Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Hapoel The Reds The Red Devils |
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| Short name | HTA | |||
| Founded | 1923 | |||
| Ground | Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel | |||
| Capacity | 29,400 | |||
| Owner | Edmond M. Safra | |||
| Manager | Elyaniv Barda | |||
| League | Israeli Premier League | |||
| 2021–22 | Israeli Premier League, 5th of 14 | |||
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Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club is a professional football team from Tel Aviv, Israel. The name "Hapoel" means "The Worker" in Hebrew. The club plays its home games at Bloomfield Stadium. Hapoel Tel Aviv has won many titles, including 13 championships and 16 State Cups. In 1967, they made history by becoming the first club to win the Asian Champion Club Tournament.
Since 1995, Hapoel Tel Aviv has also played in European competitions. They have achieved impressive wins against famous teams like Chelsea, Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. Hapoel Tel Aviv is one of only three Israeli teams to have reached the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. For many years, the club was owned by the Histadrut, which is Israel's main trade union.
Contents
Club History and Achievements
Early Years (British Mandate)
Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. first started in 1923. After a couple of restarts, the club officially formed in May 1926. In 1927, they joined with Allenby F.C. to become the club we know today. Hapoel Tel Aviv was part of the Hapoel sports group, which was connected to the Histadrut trade union.
In 1928, the club played in the first official Palestine Cup final. They won the "double" in the 1933–34 season, meaning they won both the league and the cup. They won every league match that season, which was a unique achievement. Hapoel also won the cup in 1937, 1938, and 1939, being the only club to win it three times in a row. They won their second championship in 1939–40 and a third in the 1943–44 season.
Success in Israel
After Israel became independent, Hapoel joined the new Israeli League. They won the league title in 1956–57 and the State Cup in 1961.
In the 1965–66 season, Hapoel won the league again. This allowed them to play in the first Asian Club Championships in 1967. Hapoel reached the final and beat Selangor 2–1, becoming the first Asian club champions. They won another league title in 1968–69 and reached the Asian Club Championship final again in 1970, but lost.
Hapoel won the State Cup in 1972. They won the league title again in 1980–81, and then the State Cup in 1982. More league titles followed in 1985–86 and 1987–88. However, the next season, Hapoel was moved down to the second division for the first time. They quickly returned to the top league. In 1997–98, they finished second and qualified for European games. They won the State Cup in 1998–99.
21st Century Achievements
In the 1999–2000 season, Hapoel won the "double" again, taking both the league title and the State Cup. They tried to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage but didn't make it. They finished second in the league in 2000–01 and 2001–02.
In the 2001–02 UEFA Cup, Hapoel reached the quarter-finals. They beat big teams like Chelsea and Parma. They even beat A.C. Milan 1–0 in one game, though they lost the overall match. In 2002, the club won its first Toto Cup. They won the State Cup again in 2006 and 2007.
In 2009–10, Hapoel won another double, winning the State Cup and the league title in a very exciting final game. They also did well in the Europa League, winning their group. The next season, they reached the group stages of the Champions League for the first time. They also won the Israeli State Cup for the second year in a row.
In the 2011–12 season, many players left, but the team still won the Israeli State Cup for the third time in a row. In 2012, fans helped buy part of the club. As of 2023, the Mintzberg group became the new owners.
Home Stadium
Bloomfield Stadium
Hapoel Tel Aviv plays its home games at Bloomfield Stadium. The club moved to this stadium in 1950. In 1962, the stadium was improved with help from the Bloomfield family, which is how it got its name.
The stadium is in Jaffa, a part of Tel Aviv. The first game at Bloomfield was on December 12, 1962. Hapoel shares the stadium with city rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bnei Yehuda. Hapoel's main fan section is at Gate 5, where the "Ultras Hapoel" group leads the cheering.
Supporters and Club Identity
Hapoel Tel Aviv has a strong connection to its history as "The Worker" club. The club's badge, which includes a red hammer and sickle, shows its ties to the working class and trade union movements.
The "Ultras Hapoel" fan group often displays flags and banners with messages about workers' unity. They have friendships with other fan groups around the world who share similar values, such as fans of FC St. Pauli and Celtic F.C..
Surveys have shown that Hapoel Tel Aviv is a very popular team in Israel. A 2011 poll found it was the second most popular team among Israeli Arabs. A 2012 survey showed it was the fourth most popular team overall in Israel, and many Tel Aviv residents support the team.
A famous supporter of Hapoel Tel Aviv was the singer Arik Einstein. He mentioned the club in his songs and even sang their championship song in 2000.
Club Rivalries
Tel Aviv Derby
Hapoel Tel Aviv's biggest rivals are Maccabi Tel Aviv. Their games against each other are known as the Tel Aviv derby, and they are always very exciting.
Rivalry with Beitar Jerusalem
Hapoel also has a strong rivalry with Beitar Jerusalem. This rivalry is known for having different political backgrounds between the two fan bases.
Players
Current Squad (July 2025)
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Players on Loan
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Other Players Under Contract
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International Players (2025–26)
Israeli clubs can have up to six non-Israeli players, but only five can play at the same time. Players with Jewish family, those married to an Israeli, or those who have played in Israel for a long time might get Israeli status.
Fernand Mayembo
Lucas Falcão
Club Honours
National Titles
League Championships
| Honour | Number | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Championships | 13 | 1933–34, 1934–35, 1938–39, 1940, 1943–44, 1956–57, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1999–2000, 2009–10 |
Cup Competitions
| Honour | Number | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| State Cup | 16 | 1928, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1944, 1960–61, 1971–72, 1982–83, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 |
| Toto Cup (top division) | 1 | 2001–02 |
| Super Cup | 5 | 1957, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1981 |
International Titles
| Honour | Number | Years |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Champions League | 1/1 | Winner:1967
Runners-up:1970 |
Youth Division Honours
| Honour | Number | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Israeli Noar Premier League | 5 | 1944–45, 1965–66, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1989–90 |
| Israel Youth State Cup | 8 | 1959–60, 1967–68, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1991–92, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2018–19 |
International Records
European Competitions
- UEFA Champions League
- Group stage: 2010–11
- UEFA Europa League
- Quarter-finals: 2001–02
- Round of 32: 2006–07, 2009–10
- Group stage: 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13
Asian Competitions
- Asian Champion Club Tournament
- Winners (1): 1967
Coaches
Monia Goldstein (1947–??)- Musta Poliakov (1949–??)
- Zvi Erlich (1950–??)
Ivan Jazbinšek (1956–57)- Edmond Schmilovich (1958–60)
Jenő Kalmár (1960–62)
Harry Game (1963–64)- David Schweitzer (1965–66)
- Yosef Merimovich (1966–68)
- Rehavia Rosenbaum (1968–70)
- Harry Game (1971–74)
- Shimon Ben Yehonathan (1974–75)
- Rehavia Rosenbaum (1975–76)
- Yosef Merimovich (1977–79)
- David Schweitzer (1980–82)
- Zvi Rosen (1982–83)
- Mordechai Spiegler (1984)
- David Schweitzer (1986–87)
- David Schweitzer (1989–90)
- Shimon Shenhar (1990)
- Moshe Sinai (1991–96)
- Ya'akov Grundman (1992)
- Yehoshua Feigenbaum (1993–94)
- Dror Kashtan (1 July 1996 – 30 June 1997)
- Eli Cohen (1 July 1997 – 30 June 1999)
- Dror Kashtan (1 July 1999 – 30 June 2004)
- Gili Landau (June 2004 – 4 Dec)
- Shmuel Hanin (15 Nov 2004 – 31 Dec 2004)
- Yehoshua Feigenbaum (Dec 2004 – 5 June 2005)
- Dror Kashtan (1 July 2005 – 31 Dec 2005)
- Itzhak Shum (1 July 2006 – 31 Dec 2006)
- Nir Levine (Dec 2006 – 7 June 2007)
- Guy Luzon (1 July 2007 – 15 Jan 2008)
- Eli Guttman (Dec 2007 – 25 May 2011)
- Dror Kashtan (4 June 2011 – 9 Jan 2012)
- Nitzan Shirazi (11 Jan 2012 – Sept 27, 2012)
- Yossi Abukasis (Sept 27, 2012 – 17 Feb 2013)
- Freddy David (18 Feb 2013 – 18 May 2013)
- Ran Ben Shimon (20 May 2013 – 26 May 2014)
- Asi Domb (26 May 2014 – 24 January 2015)
- Eli Cohen (24 January 2015 – 5 November 2015)
- Guy Levy (5 November 2015 – January 2016)
- Eli Guttman (January 2016 – September 2016)
- Guy Luzon (September 2016 – 11 January 2017)
- Meni Koretski (11 January 2017 – 16 May 2017)
- Moti Ivanir (26 May 2017 – 26 October 2017)
- Kobi Refua (30 October 2017 - 26 November 2018)
- Ofir Haim (27 November 2018 - 6 January 2019)
- Kobi Refua (7 January 2019 - 16 May 2019)
- Nisso Avitan (16 May 2019 - 5 November 2019)
- Nir Klinger (5 November 2019 - 19 December 2021)
- Kobi Refua (19 December 2021 - 18 September 2022)
- Slobodan Drapić (19 September 2022 - 10 January 2023)
- Haim Silvas (11 January 2023 - 16 May 2023)
Michael Valkanis (4 June 2023 - 30 October 2023)
Borja Lema (30 October 2023 - 27 January 2024)- Salim Tuama (Interim) (27 January 2024 - 6 February 2024)
- Yossi Abukasis (6 February 2024 - 28 April 2024)
- Salim Tuama (Interim) (28 April 2024 - 2 June 2024)
- Messay Dego (2 June 2024 - 9 December 2024)
- Elyaniv Barda (9 December 2024 -
Notable Former Players
Team Captains
| Years | Captain |
|---|---|
| 1951 | Shimon Zimerman (MF) |
| 1967 | Haim Nurieli (MF) |
| 1971 | Shimon Ben Yehonathan (DF) |
| 1972–1979 | Yehoshua Feigenbaum (FW) |
| 1983–1987 | Moshe Sinai (MF) |
| 1990 | Yaakov Ekhoiz (DF) |
| 1993–1994 | Haim Revivo (MF) |
| 1994–1995 | Ya'akov Schwartz (MF) |
| 1995–1997 | Guy Sharabi (DF) |
| 1997–1999 | Felix Halfon (DF) |
| 1999–2006 | Shimon Gershon (DF) |
| 2006–2007 | Yossi Abuksis (MF) |
| 2007–2013 | Walid Badir (DF) |
| 2013–2015 | Shay Abutbul (MF) |
| 2015–2016 |  Mihai Pintilii (MF) |
| 2016 | Ariel Harush (GK) |
| 2016 |  Nemanja Nikolić (MF) |
| 2016–2018 | Avihai Yadin (MF) |
| 2018–2020 | Orel Dgani (DF) |
| 2020–2021 | Omri Altman (MF) |
| 2021-2024 | Dan Einbinder (MF) |
| 2024 |  Goran Antonić (DF) |
| 2024- | Robi Levkovich (GK) |
Most Appearances
| Rank | Name | Period | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ya'akov Ekhoiz |
1974–92 | 454 | 12 |
| 2 | Aryeh Bajareno |
1968–85 | 430 | 0 |
| 3 | Yehoshua Feigenbaum |
1964–79 | 368 | 142 |
| 4 | Yigal Antebi |
1999–09 2012-14 |
351 | 9 |
| 5 | Shavit Elimelech |
1996–07 | 344 | 0 |
| 6 | Yaakov Rahaminovich |
1966–80 | 332 | 30 |
| 7 | Yehezkel Chazom |
1964–77 | 324 | 97 |
Most League Goals
| Rank | Name | Period | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yehoshua Feigenbaum |
1964–79 | 368 | 142 |
| 2 | Yehezkel Chazom |
1964–77 | 324 | 97 |
| 3 | Moshe Sinai |
1980–89 1990-93 |
290 | 87 |
| 4 | Rehavia Rozenbaum |
1951–65 | 78 | |
| 5 | Omer Damari |
2011–14 2018-2020 |
115 | 59 |
| 6 | Shabtay Levi |
1977–88 | 247 | 58 |
| 7 | Gidon Tish |
1955-66 1968-69 |
55 |
See also
In Spanish: Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club para niños
