The 2009–10 Liga Alef season was the first season since the

1998–99 Liga Alef The 1998–99 Liga Alef season was held between 11 September 1998 and 29 May 1999. It was the last season (until 2009–10) in which Liga Alef was the third tier of Israeli football, as the creation of the Israeli Premier League in the summer of 1 ...

season, in which Liga Alef regained its status as the third tier of

Israeli football Football ( he, כַּדוּרֶגֶל, ''Kaduregel'') is the most popular sport in Israel. Football as an organised sport, first developed in the United Kingdom, who controlled Mandatory Palestine during the days of the British Mandate. The ...

, due to the closure of Liga Artzit. Maccabi Ironi Jatt (champions of the North Division) and

Hapoel Herzliya Hapoel Herzliya ( he, הפועל הרצליה) is an Israeli football club based in Herzliya. The club is currently in Liga Alef North division and play their home matches at the Herzliya Municipal Stadium. History The Hapoel sport club in ...

(champions of the South Division) won the title and promotion to

Liga Leumit Liga Leumit ( he, ליגה לאומית, lit. ''National League'') is the second division of the Israeli Football League, and below its Premier League. Structure There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the two lowest-plac ...

. Promotion and relegation play-offs held. however, from the promotion play-offs, no club achieved promotion to Liga Leumit, as Liga Alef second placed play-off winner, Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen went down to Maccabi Be'er Sheva of Liga Leumit in the decisive match.

Changes from last season

Format changes

* Following the scrapping of Liga Artzit, Liga Alef became the third tier of the Israeli football league system. * Both divisions were expanded from 14 clubs to 16 clubs. * The runners-up would participate in a promotion play-offs, first playing against each other, then the winner playing the 14th placed

club. * The third-from-bottom clubs in each division would participate in a relegation play-offs, playing against the winner of the Liga Bet promotion play-offs.

Team changes

* Ahva Arraba and Maccabi Be'er Sheva F.C. were promoted to

; Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata (to North division) were relegated from

. * Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi, Maccabi Kafr Kanna, Maccabi Tirat HaCarmel and

Hapoel Bnei Tamra Hapoel Bnei Tamra Football Club ( he, מועדון כדורגל הפועל בני תמרה, ar, شباب طمرة) was an Israeli football club based in Tamra. A successor club, F.C. Tzeirei Tamra was established in 2013.Liga Artzit were placed in North division. *

and Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen were transferred from North division to South division. * Beitar Safed merged with Liga Bet team Hapoel Karmiel to form F.C. Karmiel Safed. The merged team was placed in North division. * Maccabi Ironi Shlomi/Nahariya and Beitar Ihud Mashhad were relegated to Liga Bet from North division; Maccabi Ironi Jatt and

Maccabi Umm al-Fahm Maccabi Umm al-Fahm F.C. () are a football club, from the north Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm. The club currently plays in Liga Bet North B division, the fourth tier of Israeli football. Home matches are played at the HaShalom Stadium. History T ...

were promoted to the North division from Liga Bet. * Ironi Ramla and Hapoel Masos/Segev Shalom were relegated to Liga Bet from South division; Shimshon Bnei Tayibe and

Hapoel Tzafririm Holon Hapoel Tzafririm Holon F.C. ( he, הפועל צפרירים חולון) is an Israeli football club based in the city of Holon. The club was founded in 1985 by a merger of Hapoel Holon and Tzafririm Holon.Liga Bet. * As a further place was available in South division, Maccabi Amishav Petah Tikva, as the best runner-up in the Liga Bet, was also promoted.

North Division

South Division

Promotion play-offs

The 2nd placed clubs in each division, Ironi Sayid Umm al-Fahm and Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen faced each other in Haberfeld Stadium, Rishon LeZion, and the winner advanced to the decisive play-off match against the 14th placed

club Maccabi Be'er Sheva. Maccabi HaShikma Ramat Hen qualified for the decisive play-off match against Maccabi Be'er Sheva. Maccabi Be'er Sheva remained in Liga Leumit.

Relegation play-offs

North play-off

Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi (which replaced the disqualified 14th placed club in Liga Alef North, Hapoel Bnei Tamra) faced the Liga Bet play-offs winner, Hapoel Ramot Menashe Megiddo. the winner earned a spot in the 2010–11 Liga Alef. Hapoel Bnei Jadeidi relegated to Liga Bet.

South play-off

The 14th placed club in Liga Alef South, Shimshon Bnei Tayibe, faced the Liga Bet play-offs winner, Ironi Ramla. the winner earned a spot in the 2010–11 Liga Alef. Shimshon Bnei Tayibe remained in Liga Alef.

References

Liga Alef North 2009/2010
The Israel Football Association
Liga Alef South 2009/2010
The Israel Football Association {{DEFAULTSORT:2009-10 Liga Alef Liga Alef seasons 3

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...