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 | Messay Dego | |||
| League | Israeli Premier League | |||
| 2021–22 | Israeli Premier League, 5th of 14 | |||
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Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club (Hebrew: מועדון כדורגל הפועל תל אביב, Moadon Kaduregel Hapoel Tel Aviv) is a professional football team from Tel Aviv, Israel. They play in the 2nd division Liga Leumit. Their home stadium is Bloomfield Stadium.
Hapoel Tel Aviv has won many titles. They have won 13 national 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 played in European club competitions. They have achieved impressive wins against famous teams like Chelsea, Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. They are also one of only three Israeli teams to reach the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
The name "Hapoel" means "The Worker". The club's red color and badge show its historical connection to workers' movements and ideas like socialism. For 70 years, the club was owned by the Histadrut, which is Israel's main trade union group.
Contents
Club History
Early Years (British Mandate)
Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. started in 1923. It was stopped and restarted a few times, finally getting its modern shape in 1926. The club was part of the Hapoel sports group, which was linked to the Histadrut. Some people called their supporters "communists" because of these ties.
In 1928, Hapoel reached the final of the Palestine Cup. They won the game, but had used a player who wasn't allowed to play. So, they had to share the cup.
The 1933–34 season was amazing for Hapoel. They won both the Palestine League (winning every single game!) and the cup. This is called winning "the double". They beat their rivals, Maccabi Tel Aviv, 3–2 in the cup final.
Hapoel won the cup again in 1937, 1938, and 1939. They are the only club to win the trophy three times in a row. They also won championships in 1939–40 and 1943–44.
After Israel's Independence
After Israel became independent, Hapoel joined the new Israeli League. They won the league title in 1956–57. They also won 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 that tournament, Hapoel reached the final and won 2–1 against Selangor. This made them Asia's first club champions!
Hapoel won the league title again in 1968–69. They played in the Asian Club championships final again, but lost this time. They won the State Cup in 1972. They won the league title again in 1980–81, 1985–86, and 1987–88.
However, after their 1988 win, Hapoel finished last in the league the next season. They were sent down to the second division for the first time ever. But they quickly returned to the top league the very next season. In 1998–99, Hapoel won the State Cup again.
21st Century Success
The 1999–2000 season was another "double" win for Hapoel. They won their first league title in over ten years and also the State Cup. They tried to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, but didn't make it.
In the 2001–02 UEFA Cup, Hapoel had an amazing run. They reached the quarter-finals! They beat big teams like Chelsea, Lokomotiv Moscow, 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 "the double" again! They won the State Cup and then won the league title in a very exciting final game. A player named Eran Zahavi scored the winning goal in the last minutes of the game. That season, 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, they won the State Cup for the third time in a row!
Around 2011-2012, many successful players and the coach left the team. The club also changed owners. In 2012, the club was sold to a group of businessmen and a fans' group called "Haadumim" (The Reds). In 2023, the Mintzberg group became the new owners.
Stadium
Bloomfield Stadium
Hapoel Tel Aviv plays its home games at Bloomfield Stadium. The club moved there in 1950. In 1962, the stadium was improved with money from the Bloomfield family, which is how it got its name.
The first game at the new Bloomfield Stadium was on December 12, 1962. The stadium is in Jaffa, a part of Tel Aviv. Hapoel shares the stadium with other local teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bnei Yehuda.
Hapoel's main fan section is at Gate 5, where the "Ultras Hapoel" group leads the cheering. Visiting fans usually sit at Gate 11. Gate 7 is another traditional spot for Hapoel supporters.
Supporters and Club Values
Hapoel Tel Aviv is known for its connection to left-wing politics in Israel. Historically, the club was linked to trade unions and political parties that supported workers' rights and social democracy.
The "Ultras Hapoel" fan group often shows flags with images of Che Guevara and Karl Marx. They also display banners with the famous saying "Workers of the world, unite!". This shows their support for ideas about equality and workers' power.
The Ultras Hapoel group is friends with fan groups from other teams around the world who also support anti-fascist ideas. These include fans of FC St. Pauli (Germany), Standard Liège (Belgium), Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus), and Celtic F.C. (Scotland). In 2023, some Ultras members even started a band called "Lea Katmin" that sings songs from the stands.
Surveys have shown that Hapoel Tel Aviv is a very popular team in Israel. It is especially popular among Israeli Arabs and in Tel Aviv itself.
One of Hapoel's most famous supporters was the singer Arik Einstein. He mentioned the club in his songs. After the club won "the double" in 2000, he sang their championship song, "My Red Team".
Rivalries
Rivalry with Maccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel's biggest rivals are Maccabi Tel Aviv. When these two teams play, it's called the Tel Aviv derby. It's a very exciting and intense match!
Rivalry with Beitar Jerusalem
Another big rivalry is with Beitar Jerusalem. This rivalry is often seen as a political one, because Beitar Jerusalem is known for its links to right-wing politics in Israel.
Current Squad
As of 18 July 2024
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Club Achievements
Domestic Titles
League Championships
| Honour | Number of Wins | 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 of Wins | 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 of Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Champions League | 1/1 | Winner:1967
Runners-up:1970 |
Other Awards
| Honour | Number of Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Shapira Cup | 1 | 1954–55 |
Youth Team Achievements
| Honour | Number of Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Games Record
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
Images for kids
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Pyrotechnics at the Tel Aviv derby, 2005–06
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Hapoel Tel Aviv fans at Bloomfield Stadium before the Tel Aviv derby, 2014
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Ultras Hapoel Graffiti near Rabin Square, Tel Aviv
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UEFA Europa League match against Rapid Wien at Bloomfield Stadium, 2009
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UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Red Bull Salzburg, 2010
See also
In Spanish: Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club para niños
