Israeli Premier League

The Israeli Premier League (Hebrew: ליגת העל, Ligat HaAl, lit.

This top tier league is contested by 14 clubs, and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with its second division Liga Leumit.

It is also ranked 15th in the UEFA coefficients of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last five years.

Of the thirty clubs to have competed since the inception of the Israeli Premier League in 1999, six have won the title: Beitar Jerusalem (twice), Hapoel Be'er Sheva (three times), Hapoel Tel Aviv (twice), Maccabi Haifa (ten times), Maccabi Tel Aviv (seven times), and Ironi Kiryat Shmona (once).

For the 2012–13 season the league was decreased from 16 to 14 clubs as a result of reforms passed by the IFA on 27 June 2011.

[2] The participating clubs first play a conventional round-robin schedule for a total of 26 matches.

A total of 31 clubs have played in the Israeli Premier League from its inception in 1999 and the start of the 2024–25 season.

Since then, only six clubs have won the title; Hapoel Tel Aviv, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

[10] Having won nine titles in the league's 23 seasons, the most successful club during this period is Maccabi Haifa; during the same period Maccabi Tel Aviv have added six to their total while Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv have won two championships each.

Although Hapoel Tel Aviv have only finished top of the league twice since 1999—in 1999–2000 and ten years later in 2009–10—they have won the double on both occasions.

Ironi Kiryat Shmona won their first championship during the 2011–12 season, thereby becoming the first northern title-winners.

Maccabi Tel Aviv then won three titles in a row, including a Treble in 2014–15.

A stand full of football supporters clad in yellow and blue, beside a pitch.
Maccabi Tel Aviv celebrating their league winners title at the end of the 2012–13 season