Hapoel Bnei Ashdod F.C.

Hapoel Bnei Ashdod (Hebrew: הפועל בני אשדוד) is an Israeli football club based in Ashdod. The club was formed in 2015 by Hapoel Ashdod supporters headed by former Hapoel Ashdod chairman Ya'akov Shitrit, as a resurrection of their old club, which was merged with Maccabi Ironi Ashdod to form F.C. Ashdod.^[1]

Hapoel Bnei Ashdod

Full name	Football Club Hapoel Bnei Ashdod Michel Azugi מ.כ. הפועל בני אשדוד מישל אזוגי
Founded	2015
Ground	Synthetic Pitch, Ashdod
Chairman	Ya'akov Shitrit
Manager	Oren Dayan
League	Liga Gimel
2021–22	Liga Gimel Central, 6th
Home colours Away colours

Origins and formation

In 1998, Hapoel Ashdod and rival club Maccabi Ironi Ashdod were in debts and in decline and in order to save both football clubs, they were merged to form F.C. Ashdod.^[2] However, former supporters of Hapoel Ashdod were dissatisfied with the merger and set up a new club, Hapoel Namal Ashdod.^[3] The new club collapsed in 2004 due to financial difficulties.^[4]

In 2015, two separate initiatives were set to re-establish Hapoel Ashdod, one headed by former Hapoel Ashdod and Hapoel Namal Ashdod chairman, Ya'akov Shitrit, and the other headed by fans group named "1957 Reds". Shitrit's group was affiliated with the Hapoel organization, and was registered with the IFA as Hapoel Bnei Ashdod.^[5][6]

History

On 18 September 2015 the club played it first official match, beating F.C. Be'er Sheva Haim Levy 3–2 in the first round of the State Cup.^[7] Initially, the club was coached by former Maccabi Kiryat Gat player Nir Hazut^[8] but Hazut quit before the beginning of the season^[9] and was replaced by Ami Jerbi.^[10] However, Jerbi left in November 2015^[11] and was replaced by Avi Malul,^[12] which left himself in February 2016 and was replaced by Adam Shushan.^[13]

Honours

Cups

Honour	No.	Years
Liga Gimel divisional State Cup	1	2017–18

External links

• Hapoel Bnei Ashdod Israel Football Association (in Hebrew)

References

1. Hapoel Ashdod was re-established last night in enthusiastic conference Bar Rabinovich & Noam Altman, Ashdod 10, 30.3.2015 (in Hebrew)
2. The Full and True Story of a Broken Merge^{[permanent dead link]} Shahar Kahlon, 25 March 2015, AshdodNet (in Hebrew)
3. Namal Ashdod vs. Haim Revivo Nitzan Horesh, 31 March 2002, Haaretz (in Hebrew)
4. The Mythological Hapoel Ashdod Will Be Re-Established in Liga Gimel Erez Na'aman, 4 March 2015, One.co.il (in Hebrew)
5. Derby every week? 3 teams from Ashdod were assigned to the same district Kobi Portal, Doublepass, 27.8.2015 (in Hebrew)
6. Hapoel Ashdod Vs Hapoel Ashdod war Shahar Kahlon, Ashdodnet, 23.7.2015 (in Hebrew)
7. Hallelujah to the Red Teams of Ashdod: First Wins in the League 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Noam Altahan, 20 September 2015, Ashdod 10 (in Hebrew)
8. Hapoel Ashdod Signed Nir Hazut as Coach Shahar Kahlon, 13 July 2015, AshdodNet (in Hebrew)
9. Warming Up the Engines Oded Biger, 20 August 2015, Ashdod10 (in Hebrew)
10. Bnei Ashdod Opens the Season 4 September 2015, Goler1 (in Hebrew)
11. Ami Jerbi Is Leaving Hapoel Bnei Ashdod, Ironi Players Are Wanted Shahar Kahlon, 11 November 2015, AshdodNet (in Hebrew)
12. Ami Jerbi Went, Avi Malul Came Noam Altahan, 12 November 2015 Ashdod 10 (in Hebrew)
13. Changes in Hapoel Bnei Ashdod: Coach Avi Malul Left, Adam Shusan to Replace Him Shahar Kahlon, 23 February 2016, AshdodNet (in Hebrew)