December 1991) is a Moldovan professional footballer who plays as a winger or a midfielder for Greek Super League 2 club Xanthi. He also possesses Russian citizenship as Radu Leonidovich Gynsar (russian: Раду Лео� ...

* Levi García * Kenny Saief *

Yuval Spungin Yuval Spungin (or Yuval Shpungin, he, יובל שפונגין; born 3 April 1987) is an Israeli footballer who plays for Hapoel Kfar Shalem F.C., Hapoel Kfar Shalem. He has played for the Israel national under-17 football team, the Israel nation ...

(born 1987), Israeli footballer * Nicolás Valansi (born 1979), Argentine-Israeli footballer

Club staff

Managers

Benny Tabak Benny Tabak ( he, בני טבק; born 7 June 1956) is an Israeli coach and former footballer who is now coaching Hapoel Herzliya. Personal life His father was Israeli Olympic runner David Tabak. He is Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִי� ...

(July 2001 – May 2) *

Ran Ben Shimon Ran Ben Shimon ( he, רן בן שמעון; born 28 November 1970) is a former Israeli football player and the current manager of F.C. Ashdod. Playing career Ben Shimon was born in Petah Tikva, Israel, to a Jewish family. In 1987, Ben Shimon be ...

(July 2006 – April 8) *

Eli Cohen Eliyahu Ben-Shaul Cohen ( he, אֱלִיָּהוּ בֵּן שָׁאוּל כֹּהֵן‎, ar, إيلياهو بن شاؤول كوهين‎; 6 December 1924 – 18 May 1965), commonly known as Eli Cohen, was an Egyptian-born Israel ...

(16 December 2008 – 16 April 2009) *

(16 April 2009 – 13 May 2012) *

Gili Landau Gili Landau ( he, גילי לנדאו; born 7 May 1958) is an Israeli former footballer and currently a manager, coaching the Israel women's national football team. Early life Landau was born in Bat Yam, Israel. He played soccer as a stri ...

(13 May 2012 – 3 October 2012) *

(3 October 2012 – 14 May 2015) * Salah Hasarma (May 2015 – February 2016) *

Shlomi Dora Shlomi Dora ( he, שלומי דורה; born June 22, 1973, in Haifa) is an Israeli football manager. His younger brother is the footballer Yossi Dora who was play for Hapoel Haifa F.C., Hapoel Haifa. Honours As manager *Liga Leumit (1): **2008� ...

(February 2016 – May 2016) *

Motti Ivanir Motti Ivanir ( he, מוטי איוניר; born March 18, 1964) represented Israel at national level football player and is currently a manager. Playing career Club Ivanir became the first professional Israeli footballer in the Netherlands when ...

(May 2016–October 2016) *

(October 2016–November 2016) * Tomer Kashtan (November 2016– May 2017) *

Haim Silvas Haim Silvas ( he, חיים סילבס; born November 21, 1975) is a retired Israeli soccer player, and the current manager of the Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Hadera. He is best known for his years at Maccabi Haifa, where he scored a histo ...

(May 2017-December 2018) * Tomer Kashtan (December 2018-May 2019) * Shimon Edri (May 2019) *

Messay Dego Messay Dego ( he, מסאי דגו; born February 15, 1986) is an Ethiopian-born Israeli former association footballer and a manager, who played for the Israel U21 national team. Early life Dego was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian ...

(May 2019-October 2019)

Titles

**Winners 2011–12 *

Israel State Cup The Israel State Cup ( he, גביע המדינה, ''Gvia HaMedina''), is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israel Football Association (IFA). The State Cup was first held in 1928 as the People's Cup. Because it involve ...

**Winners 2013–14 *

**Winners 2010-11, 2011-12 *

Israel Super Cup The Israel Super Cup, also known as the Champion of Champions ( he, אלוף האלופים, Aluf HaAlufim), is an Israeli association football club competition played as a single match between the winner of the latest Israeli top league champion ...

**Winners

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...

References

External links

Club website

{{Authority control Association football clubs established in 2000 Ironi Kiryat Shmona Ironi Kiryat Shmona 2000 establishments in Israel