Maccabi Ahi Nazareth F.C.

Maccabi Ahi Nazareth
Full name	Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Green Nazarenes, Akhaa', Nazaret, Kvutsat HaMegzar, HaYarokim MeNatzrat
Founded	1967
Ground	Ilut Stadium, Ilut; (Capacity: 4,932)
Chairman	Kayed Abu Ayash
Manager	Shimon Edri
League	Liga Leumit
2010–11	9th
Home colours	Away colours

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Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Football Club (Arabic: نادي كرة القدم اخاء الناصرة‎, Nade Korat Alqadam Maccabi Ekhaa Al-Nasera) is an Israeli football club based in Nazareth. The club is currently in the Liga Leumit and plays at the Ilut Stadium in Ilut on the outskirts of the city.

[edit] History

The club was formed in 1967, and played in Liga Gimel until 1975. In 1998 they were promoted to Liga Artzit (then the second tier), finishing eighth in the league. In 1999–2000 and 2000–01 they finished one place above the relegation zone.

The 2002–03 season saw the club claim the Liga Leumit title, despite being deducted three points for playing an ineligible player, under the leadership of Azmi Nassar. They were promoted to the Israeli Premier League for the first time in their history. Fellow Israeli Arab club Bnei Sakhnin were also promoted, marking the first time two Arab clubs had been in the top division.

However, in their first season in the top division, the club finished bottom and were relegated back to Liga Leumit. The following season they were relegated again (due to a two-point deduction), and dropped back into the third division. In 2005–06 they finished as Liga Artzit runners-up, to make an immediate return to Liga Leumit, where they have remained since.

In 2008–09, the club was promoted to the Israeli Premier League.

After one of the worst seasons in the Israeli Premier League the club finished in the last spot of the league, In the last match she lost to Hapoel Ramat Gan 7–0 and were directly relegated to Liga Leumit for the 2010–11 season.

[edit] Current squad

As of March, 2010. Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Ohad David
2	DF	Muhammed Shakbari
3	DF	Dor Navon
4	DF	Eliran Hudeda
5	DF	Muhammed Allush
6	FW	Serge Ayeli
8	MF	Sammer Sarhen
9	FW	Elnatab Salami
10	MF	Ziv Kaveda
11	MF	Anas Dabour
14	DF	Alleh Saig
15	DF	Bashar Saidi

No.	Position	Player
16	MF	Obieda Rabia
18	FW	Carlos Ceballos
19	DF	Tarek Abbas
20	DF	Shuki Nagar
21	FW	Taufik Abed
22	GK	Gad Amos
24	FW	Shlomi Edri
26	DF	Dean Maimoni
30	MF	Asaf Braun
77	DF	Tamir For
99	FW	Lior Linder