The 2008–09 Israeli Premier League season began on 30 August 2008, and ended on 1 June 2009.
Beitar Jerusalem were the defending champions, having won their 6th league title
the previous year.
Two teams from
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-plac ...
were promoted at the end of
the previous season:
Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan and
Hapoel Petah Tikva
Hapoel Petah Tikva F.C. ( he, הפועל פתח תקווה) is an Israeli football club based in the city of Petah Tikva, currently playing in the Liga Leumit.
Its most successful period was throughout the 1950s and 1960s, in which the club won ...
. The two teams
relegated
In sports leagues, promotion and relegation is a process where teams are transferred between multiple divisions based on their performance for the completed season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are often called open leagues. ...
were
Hapoel Kfar Saba and
Maccabi Herzliya.
At a 24 June 2008 IFA administration meeting it was decided that the league would be expanded to 16 clubs for
the following season. Due to the expansion, only one team was relegated directly to Liga Leumit, while five clubs were promoted. The eleventh-ranked team played in a play-off match against the sixth-ranked team from Liga Leumit.
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa ( he, מכבי חיפה) is one of the biggest sports clubs in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Footbal ...
clinched their 11th title after a 0–2 win against
Maccabi Netanya on 23 May 2009.
Teams
Twelve teams took part in the 2008-09 Israeli Premier League season, including ten teams from the
2007-08 season, as well as two teams which were promoted from the
2007-08 Liga Leumit.
Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan were promoted as champions of the
2007-08 Liga Leumit.
Hapoel Petah Tikva
Hapoel Petah Tikva F.C. ( he, הפועל פתח תקווה) is an Israeli football club based in the city of Petah Tikva, currently playing in the Liga Leumit.
Its most successful period was throughout the 1950s and 1960s, in which the club won ...
were promoted as runners up. They both returned to the top flight after an absence of one season.
Hapoel Kfar Saba and
Maccabi Herzliya were relegated after finishing in the bottom two places in the
2007-08 season.
Stadiums and Locations
Managerial changes
League table
Positions by round
Results
The schedule consisted of three rounds. During first two rounds, each team played each other once home and away for a total of 22 matches. The pairings of the third round were then set according to the standings after first two rounds, giving every team a third game against each opponent for a total of 33 games per team.
First and second round
Third round
Key numbers for pairing determination (number marks position after 22 games):
Relegation playoff
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 Stad ...
, as the 11th-placed team, faced the 6th-placed
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-plac ...
team
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth in a two-legged playoff.
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 Stad ...
lost both games and were relegated 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-plac ...
.
----
Season statistics
Scoring
*First goal of the season:
Yossi Shivhon for
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv ( he, מכבי תל אביב) is one of the largest sports clubs in Israel, and a part of the Maccabi association. Many sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv are in association with Maccabi and compete in a variety of sports, such ...
against
Bnei Yehuda, 5th minute (30 August 2008)
*Last goal of the season:
Lior Rafaelov for
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa ( he, מכבי חיפה) is one of the biggest sports clubs in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Footbal ...
against
Beitar Jerusalem, 58th minute (1 June2009)
*First own goal of the season:
Nir Davidovich
Nir Davidovich ( he, ניר דוידוביץ'; also spelled Davidovitch; born 17 December 1976) is an Israeli former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
At club level, Davidovich spent his whole career in Maccabi Haifa. He suffe ...
(
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa ( he, מכבי חיפה) is one of the biggest sports clubs in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Footbal ...
) for
F.C. Ashdod
SC Ashdod ( he, מועדון ספורט אשדוד, ''Moadon Sport Ashdod'', lit. Sport Club Ashdod, mainly known in Israel by the semi-acronym name , ''Mem Samekh Ashdod'', lit. S.C. Ashdod) is an Israeli football club, playing in the port cit ...
, 57th minute (30 August 2008)
*Fastest goal in a match: 39 seconds –
Thembinkosi Fanteni
Thembinkosi "Terror" Fanteni (born 2 February 1984) is a South African football striker.
He was part of the South African squad at the 2008 African Nations Cup and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
The 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup was the ...
for
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa ( he, מכבי חיפה) is one of the biggest sports clubs in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Footbal ...
against
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv ( he, מכבי תל אביב) is one of the largest sports clubs in Israel, and a part of the Maccabi association. Many sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv are in association with Maccabi and compete in a variety of sports, such ...
(27 October 2008)
*Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+5 minutes –
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 ...
for
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 Stad ...
against
Bnei Yehuda (13 September 2008)
*Widest winning margin: 4 goals:
**
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv ( he, הפועל תל אביב) is a sports club in Israel, founded in the 1920s, and part of the Hapoel association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, suc ...
4–0
Beitar Jerusalem (9 February 2009)
**
Beitar Jerusalem 4–0
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 Stad ...
(4 April 2009)
*Most goals in a match: 6 goals:
**
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 Stad ...
2–4
Beitar Jerusalem (20 September 2008)
**
F.C. Ashdod
SC Ashdod ( he, מועדון ספורט אשדוד, ''Moadon Sport Ashdod'', lit. Sport Club Ashdod, mainly known in Israel by the semi-acronym name , ''Mem Samekh Ashdod'', lit. S.C. Ashdod) is an Israeli football club, playing in the port cit ...
4–2
Bnei Sakhnin (8 November 2008)
**
F.C. Ashdod
SC Ashdod ( he, מועדון ספורט אשדוד, ''Moadon Sport Ashdod'', lit. Sport Club Ashdod, mainly known in Israel by the semi-acronym name , ''Mem Samekh Ashdod'', lit. S.C. Ashdod) is an Israeli football club, playing in the port cit ...
3–3
Maccabi Netanya (20 December 2008)
Discipline
*First yellow card of the season:
Tamir Kahlon
Tamir Kahlon ( he, תמיר כחלון; born October 29, 1987, in Tel Aviv) is a retired Israeli footballer. Kahlon had to retire in 2013 following an injury while playing for Ironi Kiryat Shmona.
Career Club
In August 2011, he was loaned to Cra ...
for
Bnei Yehuda against
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv ( he, מכבי תל אביב) is one of the largest sports clubs in Israel, and a part of the Maccabi association. Many sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv are in association with Maccabi and compete in a variety of sports, such ...
, 6th minute (30 August 2008)
*First red card of the season:
Ronnie Gafney for
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa ( he, מכבי חיפה) is one of the biggest sports clubs in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Footbal ...
against
F.C. Ashdod
SC Ashdod ( he, מועדון ספורט אשדוד, ''Moadon Sport Ashdod'', lit. Sport Club Ashdod, mainly known in Israel by the semi-acronym name , ''Mem Samekh Ashdod'', lit. S.C. Ashdod) is an Israeli football club, playing in the port cit ...
, 59th minute (30 August 2008)
*Most yellow cards in a match: 12 yellow cards –
Beitar Jerusalem against
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa ( he, מכבי חיפה) is one of the biggest sports clubs in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Footbal ...
(28 September 2008)
*Most red cards in a match: 4 red cards –
F.C. Ashdod
SC Ashdod ( he, מועדון ספורט אשדוד, ''Moadon Sport Ashdod'', lit. Sport Club Ashdod, mainly known in Israel by the semi-acronym name , ''Mem Samekh Ashdod'', lit. S.C. Ashdod) is an Israeli football club, playing in the port cit ...
against
Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona Football Club ( he, מועדון כדורגל הפועל עירוני קרית שמונה) known as Ironi Kiryat Shmona is an Israeli football club based in Kiryat Shmona. The club is a current member of the Israeli Pr ...
(13 September 2008)
*Most cards in a match: 15 cards
(12 yellow and 3 red) –
Beitar Jerusalem against
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa ( he, מכבי חיפה) is one of the biggest sports clubs in Israel and a part of the Maccabi association. It runs several sports clubs and teams in Haifa which have competed in a variety of sports over the years, such as Footbal ...
(28 September 2008)
Top scorers
See also
*
2008–09 Israel State Cup
*
2008–09 Toto Cup Al
*
List of 2008–09 Israeli football transfers
Notes
:A. Biggest away win
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2008-09 Israeli Premier League
Israeli Premier League seasons
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
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