Hapoel Haifa FC
Encyclopedia
Hapoel
Haifa Football Club is an Israel
i football club located in Haifa
. The club won one championship
(1998–99) and 3 Israeli cup
s (1962–63, 1965–66 and 1973–74). The Team is also known as "The Shark
s". The club's home since the early 1990s
is the Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
in Haifa, in which they have played since their departure from Kiryat Haim
Stadium
, their original home stadium since the 1950s
. The colours of the team's home kit are red throughout. The away colours are white shirts, and black shorts and socks.
in 1924. This organization included several branches related to sports, in addition to branches related to worker movements and the Histadrut
. Their goal was to found the first ever labor football club in Palestine
, like those around the world. The most acceptable version about the club's establishment says that during Passover
, on April 24 1924, the establishment meeting took place, in a house at the Hadar Neighborhood in Haifa
, including 36 representatives of the different authorities. The meeting was led by Yehoshua Sherpstein and Yair Aharony.
On May 1, 1924, Labor Day
, was the first match,in which Hapoel Haifa beat 3–1 the train workers of Haifa. In the first years of the club it played mainly friendly matches against different teams from Palestine, Europe
, and the Middle East
(Since the Football Association
was yet to be established, there were no formal matches).
At the beginning Hapoel Haifa was included under the Maccabi union, since it was the only union at that time. Two years later the club decided to leave Maccabi, and was among the founders of the new union, Hapoel.
In 1928 the Israel Football Association
(IFA) was founded, and formal matches were scheduled: In the first 4 years only cup matches, and afterwards league matches were added. During these years Hapoel Haifa did not win many trophies, yet it was still one of the leading teams in the country. In 1932 the team qualified to her first cup final, against the British Police. The referee was British, and some of the decisions he made were very controversial. During the match, when the score was 1–0 to Hapoel Haifa (goal by Yonah Stern), after some decisions that the players of Haifa found very odd and unfair, one of Haifa players stole the cup. As a result Hapoel Haifa was disqualified. That year 5 of Haifa's players made it to the Palestine squad.
. But, due to suspicions about improper matches, the relegations were canceled (many say that this was due to the connections of the heads of Hapoel in the IFA). At this turning point, many talented young players promoted from the youth team, causing a significant improvement that started the club's best period. In the same season, 1962/63, the club won the Israel State Cup
, after beating Maccabi Haifa
in the final 1–0. In all of the following seasons the team finished in the top third of the league, and qualified to the cup final three more times. The main players of the team at that time were Abba Gindin
, Yitzhak Englander, Yochanan Vollach
and Roby Young
. These players were some of the greatest players in Israeli football in the 1960s and the 1970s and were part of the Israel national team
for many years. Roby Young was even the captain of the national team.
In 1974 Hapoel Haifa won the Israeli cup again. In those years the club's leading players began to leave it, including the shocking transfer of Englander and Vollach to the bitter rival Maccabi Haifa, due to Hapoel's poor management. Although the team finished 2nd in 1975, a great fall began, leading to the big crush of the 1980s.
in the club's history. Even the signing of Peter Lorimer
, one of the greatest players of Leeds United, as manager, didn't help and he left several months later. The big crisis in the Histadrut led to a financial crisis
in the club, which was on the verge of bankruptcy
. The crisis hit also the administrative side, and directors were replaced frequently. Near the end of the 80s, three former players of the club, Yitzhak Englander, Avi Kaufman and Efraim Gabay, took the club to their hands as an exterior organization, hoping to save the club from bankruptcy, yet due to lack of funding sources they couldn’t solve the financial crisis in the club.
business in Nigeria
. Shapira gave big amounts of money to the club and saved it from financial collapse. That money was used to purchase many leading players, but the team made no remarkable achievement and was still at relegating danger. Following a long streak of losses during the season of 1993/94 Shapira decided to buy the club from the Histadrut. In the first years under Shapira many great players and managers were brought to the team, yet it could not win trophies and achieve the club's great ambition: championship
.
as manager. The following season the team was tagged as a top team, but not as a candidate for championship. In spite of the predictions, a streak of impressive victories put Haifa in the 1st place, with a big advantage over the rest of the league. Hapoel showed a very tactical and effective style of football that dragged criticism from different sources, such as the media and other teams. Hapoel remained in the 1st place and increased its advantage over other teams.
On Saturday, May 8, 1999, in the 27th round of the league, Hapoel Haifa competed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, who was 2nd before that round, in Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
. Hapoel won the match 3–2 (two goals by Oren Zeituni
and one more by Oren Nissim) and was crowned as champion, for the first (and only) time.
to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Najwan Ghrayib
to Aston Villa), and their replacements couldn't lead the team to repeat the great achievement. The next season, the manager Guttman left, and his replacement Guy Levy brought 4 new foreign players: Alin Minteuan
, Oleg Yelshev, Michael Anicic and Viktor Paço
, who joined veteran Dimitry Ulianov. The team finished in the 3rd place after two victories in the Haifa derby
against Maccabi (3–0 and 3–1), and 3 victories over the current champion Hapoel Tel Aviv (3–1 and 1–0 in Tel Aviv
and 2–0 at home).
In the summer of 2001, the media reported that Shapira had decided to reduce his investment in the club significantly. The club's budget
was decreased, planned expenditures were canceled and key players were released. It was later discovered that Shapira's financial status had deteriorated. He had significant debts and his businesses were close to bankruptcy
. Some of the club's assets, including player cards, were mortgaged to a Dutch
fishing
company which Shapira owed money to. On Friday, December 14, 2001, Shapira committed suicide in his house in Nigeria
. After his suicide, the court
in Haifa
ruled that Hapoel Haifa would be administered by a temporary liquidators
. At the end of that season (2001/02), Hapoel was relegated to the second division. For nearly 3 years the club was managed by 3 liquidators, who managed to keep the team in the second division and simultaneously looking for potential purchasers to the club.
Following its return to the top division in 2004, the club was bought by Yoav Katz, an Israeli businessman who resides in the United States
. Hapoel Haifa played a single season (2004–5) in Israel's top league before again being relegated to the second division, where it stayed until the end of the 2008–09
season. After finishing first in the second division that year, Hapoel returned to the Israeli Premier league, and finished high enough in the standings to avoid relegation at the end of 2010. Nitzan Shirazi
replaced Shlomi Dora as manager prior to the 2010–11 season.
In 2005–06 the club's youth team won the youth league's championship.
i team to qualify to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League
(2000). The team passed Beşiktaş
(Turkey
) in the second qualifying round after 1–1 in Turkey
(Đovani Roso scored to Haifa) and 0–0 in Kiryat Eliezer
in the second leg. In the third qualifying round the team lost twice 2–0 to Valencia CF
(Spain
), who went on till the Champions League
Final that year.
After losing to Valencia
Hapoel met Club Brugge
from Belgium
in the UEFA cup
. Hapoel won that match 3–1 (two goals by Amir Turgeman and one by Nir Sevillia). In the second leg in Belgium Hapoel gained a quick advantage (Roso). Brugge managed to turn the score to 3–1; Amir Turgeman scored the 3–2 in the 75' minute and Brugge scored in stoppage time to win 4–2. Yet it was Haifa who qualified to the next level, due to advantage in away goals. It was the first time an Israeli team qualifies to the second round of the UEFA cup.
In the second round Haifa met Ajax Amsterdam
from the Netherlands
. In the first leg in Israel Ajax won 3–0. In the second leg Hapoel made a sensational victory of 1–0, with Đovani Roso scoring a penalty kick
and missing another.
, which is the main training grounds of this club. In 1955, a gift from the Italian Labour Union was a football pitch in the heart of the city of Haifa, which would become the new home of Hapoel. The opening match was a Haifa derby, lost by Hapoel 4–1 over Maccabi.
City Rivalry with Maccabi Haifa
The two main clubs in Haifa, Hapoel Haifa and Maccabi Haifa, has a long history of raging rivalry that includes mutually loathing and fan conflicts, a rivalry that went on even during Hapoel Haifa's less successful years in second division. The source of this rivalry is mainly in the clubs' political identity.
Hapoel was founded as a socialist labor team, who were identified mainly with the Histadrut and the reign of Mapai
, both local and national. Hapoel was identified as the team of the establishment that was supported by the authorities. Therefore, naturally, Maccabi Haifa became the deprived team, that theoretically has to fight for its existence. The differences between the clubs created the differences between the fans: Hapoel Haifa's fans were traditionally identified with the political left
side of the map, most of the workers in the industries in Haifa. The Maccabi Haifa fans were identified mostly as part of the medium-low status.
In the last years the differences between the two sides faded, mainly because Maccabi's numerous achievements, which enlarged and varied their fan group. Yet there is still a slight difference between the two fan groups. Many of the fans of Hapoel are living in the Krayot. In the last years the rivalry got a more sportive shade, which appears especially before derby matches.
. The main characters in Eran Riklis
's 1999 film Vulcan Junction are Hapoel Haifa's supporters and one of the characters is a club's player. The club management collaborated with the production and some of the scenes shot in the club's stadium
in Kiryat Haim
, some of the club's prsonel even took part in the filming as extras. Hapoel Haifa suppoerter character also presented in the 2002 feature Broken Wings
, directed by the club supporter, Nir Bergman. Literatural references of the club are available in the Hebrew books: Our Holocoast (by Amir Gutfreund, available in English
), Go To Gaza (by Shay Lahav), Tashlich (by Nir Kipnis) and the football short stories anthology The Dutchman Of Acre.
), 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.
Stefan Denković
Amos Kollie
Vladimir Gluščević
Dejan Kelhar
Giora Antman
Dudu Aouate
Reuven Atar
Rami Aziz Dov Azmon Tal Banin
Meir Ben-Margi David Ben-Natan Ran Ben Shimon
Yitzhak Englander Najwan Ghrayeb Abba Gindin
Avraham Ginzburg Yaron Givol Ori Groper Alon Halfon
Yechiel Hameiri
Ronen Harazi
Eli Levental Shlomo Levy Dani Malkin Nezah Masubi Haim Megrelashvili
Dani Niron Oren Nisim
Nimrod Rozles Ofer Talker
Amir Turgeman
Gil Vermout Yochanan Vollach
Binyamin Weinberg
Ori Weinberg Roby Young
Victor Young
Oren Zeituni
Hisham Zoabi Yoav Ziv
Viktor Paço
Carlos Olaran Serge Illey Damir Lesjak
Goran Milanko
Giovanni Rosso
Nsumbu Mazuwa
Jeff Tutuana
Ibbos Yuveladio Alin Minteuan
Marian Pană
Wachislaw Melnikov Alexander Podshivalov Dimitry Ulianov Peter Lorimer
Michael Anicic
Vadym Tyshchenko
Zlatko Čajkovski
Hapoel
Hapoel is an Israeli sport association. It was established in 1926 as a union of the Histadrut, and represented the workers class...
Haifa Football Club is an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i football club located in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. The club won one championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
(1998–99) and 3 Israeli cup
Israel State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
s (1962–63, 1965–66 and 1973–74). The Team is also known as "The Shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
s". The club's home since the early 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
is the Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
The Haifa Municipal Stadium , more commonly known as Kiryat Eliezer , is a multi-use stadium in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood of Haifa, Israel. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa...
in Haifa, in which they have played since their departure from Kiryat Haim
Kiryat Haim
Kiryat Haim is one of the five Krayot suburbs located north of Haifa, Israel. In 2003, Kiryat Haim had a population of 40,000. Kiryat Haim is within the municipal borders of the city of Haifa, and lies on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.-History:...
Stadium
Thomas D'Alesandro Stadium
Thomas D'Alesandro Stadium, known as Kiryat Haim Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Kiryat Haim, Israel. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Hapoel Haifa's youth teams...
, their original home stadium since the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
. The colours of the team's home kit are red throughout. The away colours are white shirts, and black shorts and socks.
The Early Years
The beginning of the club was in a local organization founded in HaifaHaifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
in 1924. This organization included several branches related to sports, in addition to branches related to worker movements and the Histadrut
Histadrut
HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael , known as the Histadrut, is Israel's organization of trade unions. Established in December 1920 during the British Mandate for Palestine, it became one of the most powerful institutions of the State of Israel.-History:The Histadrut was founded in...
. Their goal was to found the first ever labor football club in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, like those around the world. The most acceptable version about the club's establishment says that during Passover
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
, on April 24 1924, the establishment meeting took place, in a house at the Hadar Neighborhood in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, including 36 representatives of the different authorities. The meeting was led by Yehoshua Sherpstein and Yair Aharony.
On May 1, 1924, Labor Day
Labour Day
Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...
, was the first match,in which Hapoel Haifa beat 3–1 the train workers of Haifa. In the first years of the club it played mainly friendly matches against different teams from Palestine, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
(Since the Football Association
Israel Football Association
The Israel Football Association , also known as IFA, is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes the football leagues, Israeli Premier League, Israeli State Cup, Toto Cup and the Israeli national football team. The association is based in Ramat Gan...
was yet to be established, there were no formal matches).
At the beginning Hapoel Haifa was included under the Maccabi union, since it was the only union at that time. Two years later the club decided to leave Maccabi, and was among the founders of the new union, Hapoel.
In 1928 the Israel Football Association
Israel Football Association
The Israel Football Association , also known as IFA, is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes the football leagues, Israeli Premier League, Israeli State Cup, Toto Cup and the Israeli national football team. The association is based in Ramat Gan...
(IFA) was founded, and formal matches were scheduled: In the first 4 years only cup matches, and afterwards league matches were added. During these years Hapoel Haifa did not win many trophies, yet it was still one of the leading teams in the country. In 1932 the team qualified to her first cup final, against the British Police. The referee was British, and some of the decisions he made were very controversial. During the match, when the score was 1–0 to Hapoel Haifa (goal by Yonah Stern), after some decisions that the players of Haifa found very odd and unfair, one of Haifa players stole the cup. As a result Hapoel Haifa was disqualified. That year 5 of Haifa's players made it to the Palestine squad.
The Fifties
In 1950, after the War of Independence, the Israeli League returned to action, and Haifa finished in the 3rd place, after Maccabi and Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Two years later the cup matches were renewed. These years were direct continuation to the seasons before the state of Israel was established, when the team was one of the leaders, yet did not manage to win any trophies.The Sixties and The Seventies
Hapoel was very weak in the early sixties. The team finished 1962/63 one before last, and was supposed to relegate to the second divisionLiga Leumit
Liga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
. But, due to suspicions about improper matches, the relegations were canceled (many say that this was due to the connections of the heads of Hapoel in the IFA). At this turning point, many talented young players promoted from the youth team, causing a significant improvement that started the club's best period. In the same season, 1962/63, the club won the Israel State Cup
Israel State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
, after beating Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
in the final 1–0. In all of the following seasons the team finished in the top third of the league, and qualified to the cup final three more times. The main players of the team at that time were Abba Gindin
Abba Gindin
Abraham "Abba" Gindin is a former Israeli professional football player.-Early life:Gindin was born and raised in Finland and grew up playing Ice hockey and football for Maccabi Helsinki. At the age of 18, he left Finland for his sister's wedding, who was living on kibbutz Ein...
, Yitzhak Englander, Yochanan Vollach
Yochanan Vollach
Yochanan Vollach is a former Israeli footballer. He was a member of the Israeli national team that competed at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Today, Vollach is president of the Maccabi Haifa sport organization as well as being the president and CEO of Newlog, a subsidiary of Israeli shipping company...
and Roby Young
Roby Young
Reuven "Roby" Young is a former Israeli international footballer, and captain of Hapoel Haifa.-Professional Soccer Career in Israel:As a left winger, he was a part of the Hapoel Haifa youth squad that won the National title without losing a single match...
. These players were some of the greatest players in Israeli football in the 1960s and the 1970s and were part of the Israel national team
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
for many years. Roby Young was even the captain of the national team.
In 1974 Hapoel Haifa won the Israeli cup again. In those years the club's leading players began to leave it, including the shocking transfer of Englander and Vollach to the bitter rival Maccabi Haifa, due to Hapoel's poor management. Although the team finished 2nd in 1975, a great fall began, leading to the big crush of the 1980s.
The Eighties: The Downfall
In 1981 the team relegated, for the first time ever, to the second division. Until then it was one of the 3 clubs that never relegated (alongside Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv). That was the beginning of the worst decadeDecade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
in the club's history. Even the signing of Peter Lorimer
Peter Lorimer
Peter Patrick Lorimer is a former footballer who formed part of the much-admired and feared Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s....
, one of the greatest players of Leeds United, as manager, didn't help and he left several months later. The big crisis in the Histadrut led to a financial crisis
Financial crisis
The term financial crisis is applied broadly to a variety of situations in which some financial institutions or assets suddenly lose a large part of their value. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many financial crises were associated with banking panics, and many recessions coincided with these...
in the club, which was on the verge of bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. The crisis hit also the administrative side, and directors were replaced frequently. Near the end of the 80s, three former players of the club, Yitzhak Englander, Avi Kaufman and Efraim Gabay, took the club to their hands as an exterior organization, hoping to save the club from bankruptcy, yet due to lack of funding sources they couldn’t solve the financial crisis in the club.
The Nineties: The Age of Shapira
In 1992 the team promoted to the first division in the second time. That season was accompanied with rumors about an anonymous businessman who took responsibility on the club. Ultimately, the anonymous was turned out to be Ruby Shapira, a businessman who made his fortune in the fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
business in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Shapira gave big amounts of money to the club and saved it from financial collapse. That money was used to purchase many leading players, but the team made no remarkable achievement and was still at relegating danger. Following a long streak of losses during the season of 1993/94 Shapira decided to buy the club from the Histadrut. In the first years under Shapira many great players and managers were brought to the team, yet it could not win trophies and achieve the club's great ambition: championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
.
1998–99: The Championship
In 1997–98 Hapoel Haifa reached 3rd place, with Eli GuttmanEli Guttman
Eli Guttman is an Israeli football manager.He won his first Israeli title in 1997, winning the Israel State Cup with Hapoel Be'er Sheva.He coached Hapoel Haifa during the 1998-99 season, in which the club won their first Liga Leumit title....
as manager. The following season the team was tagged as a top team, but not as a candidate for championship. In spite of the predictions, a streak of impressive victories put Haifa in the 1st place, with a big advantage over the rest of the league. Hapoel showed a very tactical and effective style of football that dragged criticism from different sources, such as the media and other teams. Hapoel remained in the 1st place and increased its advantage over other teams.
On Saturday, May 8, 1999, in the 27th round of the league, Hapoel Haifa competed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, who was 2nd before that round, in Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
The Haifa Municipal Stadium , more commonly known as Kiryat Eliezer , is a multi-use stadium in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood of Haifa, Israel. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa...
. Hapoel won the match 3–2 (two goals by Oren Zeituni
Oren Zeituni
Oren Zeitouni, is a former Israeli footballer. He most recently played for Maccabi Netanya in the Israeli Premier League, but has been forced to retire because of injury.-Playing career:...
and one more by Oren Nissim) and was crowned as champion, for the first (and only) time.
Millenium – Present: The Death of Shapira and Inconsistent Results
In the season following the championship, the team finished a disappointing 7th. Two key players left (Liron BasisLiron Basis
-Honours:*Israel State Cup :**1997*Israeli Premier League :**1998–99*Toto Cup :**2004–05-References:...
to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Najwan Ghrayib
Najwan Ghrayib
Najwan Ghrayib , is a Arab-Israeli former footballer, and was recently assistant manager of his hometown club - Maccabi Ahi Nazareth...
to Aston Villa), and their replacements couldn't lead the team to repeat the great achievement. The next season, the manager Guttman left, and his replacement Guy Levy brought 4 new foreign players: Alin Minteuan
Alin Minteuan
Alin Ilie Minteuan is a retired Romanian footballer, and current caretaker manager of CFR Cluj.- Career :Minteuan's first team was CFR Cluj, where he went on to play for Universitatea Cluj, Rapid Bucharest, and Gloria Bistrita. He is a right midfielder or a central defensive midfielder.- Coaching...
, Oleg Yelshev, Michael Anicic and Viktor Paço
Viktor Paço
Viktor Paço is a former Albanian international football player.Currently he lives in the United States where he is coaching youth soccer in the Rochester area.-External sources:* at National-football-teams....
, who joined veteran Dimitry Ulianov. The team finished in the 3rd place after two victories in the Haifa derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
against Maccabi (3–0 and 3–1), and 3 victories over the current champion Hapoel Tel Aviv (3–1 and 1–0 in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
and 2–0 at home).
In the summer of 2001, the media reported that Shapira had decided to reduce his investment in the club significantly. The club's budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
was decreased, planned expenditures were canceled and key players were released. It was later discovered that Shapira's financial status had deteriorated. He had significant debts and his businesses were close to bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. Some of the club's assets, including player cards, were mortgaged to a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
company which Shapira owed money to. On Friday, December 14, 2001, Shapira committed suicide in his house in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. After his suicide, the court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
ruled that Hapoel Haifa would be administered by a temporary liquidators
Liquidator (law)
In law, a liquidator is the officer appointed when a company goes into winding-up or liquidation who has responsibility for collecting in all of the assets of the company and settling all claims against the company before putting the company into dissolution....
. At the end of that season (2001/02), Hapoel was relegated to the second division. For nearly 3 years the club was managed by 3 liquidators, who managed to keep the team in the second division and simultaneously looking for potential purchasers to the club.
Following its return to the top division in 2004, the club was bought by Yoav Katz, an Israeli businessman who resides in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Hapoel Haifa played a single season (2004–5) in Israel's top league before again being relegated to the second division, where it stayed until the end of the 2008–09
Liga Leumit 2008-09
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...
season. After finishing first in the second division that year, Hapoel returned to the Israeli Premier league, and finished high enough in the standings to avoid relegation at the end of 2010. Nitzan Shirazi
Nitzan Shirazi
- Family :Son of the Meir Shirazi, Bnei Yehuda team manager in the past, and the brother of Hezi Shirazi, a former player.He is Married to Shusha Shirazi.- Playing career :...
replaced Shlomi Dora as manager prior to the 2010–11 season.
In 2005–06 the club's youth team won the youth league's championship.
European Appearances
Hapoel Haifa was the first IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i team to qualify to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
(2000). The team passed Beşiktaş
Besiktas J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
(Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) in the second qualifying round after 1–1 in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(Đovani Roso scored to Haifa) and 0–0 in Kiryat Eliezer
Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
The Haifa Municipal Stadium , more commonly known as Kiryat Eliezer , is a multi-use stadium in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood of Haifa, Israel. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa...
in the second leg. In the third qualifying round the team lost twice 2–0 to Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), who went on till the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Final that year.
After losing to Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
Hapoel met Club Brugge
Club Brugge
Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472....
from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the UEFA cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. Hapoel won that match 3–1 (two goals by Amir Turgeman and one by Nir Sevillia). In the second leg in Belgium Hapoel gained a quick advantage (Roso). Brugge managed to turn the score to 3–1; Amir Turgeman scored the 3–2 in the 75' minute and Brugge scored in stoppage time to win 4–2. Yet it was Haifa who qualified to the next level, due to advantage in away goals. It was the first time an Israeli team qualifies to the second round of the UEFA cup.
In the second round Haifa met Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In the first leg in Israel Ajax won 3–0. In the second leg Hapoel made a sensational victory of 1–0, with Đovani Roso scoring a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
and missing another.
Stadium
Hapoel originally played in Kiryat HaimThomas D'Alesandro Stadium
Thomas D'Alesandro Stadium, known as Kiryat Haim Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Kiryat Haim, Israel. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Hapoel Haifa's youth teams...
, which is the main training grounds of this club. In 1955, a gift from the Italian Labour Union was a football pitch in the heart of the city of Haifa, which would become the new home of Hapoel. The opening match was a Haifa derby, lost by Hapoel 4–1 over Maccabi.
New stadium
The municipality of Haifa offered the club land for a stadium at the southern entrance to the city. In the fall of 2008, the final plans were approved. Sammy Ofer Stadium is scheduled to be completed by March 2013.City Rivalry with Maccabi HaifaMaccabi Haifa F.C.Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
The two main clubs in Haifa, Hapoel Haifa and Maccabi Haifa, has a long history of raging rivalry that includes mutually loathing and fan conflicts, a rivalry that went on even during Hapoel Haifa's less successful years in second division. The source of this rivalry is mainly in the clubs' political identity.Hapoel was founded as a socialist labor team, who were identified mainly with the Histadrut and the reign of Mapai
Mapai
Mapai was a left-wing political party in Israel, and was the dominant force in Israeli politics until its merger into the Israeli Labor Party in 1968...
, both local and national. Hapoel was identified as the team of the establishment that was supported by the authorities. Therefore, naturally, Maccabi Haifa became the deprived team, that theoretically has to fight for its existence. The differences between the clubs created the differences between the fans: Hapoel Haifa's fans were traditionally identified with the political left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
side of the map, most of the workers in the industries in Haifa. The Maccabi Haifa fans were identified mostly as part of the medium-low status.
In the last years the differences between the two sides faded, mainly because Maccabi's numerous achievements, which enlarged and varied their fan group. Yet there is still a slight difference between the two fan groups. Many of the fans of Hapoel are living in the Krayot. In the last years the rivalry got a more sportive shade, which appears especially before derby matches.
In Popular Culture
Despite of it being a relatively small club, Hapoel Haifa enjoys many references in popular culturePopular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
. The main characters in Eran Riklis
Eran Riklis
Eran Riklis is an Israeli filmmaker. His films include Cup Final , The Syrian Bride , and Lemon Tree . He was born in 1954 and he studied at the National Film and Television School in England. He is married to Dina Riklis and they have two children, a daughter, Tammy, and a son, Jonathan...
's 1999 film Vulcan Junction are Hapoel Haifa's supporters and one of the characters is a club's player. The club management collaborated with the production and some of the scenes shot in the club's stadium
Thomas D'Alesandro Stadium
Thomas D'Alesandro Stadium, known as Kiryat Haim Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Kiryat Haim, Israel. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Hapoel Haifa's youth teams...
in Kiryat Haim
Kiryat Haim
Kiryat Haim is one of the five Krayot suburbs located north of Haifa, Israel. In 2003, Kiryat Haim had a population of 40,000. Kiryat Haim is within the municipal borders of the city of Haifa, and lies on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.-History:...
, some of the club's prsonel even took part in the filming as extras. Hapoel Haifa suppoerter character also presented in the 2002 feature Broken Wings
Broken Wings (film)
Broken Wings is a 2002 Israeli film directed by Nir Bergman and starring Orly Silbersatz Banai, Maya Maron, and Nitai Gaviratz.- Plot :The unexpected death of the family patriarch throws every member of the Ullmann clan off course. Widow Dafna takes to bed for three months and when she finally...
, directed by the club supporter, Nir Bergman. Literatural references of the club are available in the Hebrew books: Our Holocoast (by Amir Gutfreund, available in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
), Go To Gaza (by Shay Lahav), Tashlich (by Nir Kipnis) and the football short stories anthology The Dutchman Of Acre.
Current squad
As of 12 August, 2011.Players out on loan
Foreigners 2011–12
Only up to five non-Israeli nationals can be in an Israeli club squad. Those with Jewish ancestry, married to an Israeli (e.g. Tvrtko KaleTvrtko Kale
Tvrtko Kale is a Croatian-Israeli football player who played as of June 2010 for Hapoel Haifa. The newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija rated him the best player in the Croatian First League in 2004....
), 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.
Stefan Denković
Stefan Denković
Stefan Denković is a Montenegrin footballer. He plays for Hapoel Haifa in Ligat Ha'Al where he made his competitive debut on 20 August 2011 as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to Hapoel Kiryat Shmona....
Amos Kollie
Amos Kollie
Amos Kollie is an Liberian footballer currently playing for Hapoel Haifa.- Club :Kollie started his professional career with boyhood club, LISCR. After 2 years he signed with the Israeli side F.C. Nazareth Illit....
Vladimir Gluščević
Vladimir Glušcevic
Vladimir Gluščević is a Montenegrin footballer, playing for Hapoel Haifa.-Career:...
Dejan Kelhar
Dejan Kelhar
Dejan Kelhar is a Slovenian footballer who currently plays as a defender for Ankaragücü.-Club:Kelhar started playing football with NK Brežice, until he moved to Celje. He played there for two seasons in PrvaLiga...
Honours
- Israeli championships
- Winners: 1998–99
- second division
- Winners: 2008–09
- State Cup
- Winners: 1962–63, 1965–66, 1973–74
- Toto CupToto CupThe Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
- Winners: 2000–01
- Toto Cup Artzit
- Winners: 1986–87
- Decade cup
- Winners: 1957–58
- Youth Team – Championship
- Winners: 2005–06
- Youth Team – Cup
- Winners: 1986–87
Notable former players
Benny AlonBenny Alon
Benny Alon was an Israeli footballer in the 1970s. The top scorer of the Liga Leumit for 1973-74, he played 3 seasons in the North American Soccer League....
Giora Antman
Giora Antman
Giora Antman is a former Israeli footballer and currently the goalkeeping coach at Maccabi Haifa.-External links:...
Dudu Aouate
Dudu Aouate
David "Dudu" Aouate is an Israeli footballer who plays for RCD Mallorca in Spain, as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Aouate began his career at Maccabi Haifa F.C. at youth level, as an understudy to Nir Davidovich...
Reuven Atar
Reuven Atar
Reuven Atar is a former Israeli football player, and currently the manager of Maccabi Netanya.-Early years:A first generation Israeli to Moroccan immigrants who settled in Tirat Carmel. During his adolescence, he played for Maccabi Haifa youth club...
Rami Aziz Dov Azmon Tal Banin
Tal Banin
Tal Banin is a former Israeli football player and currently the manager of Hapoel Haifa. Banin played as a defensive midfielder...
Meir Ben-Margi David Ben-Natan Ran Ben Shimon
Ran Ben Shimon
Ran Ben Shimon is an Israeli football manager and formerly a professional football player with Hapoel Haifa and the Israel national football team...
Yitzhak Englander Najwan Ghrayeb Abba Gindin
Abba Gindin
Abraham "Abba" Gindin is a former Israeli professional football player.-Early life:Gindin was born and raised in Finland and grew up playing Ice hockey and football for Maccabi Helsinki. At the age of 18, he left Finland for his sister's wedding, who was living on kibbutz Ein...
Avraham Ginzburg Yaron Givol Ori Groper Alon Halfon
Alon Halfon
-Honours:*Israeli Premier League :**1998-99*Toto Cup :**2000-01*Israeli Second Division :**2004-05-References:...
Yechiel Hameiri
Yechiel Hameiri
Yechiel Hameiri is an Israeli former international footballer who competed at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.Hameiri played in one official game for the Israeli national side.-References:...
Ronen Harazi
Ronen Harazi
-Beitar:During his time at Beitar, Harazi attracted interest from English side Sunderland. The club was ready to place a £400,000 bid for Harazi, but the player failed a medical examination and the deal was terminated.-Loan to Haifa:...
Eli Levental Shlomo Levy Dani Malkin Nezah Masubi Haim Megrelashvili
Haim Megrelashvili
Haim Megrelashvili is an Israeli football defender plays for Maccabi Haifa. He joined Maccabi Haifa in 2003 from cross-town rival Hapoel Haifa, and within a short time became Israel's rookie of the year...
Dani Niron Oren Nisim
Oren Nisim
Oren Nisim is an Israeli footballer currently playing for Ironi Nir Ramat HaSharon.-Honours:*Israeli Premier League :**1998–99*Toto Cup :**2000–01*Toto Cup :**2004–05, 2008–09, 2010*Liga Leumit :...
Nimrod Rozles Ofer Talker
Ofer Talker
Ofer Talker is a former Israeli football defender and now works as the manager of Maccabi Herzliya.-Club career:Talker began playing for the youth group of Maccabi Ironi Ashdod until 1988, when he moved to the elder team. In 1993 he moved to Hapoel Haifa, where he won the Israeli Premier League...
Amir Turgeman
Amir Turgeman
Amir Turgeman is a former Israeli international football player. He currently plays for Amidar/Ramat Gan. While playing for Ironi Ashdod during the 1994/95 season, Turgeman scored seventeen league goals and shared the golden boot award with Ashdod native and Maccabi Haifa striker, Haim...
Gil Vermout Yochanan Vollach
Yochanan Vollach
Yochanan Vollach is a former Israeli footballer. He was a member of the Israeli national team that competed at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Today, Vollach is president of the Maccabi Haifa sport organization as well as being the president and CEO of Newlog, a subsidiary of Israeli shipping company...
Binyamin Weinberg
Binyamin Weinberg
-Biography:After having disputes with management at boyhood club, Maccabi Sha'arayim, he had two offers from other clubs. After turning down Beitar Jerusalem, he joined Maccabi Haifa where he enjoyed limited success. During his time at Haifa, the Yom Kippur War broke out and Weinberg was called up...
Ori Weinberg Roby Young
Roby Young
Reuven "Roby" Young is a former Israeli international footballer, and captain of Hapoel Haifa.-Professional Soccer Career in Israel:As a left winger, he was a part of the Hapoel Haifa youth squad that won the National title without losing a single match...
Victor Young
Victor Young
Victor Young was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. He was born in Chicago.-Biography:...
Oren Zeituni
Oren Zeituni
Oren Zeitouni, is a former Israeli footballer. He most recently played for Maccabi Netanya in the Israeli Premier League, but has been forced to retire because of injury.-Playing career:...
Hisham Zoabi Yoav Ziv
Yoav Ziv
Yoav David Ziv is an Israeli footballer who currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League and the Israel national football team. He can perform on either flank of the formation, usually attacking from defence, as he is adept with both feet, although he favours the right.-Club...
Viktor Paço
Viktor Paço
Viktor Paço is a former Albanian international football player.Currently he lives in the United States where he is coaching youth soccer in the Rochester area.-External sources:* at National-football-teams....
Carlos Olaran Serge Illey Damir Lesjak
Damir Lesjak
Damir Lesjak is a former Croatian footballer who played for Dinamo Zagreb, Israeli side Hapoel Haifa and Belgian club Mouscron....
Goran Milanko
Goran Milanko
Goran Milanko is a retired Croatian professional footballer of Serbian origin who played for, amongst others, Hajduk Split, Greek side PAOK F.C., Spanish side Cádiz CF, German sides Chemnitzer FC and Rot-Weiss Essen, and Israeli side Bnei Sakhnin. Currently he owns a futsal playing-ground in...
Giovanni Rosso
Giovanni Rosso
Đovani Roso , born 17 November 1972 is a former Croatian football player of Croatian and part Italian ethnicity. Roso was a midfielder, who preferred to play on the center-right flank of the field. He finished his footballing career at Hajduk Split...
Nsumbu Mazuwa
Nsumbu Mazuwa
Mazowa Nsumbu is a Congolese footballer.Mazowa started his career in Congolese club Tula-Mpaka and later moved to play in AS Vita Club in Congo. He then tried his luck in Belgium, but was not signed by any club and moved to Israel to play for Hapoel Haifa with his friend from Vita Club, Jeff Tutuana...
Jeff Tutuana
Jeff Tutuana
Gemi "Jeff" Tutuana is a Congolese footballer who plays for AE Κοúklia in Cyprus.Tutuana start playing soccer in a club called Japatra in the Congo...
Ibbos Yuveladio Alin Minteuan
Alin Minteuan
Alin Ilie Minteuan is a retired Romanian footballer, and current caretaker manager of CFR Cluj.- Career :Minteuan's first team was CFR Cluj, where he went on to play for Universitatea Cluj, Rapid Bucharest, and Gloria Bistrita. He is a right midfielder or a central defensive midfielder.- Coaching...
Marian Pană
Marian Pană
Marian Pană is a retired professional footballer. He previously managed teams like CS Otopeni, Cetatea Suceava, Ştiinţa Bacău, Gloria Bistriţa, Dacia Mioveni and Universitatea Cluj.-External links:...
Wachislaw Melnikov Alexander Podshivalov Dimitry Ulianov Peter Lorimer
Peter Lorimer
Peter Patrick Lorimer is a former footballer who formed part of the much-admired and feared Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s....
Michael Anicic
Michael Anicic
Michael Aničić is a former German professional footballer of Bosnian origin. He also holds German citizenship.-External links:* at transfermarkt.de...
Vadym Tyshchenko
Vadym Tyshchenko
Vadym Tyshchenko or Vadim Nikolayevich Tishchenko is a retired Soviet and Ukrainian football player and current football coach.-Honours:...
Zlatko Čajkovski
External links
- Hapoel Haifa – The Official Site
- red – the official fans site