2008–09 Liga Leumit

The 2008–09 Liga Leumit season began on 29 August 2008 and ended on 29 May 2009.

Two teams from Liga Artzit were promoted at the end of the previous season: Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata along with two teams relegated from Israeli Premier League: Maccabi Herzliya and Hapoel Kfar Saba.
The two teams relegated to Liga Artzit were Hapoel Nazareth Illit and Hapoel Rishon LeZion.

Due to an expected league expansion,^[1] at the end of the season five clubs were automatically promoted to the Israeli Premier League, whilst the sixth-placed club in Liga Leumit played in a play-off match against the 11th-placed team in the Premier League. Only one team relegated automatically, and one team played in a play-off match against a team from Liga Artzit (which ceased to exist, with the regionalised Liga Alef becoming the third tier).

Stadia

Location of teams in the 2008–09 Liga Leumit

¹Currently undergoing construction work to convert it to a 5,000-seat stadium. In the meanwhile they play at the Nahariya Municipal Stadium.

League table

Source: The Israel Football Association
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd matches won; 4th goals scored; 5th head-to-head; 6th decision match
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

^ a b Hapoel Haifa received a technical loss of 3-0 to Hapoel Bnei Lod for fielding an ineligible player.

Positions by round

Source: The Israel Football Association

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

Source: The Israel Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third round

Key numbers for pairing determination (number marks position after 22 games):

Source: The Israel Football Association
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:

^ Hapoel Haifa received a technical loss of 3–0 to Hapoel Bnei Lod for fielding an ineligible player.

Promotion/relegation playoff

Promotion playoff

Maccabi Ahi Nazareth as the 6th-placed team faced the 11th-placed Israeli Premier League team Hakoah Ramat Gan for a two-legged playoff. Maccabi Ahi Nazareth won both games and were promoted to the Israeli Premier League.

2 June 2009

20:30 UTC+2

Ilut Stadium, Ilut

Referee: Alon Yefet

6 June 2009

19:00 UTC+2

Winter Stadium, Ramat Gan

Referee: Eitan Tabrizi

Relegation playoff

Ironi Ramat HaSharon as the 11th-placed team faced the 8th-placed Liga Artzit team Maccabi Kafr Kanna for a two-legged playoff, Ironi Ramat HaSharon won both games and will continue playing in Liga Leumit next season.

2 June 2009

16:30 UTC+2

Grundman Stadium, Ramat HaSharon

Referee: Meir Levi

5 June 2009

15:30 UTC+2

Azmi Nassar Stadium, Kafr Kanna

Referee: Assaf Keinan

Season statistics

Scoring

First goal of the season: Eran Levy for Hapoel Haifa against Hapoel Acre, 26th minute (29 August 2008)^[2]
Widest winning margin: 6 goals – Hapoel Acre 7–1 Hapoel Haifa (22 May 2009)^[3]
Most goals in a match: 8 goals – Hapoel Acre 7–1 Hapoel Haifa (22 May 2009)^[3]

Discipline

First yellow card of the season: Muhamad Brik for Hapoel Acre against Hapoel Haifa, 3rd minute (29 August 2008)^[2]
First red card of the season: Bryan Gerzicich for Hapoel Acre against Hapoel Haifa, 36th minute (29 August 2008)^[2]
Most red cards in a single match: 3 – Hapoel Acre 2–1 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth - 3 for Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (Amjad Suliman, Yakir Shina & Serge Ayeli) (6 December 2008)^[4]

Top scorers

References

^ June 24th IFA meeting summary Archived 2008-07-01 at the Wayback Machine (in Hebrew)
^ a b c "Hapoel Acco 0:4 Hapoel Haifa". The Israel Football Association. 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
^ a b "Hapoel Acre 7:1 Hapoel Haifa". The Israel Football Association. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
^ "Hapoel Akko 2-1 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth". The Israel Football Association. 6 December 2008. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
^ "Liga Leumit Top Scorers". The Israel Football Association. 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2008.