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Hapoel Rishon LeZion F.C.

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Hapoel Rishon leZion
Hapoel Rishon LeZion's emblem
Full nameHapoel Rishon LeZion
הפועל ראשון לציון
Nickname(s)Rishonia
Founded1940; 84 years ago (1940)
GroundHaberfeld Stadium, Rishon LeZion
Capacity6,000
OwnerAmos Luzon
ManagerOfer Tesselpapa
LeagueLiga Leumit
2023–24Liga Leumit, 13th of 16

Hapoel Rishon LeZion F.C. (Hebrew: הפועל ראשון לציון) is an Israeli football club based in the city of Rishon LeZion, which currently plays in Liga Leumit, Israel's second football division. Home matches are hosted at the Haberfeld Stadium. In 1991, the club changed its name to Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion (Hebrew: הפועל עירוני ראשון לציון), and in June 2008 the name was switched back to Hapoel Rishon LeZion following a change in ownership.[1]

History

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Hapoel Rishon LeZion was one of the first clubs in the history of league football in Israel. The football section of the Sports club was established in 1929,[2] and played several matches since 1933,[3][4] including competing at the Palestine Cup in 1937 and 1939. The club was formally established in 1940.[5][6]

Its best achievements were runner-up of the Israel State Cup in 1946 and 1996. On both occasions it lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Following its cup final in 1996, it played in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, but was eliminated in the qualifying round by Constructorul Chisinau of Moldova on away goals rule (0–1, 3–2).

The club played at the top division in Mandatory Palestine for the first time at the 1941–42 season and after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, became founder members of the Israeli League in 1949. In 1951–52, the club finished second bottom and dropped to the second tier.

Between 1952 and 1994 the club played just three seasons in the top division: 1978–79, 1980–81 (where they finished sixth) and 1981–82. In the 1991–92 season, while playing in Liga Alef, the third tier, it added the word Ironi to its name, and in the next two seasons, made two successive promotions and returned to the top flight once again after winning Liga Artzit in the 1993–94 season.[1] This time the club managed to stay nine consecutive seasons in the top league until it was relegated to the second tier, (Liga Leumit), at the end of the 2002–03 season, and three seasons later dropped further down to Liga Artzit, the third tier at the time.

In 2008–09, after the club changed its name back to Hapoel Rishon LeZion, it was promoted to the second tier (Known as Liga Leumit) .

In 2010–11, the club was promoted to the Israeli Premier League, the top tier. They were relegated back to Liga Leumit the following season.

On 4 December 2012, Hapoel Rishon LeZion won the 2012–13 Toto Cup Leumit.

In 2017–18, the club was just one point short of being promoted to the top tier, The Israeli Premier League, finishing third. In the following year, 2018–19, the club finished twelfth, and narrowly avoided relegation.

In 2023-24, on July 28, 2023, the club sold Mohamed Bamba, an Ivorian striker who played for the club and the youth team for 3.5 years, to Austrian club Wolfsberger AC for 200,000€ and a 20% sell-on fee. After scoring 8 goals and 4 assists in 17 games in the 2023–24 Austrian Football Bundesliga and 2023–24 Austrian Cup, Wolfsberger AC sold Bamba to French club FC Lorient for 5,000,000€, securing Rishon 1,000,000€ from the sell-on. Bamba went on to score 8 goals and 3 assists in 16 games in the 2023–24 Ligue 1.

Season-by-season
Season League Tier League Position Israeli Cup Toto Cup Notes
2004–05 2 6th Round of 32 X
2005–06 2 11th Round of 16 X No toto cup before 2006–07.
2006–07 3 2nd DNP X No toto cup in 3rd tier
2007–08 2 11th Round of 16 9th-10th
2008–09 3 4th Round of 64 X No toto cup in 3rd tier
2009–10 2 8th Round of 64 2nd
2010–11 2 2nd Round of 16 5th-8th
2011–12 1 15th Round of 32 9th-16th
2012–13 2 6th Semi Finals 1st
2013–14 2 11th Quarter Finals X The Toto Cup was not held that year.
2014–15 2 10th Round of 32 9th-16th
2015–16 2 12th Round of 16 9th-16th
2016–17 2 10th Round of 16 9th-16th
2017–18 2 3rd Round of 32 5th-8th
2018–19 2 12th Round of 64 9-10th
2019–20 2 5th Round of 32 3rd-4th
2020–21 2 4th Round of 32 5th-6th
2021–22 2 14th Round of 32 7th Won the Promotion/relegation playoff
2022–23 2 12th Round of 32 1st
2023-24 2 13th Round of 16 15th-16th

Current squad

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As to 1 June 2024
No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Israel ISR Eliran Gomelski
2 MF France FRA Sacha Petshi
3 DF Israel ISR Liad Levi
4 DF Israel ISR Roei Zrihan
5 DF Haiti HAI Djimy Alexis
6 MF Israel ISR Shay Ayzen
7 FW Israel ISR Dor Jan
8 MF Israel ISR Moshe Semel
9 FW Israel ISR Raz Stain
10 FW Israel ISR Yuval Sasson
11 FW Israel ISR Ofek Osher
12 DF Israel ISR Tomer Machluf
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF Israel ISR Daniel Bohadana
18 MF Israel ISR Ido Davidov
20 MF Israel ISR Dor Osowsky
22 GK Israel ISR Arik Yanko
23 DF Israel ISR Asher Ashata
24 MF Israel ISR Yosef Balata
26 DF Israel ISR Yorai Maliach
28 MF Israel ISR Noam Cohen
29 MF Israel ISR Itay Zada
30 MF Israel ISR Sarel Cohen
44 DF Zambia ZAM Gift Mphande
55 GK Israel ISR Dvir Nir

International former players

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Europe

Asia

Africa

Central and North America

Israel

Managers

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Honours

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Honour No. Years
Second tier 1 1993–94
Third tier 3 1964–65, 1988–89, 1992–93

Cups

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Honour No. Years
Toto Cup (second division) 2 2012–13, 2022–23

European record

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Season Round Opponents Home leg Away leg Aggregate
1996–97 Qualifying Round Moldova Constructorul Chişinău 3–2 0–1 3–3 (a)

References

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  1. ^ a b History of Hapoel Rishon LeZion F.C. Hapoel Rishon LeZion fans Official Site (in Hebrew)
  2. ^ At the centennial, Rishon LeZion will be at the top (Page 9) Hadshot HaSport, 16 May 1980, archive.football.co.il (in Hebrew)
  3. ^ At the EIFA Davar, 1 December 1933, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  4. ^ Activities in Liga Bet South division Doar Hayom, 15 December 1933, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  5. ^ The Stadium Hapoel Rishon LeZion Official Site (in Hebrew)
  6. ^ Club Hapoel Rishon LeZion fans official website (in Hebrew)
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