Hapoel Lod F.C.

Hapoel Lod (Hebrew: הפועל לוד) was an Israeli football club based in Lod. The club spent several seasons in the top division in the 1960s and 1980s, and won the State Cup in 1984. After several relegations, they folded in 2002.

Hapoel Lod
Logo
Full nameHapoel Lod Football Club
Founded1949
2017 (re-founded)
Dissolved2002
GroundLod Municipal Stadium, Lod
ManagerZvika Levy
LeagueLiga Alef South
2022–23Liga Bet South A, 1st (promoted)

History

The club was established in 1949.[1] In 1963 they were promoted to Liga Leumit (then the top division) for the first time. However, in their first season in the league, they finished bottom and were relegated back to Liga Alef.

They returned to Liga Leumit in 1983, finishing seventh in their first season back in the top division, and reaching the State Cup final for the first time. In the final they beat Hapoel Be'er Sheva 3–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw.[2]

The club was relegated back the second tier at the end of the 1984–85 season, in which they finished second from bottom. The following season they finished third in Liga Artzit (then the second division) and made an immediate return to Liga Leumit.

In 1986–87 Hapoel finished fourth, their highest ever league position. However, the following season they finished second bottom and were relegated again. In 1989–90 they finished bottom of Liga Artzit and were relegated to Liga Alef.

They returned to Liga Artzit in 1997, but in 1998–99 finished 14th, and were due to be relegated to the third tier. However, after their budget was not approved by Israel Football Association, the club was demoted a further division, to Liga Alef.[3] At the end of the 2001–02 season the club were relegated to Liga Bet, and folded.

A new club, Hapoel Maxim Lod was established soon afterwards (named after a former Lod mayor, Maxim Levy). In 2006 the new club won the South B division of Liga Bet, and in 2007 won the South Division of Liga Alef to earn promotion to Liga Artzit. However, the new club folded in the summer of 2007 and Hapoel Kfar Shalem were promoted in their place.

Honours

Hapoel Lod 1969–70

League

Honour No. Years
Second tier 1 1981–82
Third tier 3 1959–60, 1961–62, 1996–97
Fourth tier 3 1955–56, 1976–77, 2006–071
Fifth tier 1 2005–061
Sixth tier 1 2004–051

1Achieved by Hapoel Maxim Lod

Cup competitions

Honour No. Years
State Cup 1 1983–84
Super Cup 1 1984

Notable former players

References

  1. In the Field of Football Davar, 1 July 1949, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  2. Israel – List of Cup Finals RSSSF
  3. Israel Third Level 1999/2000 RSSSF
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