Beitar Jerusalem F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Beitar Jerusalem Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Beitar The Menorah The Lions from the Capital The Flag of the State |
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| Short name | BEI | |||
| Founded | 1936 | |||
| Ground | Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, Israel | |||
| Capacity | 31,733 | |||
| Owner | Barak Abramov | |||
| Head coach | Barak Yitzhaki | |||
| League | Israeli Premier League | |||
| 2021–22 | Israeli Premier League, 10th of 14 | |||
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Beitar Jerusalem Football Club is a professional football team from Jerusalem, Israel. They play in the Israeli Premier League, which is the top football league in Israel. The team's colors are yellow and black. Their home games are played at Teddy Stadium, the biggest stadium in Israel, which can hold over 31,000 fans.
Beitar Jerusalem is one of the most popular football clubs in Israel. It was started in 1936 by Shmuel Kirschstein and David Horn. The club has a strong connection to the city of Jerusalem and its history.
Over the years, Beitar Jerusalem has won many important titles. They have won the Israeli Premier League six times and the Israeli Cup eight times. They also won the Israeli Supercup twice.
Contents
Club History
Early Years (British Mandate)
Beitar Jerusalem began in 1936 as a youth football team. They played their first matches against other teams in Jerusalem. Sometimes, these games were against Armenian and Arab teams.
In 1942, Beitar played against the Islamic Sports Club of Haifa and won 5–1. They also played against Al-Dajani, a leading Arab team from Katamon, in 1943 and 1944.
In 1944, Beitar Jerusalem reached the final of the Jerusalem Cup. However, the game was stopped by fans of a rival team, Hapoel Jerusalem.
Later, in 1944, some Beitar players were sent away by the British authorities. They were deported to places like Eritrea and Kenya. Even there, they formed a Beitar Jerusalem team and continued to play.
In 1946, Beitar Jerusalem played in the second round of the Cup Games against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Simon Alfasi scored all five goals for Beitar in those matches.
In 1947, the British authorities banned all Beitar clubs. The team changed its name to "Nordiah Jerusalem" for a short time. On November 15, 1947, "Nordiah Jerusalem" won their first derby game against Hapoel Jerusalem 3–1. Just two weeks later, on November 29, 1947, Simon Alfasi scored six goals in one game, which is still a club record! The games stopped suddenly on November 30, 1947, when the 1948 Arab–Israeli War began.
After Israel's Independence
After Israel became an independent country in 1948, Beitar returned to its original name. In the 1949–50 season, they played in a "Special League" for Jerusalem's district. They had their biggest league win ever, beating Hapoel Ramla 8–0.
In the 1953–54 season, Beitar won their division and were promoted to the top league, called Liga Leumit. They were relegated back to the second league after one season. They won the second league again in 1957–58 and 1966–68, showing how strong they were. The 1966–68 season was amazing for Beitar. They earned 104 points out of a possible 120 and had a 32-match unbeaten streak. They scored 161 goals and had 19 wins in a row!
Success in the 1970s
In the 1971–72 season, Beitar Jerusalem finished second in the league. In 1974, during a match, some Beitar fans went onto the field. This led to the club being punished and having to play games in other cities without fans.
In 1975, Beitar reached the State Cup final for the first time but lost. The next season, 1975–76, they finished second in the league and won their first major trophy, the State Cup! They beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 2–1 in front of a huge crowd. Danny Noyman and Uri Malmilian scored the winning goals.
In 1976, they also won the Israeli Supercup for the first time. They finished second in the league again in 1977–78 and 1978–79. In 1979, they won the State Cup for the second time, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv again.
The 1980s: First Championship
The 1980s started tough for Beitar. In 1981, a controversial game against Maccabi Tel Aviv caused a lot of anger among fans. The club was relegated in 1979–80 but quickly returned to the top division.
In 1982–83, the team had a "Crazy Season" with many changes in coaches and management. Despite being in last place for a while, they managed to recover and finish in 8th place. This showed their fighting spirit!
In 1983–84 and 1984–85, Beitar finished as runner-up in the league. They won the State Cup for the third time in 1985, with Eli Ohana scoring the winning goal.
In 1985, Dror Kashtan became the manager. The team won the Lilian Cup for the first and only time. They also won the State Cup again in 1986, making it their fourth time.
In the 1986–87 season, Beitar Jerusalem won their first-ever league championship! They won by a huge 15-point lead. Both Uri Malmilian and Eli Ohana scored 15 goals each. This was a historic moment for the club and its fans.
Kashtan left and returned again in 1988. In 1988–89, they won the State Cup for the fifth time, beating Maccabi Haifa in a penalty shootout. Uri Malmilian and Avi Cohen were key players in this victory.
The 1990s: More Championships
In 1990–91, Beitar was relegated again but quickly returned to the top division under coach Lufa Kadosh. Eli Ohana came back to the club and scored 17 goals, helping them get promoted.
In 1992–93, with Dror Kashtan back as coach, Beitar won their second championship! They won 22 out of 33 league games, setting a new club record for wins and points in the first division. Eli Ohana and Ronen Harazi were the stars. In 1993, they also had their biggest win ever in any tournament, beating Beitar Ramla 9–0 in the State Cup.
In 1994–95, the club had a tough start but improved under coach Yossi Mizrahi. They achieved their biggest win in the first league, beating Maccabi Herzliya 8–1.
Beitar won their third championship in 1996–97, with Eli Ohana, Ronen Harazi, and Itzik Zohar leading the way. They had a record of nine straight wins during the season.
In 1997–98, Beitar Jerusalem won the Toto Cup for the first time. Later that season, they won their fourth championship, with Kashtan back as coach.
The 1998–99 season saw Beitar reach the cup final but lose on penalties. In 1999, the club was sold to Yaakov Ben Gur, marking a new era for Beitar.
The 2000s: New Owners and Double Wins
At the start of the 2000s, Beitar faced financial challenges. In 2000, they won the Shalom Cup (Peace Cup) in Rome, beating teams from Jordan and Italy.
In 2005, Russian billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak bought the club. He invested a lot of money, bringing in new players and helping Beitar become a top team again.
In 2006–07, Beitar won its fifth championship under coach Yossi Mizrahi. This was a special win for the club.
The 2007–08 season was historic! Beitar Jerusalem won both the championship and the State Cup, achieving a "Double" for the first time. They won the league by nine points and beat Hapoel Tel Aviv in the cup final.
In 2008–09, Beitar won the State Cup for the seventh time, beating Maccabi Haifa. In 2010, they won the Toto Cup for the second time.
The 2010s: Changes and Challenges
The 2010s brought more changes for Beitar Jerusalem. In 2012, Arcadi Gaydamak decided to sell the club after investing a lot of money.
In 2013, Eli Tabib bought the team and took on its debts. The club continued to compete in the league and even returned to European tournaments in 2015.
In 2018, Beitar Jerusalem made headlines by announcing they would change their official name to Beitar Trump Jerusalem Football Club, to honor U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
Later in 2018, Moshe Hogeg, a tech entrepreneur, bought the club. He stated his goal was to put the club on a "new path" and make sure religion would not be a factor in player decisions.
The 2020s: Recent Times
In 2020, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, announced plans to buy 50% of the club. This deal aimed to improve the club's image and show that people from different backgrounds can work together.
The 2021–22 season was difficult for Beitar, with financial problems and changes in ownership. Despite the challenges, the team managed to avoid relegation. In August 2022, Barak Abramov became the new owner, helping to secure the club's future.
In the 2022–23 season, Beitar Jerusalem had a mixed league performance but surprised everyone by winning the Israeli State Cup for the eighth time! They beat Maccabi Netanya 3–0 in the final. This was a huge victory for the club and its fans.
The 2023–24 season was tough, with losses in various tournaments. However, Beitar achieved a big away win against Hapoel Tel Aviv, winning 5–1.
Club Symbols
Crest
The club's crest features the Menorah, which is a symbol of Israel. It also includes two lions, which represent the Tribe of Judah.
Rivalries
Rivalry with Hapoel Jerusalem
Beitar Jerusalem has a local rivalry with Hapoel Jerusalem. This is known as the Jerusalem derby.
Rivalry with Hapoel Tel Aviv
Another big rivalry is with Hapoel Tel Aviv. This rivalry is often seen as a political one, as Hapoel Tel Aviv fans are traditionally more left-leaning, while Beitar supporters are more right-leaning.
Rivalry with Bnei Sakhnin
The rivalry with Bnei Sakhnin is also very strong. Bnei Sakhnin is a successful club with mostly Arab players, while Beitar Jerusalem has traditionally not signed Arab players.
Home Stadium
Teddy Stadium
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Since 1991, Beitar Jerusalem has played its home games at Teddy Stadium. The stadium is named after Teddy Kollek, a former mayor of Jerusalem. When it first opened, it held 12,000 people. It was expanded in 1997 to 21,600 seats and again in 2013 to 31,733 seats.
Fans sometimes call the stadium Gehinom (which means Hell) because of the loud and intense atmosphere it creates for visiting teams.
Training Ground
Beitar Jerusalem's teams, from youth to professional, train at a special complex in Beit Vagan. This complex has locker rooms, gyms, and three training fields, two of which have artificial grass. The club's offices and a fan shop are also located here.
Supporters and Players
Beitar Jerusalem has a very passionate fanbase. One well-known group of supporters is called La Familia.
Historically, Beitar Jerusalem has not signed Arab players. However, the club has had non-Arab Muslim players in the past.
- Guram Adzhoyev, a player from Tajikistan, played for Beitar in 1989–90. He was well-liked by fans for his effort.
- Viktor Paço, an Albanian player, was a star for Beitar in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He later shared that he is Muslim.
- Ndala Ibrahim, a Nigerian Muslim player, briefly played for the team in 2005.
- In 2013, the club signed two Chechen Muslim players, Zaur Sadayev and Dzhabrail Kadiyev. Some fans protested this, but club leaders and politicians spoke out against the protests.
- In 2019, when Ali Mohamed, a Christian player from Niger, signed with the club, some fans asked him to change his name because "Mohamed" sounded "too Muslim." The club's owner, Moshe Hogeg, stood up for the player.
Club Achievements
League Titles
| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Israeli Championships | 6 | 1986–87, 1992–93, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2006–07, 2007–08 |
| Runners-up | 6 | 1971–72, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1984–85 |
Cup Competitions
| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| State Cup | 8 | 1975–76, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1988–89, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2022–23 |
| Runners-up | 4 | 1974–75, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2017–18 |
| Toto Cup (top division) | 3 | 1997–98, 2009–10 2019–20 |
| Super Cup | 2 | 1976, 1986 |
| Lilian Cup | 1 | 1985–86 |
| Shalom Cup (Roma) – Peace Cup | 1 | 2000–01 |
Other Honors
| Honour | No. | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Football / Futsal | 2 | 1988, 2004 |
Beitar Jerusalem in Europe
Beitar Jerusalem has played in European football tournaments many times. Their first official European match (not including Intertoto games) was a 1–1 draw in the 1993-94 UEFA Champions League. They have played in the UEFA Champions League five times, but have not advanced past the second qualifying round.
Club Records
Team Records
- Most Seasons in Top League: 53 seasons (including 2021–2022)
- Biggest Win (Overall): 9–0 (against Beitar Ramla F.C. in the 1992–93 State Cup)
- Biggest Win (First League): 8–1 (against Maccabi Herzliya F.C. in 1994–95)
- Longest Winning Streak (Overall): 19 games (during 1966–68 season)
- Longest Winning Streak (Top League): 9 games (during 1996–97 season)
- Most Goals in a Season (Top League): 75 goals (in 1993–94 and 2017–18 seasons)
- Biggest Point Lead (Championship): 15 points (in 1986–87 season)
- Longest Scoring Streak (Top League): 43 consecutive games (from 2016–17 to 2018–19)
Player Records
- Most League Appearances: Uri Malmilian, 423 games
- Most European Appearances: Itzik Kornfein, 23 games
- Most League Goals: Eli Ohana, 142 goals
- Most State Cup Goals: Uri Malmilian, 29 goals
- Most Goals in One Match: Simon Alfasi, 6 goals (in 1947)
Images for kids
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Beitar Jerusalem training grounds in Beit Vagan.
See also
In Spanish: Beitar Jerusalén para niños
