 | ||||
| Full name | Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | The Camels The Reds from theSouth | |||
| Short name | HBS | |||
| Founded | 1 May 1949; 76 years ago (1949-05-01) | |||
| Ground | Turner Stadium,Be'er Sheva | |||
| Capacity | 16,126 | |||
| Owner | Alona Barkat | |||
| Chairman | Nir Katz | |||
| Manager | Ran Kozuch | |||
| League | Israeli Premier League | |||
| 2024–25 | Israeli Premier League, 2nd of 14 | |||
| Website | hbsfc | |||
 Current season | ||||
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club (Hebrew:מועדון הכדורגל הפועל באר שבע,Moadon HaKaduregel Hapoel Be'er Sheva) is an Israeli professionalfootball club from the city ofBe'er Sheva, that competes in theIsraeli Premier League. The club was established in 1949, and since 2007 it has been run by businesswomanAlona Barkat, who serves as the club's owner. The club also fields youth teams, and a women's side. There is also a football academy.[1]
The home uniform colors of the club are red and white. Until 1959, the club played its home games at a stadium that was located in the old city ofBe'er Sheva. In 1960, the club moved toVasermil Stadium. Starting from the2015–16 season, the home ground of the team isTurner Stadium.
The club began to win titles in the 1970s. Throughout the years, the team has won five championships, fourState Cup, fourToto Cup (One inLiga Leumit), sixSuper Cup (One in the Second Division) and oneLilian Cup.Be'er Sheva is also the first team in the history of Israeli football to play in a European competition, together withBeitar Jerusalem, and the first team in the history of Israeli football that played in theUEFA Cup together withHapoel Tel Aviv.
The team started in 1949, whenZalman Caspi was a footballer atHapoel Ramat Gan. He set up a department to find young talents in the transit camps in the Be'er Sheva area, in order to eventually establish a soccer team. In April 1950, the group was established in the framework of the Hapoel Center.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva played for the first time on 1 May 1950 and won 5–4Hapoel Mefalsim, a team made up of players who immigrated to Israel from South America. The goals were scored byMarcus Abergil (duo),Henry Lev (duo) andBaruch Cohen. At that time, the team participated in friendly matches against teams from the two senior leagues, and Derby was held againstMaccabi Be'er Sheva, which ended with a 3–3 draw.
In 1952, the club official activity was suspended after the Association decided that the geographical distance would not allow its participation, but in 1954 the group was re-registered in the1954–55 league in the Negev region ofLiga Gimel, the third league at the time. Be'er Sheva finished the season in the seventh and final place in the Negev region with one win from 12 games, 22 mandatory goals and only 5 goals.
The1955–56 season, under the guidance of coachYosef Azran, finished first in the Southern District ofLiga Gimel, the fourth league at the time. In the qualifying games for relegation toLiga Bet, Be'er Sheva competed againstHapoel Lod,Hapoel Ramla andHapoel Holon, and in the decisive game inRehovot she beatHapoel Jaffa 0–5 and qualified for the second division. In the1956–57 season, the team finished seventh in the league in the Southern District.
In the1957–58 season,Lonia Dvorin replaced Yosef Azran at the coaching post. In the same season, the Football Association stopped all the leagues under the first division towards their end, with Be'er Sheva in second place leading to the first round of tests, following suspicions of bribes and biases, all of which have been frozen for the season. At the end of the season the team reached the final of the "Football Association Cup", but lost 7–1 toHapoel Tiberias.
In the1958–59 season the team finished second in the league in the Southern District and qualified for the first stage of the tests. In the first test game she lost 0–5 toHapoel Afula andDvorin resigned from the team coaching. Former Israeli national team coachJack Gibbons took his place and led the team toLiga Alef after winning the decisive game againstHapoel Netanya inRehovot 2–1.
In the1959–60 season, Hapoel Be'er Sheva moved to play on a lawn in themunicipal stadium in Be'er Sheva. This season,Yechiel Mor, 27-year-old fromHapoel Ramat Gan, joined the team and began to serve asplayer-coach. Under his guidance, the team finished ninth inLiga Alef. In preparation for the1960–61 Beer Sheva played their first game against an international team when she hosted CyprusAnorthosis Famagusta for a friendly game, which ended in a 1–2 loss. This season they finished ninth again.
In the1961–62 season,Rober Eryol was appointed coach of the team, but after five matches Be'er Sheva remained without points, and the club decided to fire Eryol and rehire coach Yechiel Mor back. In the same season, the team reached the semi-finals of theState Cup for the first time in history, in theLiga Alef, after beatingHapoel Ramla 2–1 in the eighth round. In the quarterfinals,Hapoel Tel Aviv won 3–1 and was eliminated after a loss 3–0 toMaccabi Tel Aviv in the semi-finals.
In the1963–64 season, the league was divided into two districts – North and South, and Be'er Sheva finished as the "winter champion" in theLiga Alef South. Be'er Sheva struggled withBeitar Tel Aviv to advance to the national league in the Southern District, and at the end of the seasonBeitar Tel Aviv finished first with a better goal differential.
In the1964–65 season, under the guidance ofYugoslav coachSlavko Milošević, the team competed for the national league againstBeitar Ramla andBeitar Jerusalem, and finally finished first in theLiga Alef South league, with a gap of nine points from second place, and qualified for the national league for the first time in its history. In addition, the team reached the quarterfinals of theState Cup after defeatingHapoel Haifa from theLiga Leumit. In the quarterfinals they lost 2–4 toHapoel Tel Aviv after an extension. During the season of promotion,Eliyahu Offer,midfielder-strikerAbraham Noma and purchasing playerHaim Cohen, who was the team top scorer with 20 goals this season, were conspicuous in the season.
In the1965–66 season,YugoslavSelvole Stanković was named coach of the team and was joined by midfielderYitzhak Gozlan, who came fromHapoel Ofakim. This season, Be'er Sheva promised to stay only in the last round, when she beatMaccabi Netanya 4–0 and finished 13th in the league.
In the summer of 1966,Yehiel Mor was again appointed coach of the team, and the offensive midfielderMeir Barad was joined from the Youth department to the first team. After 12 rounds the team led the league table and later joined the team of youth playerRafi Eliyahu. At the end of the double season1966–68, the team finished ninth in the table, andAbraham Noma won the Israeli Footballer of the Year award.
In the1968–69 season,Selvole Stepanović was appointed coach of the team, but already at the beginning of the season to they fell into last place in the league. As a result, the management summoned the former coach of the team,Lonia Dvorin, to serve as a professional manager. After the 16th round, Stepanović was fired and replaced byMoshe Litbek. Under his guidance, the team managed to finish in 14th place and remain in the league. In addition, the team reached the quarterfinals of theState Cup after a 2–1 victory overBnei Yehuda Tel Aviv in the eighth round. In the quarterfinals the team lost 2–3 toMaccabi Sha'arayim.
In the1969–70 season, under the guidance ofAvraham Menchel, the team scored only a few goals, finishing with only 24 goals, and was soaking it up when it finished with 49 goals against. Among other things, the team lost 0–8 toHapoel Tel Aviv. The team finished the season in the 16th and final place in the table, and went down toLiga Alef after five years in theLiga Leumit.
In the1970–71 season,Moshe Litbek returned to the position of coach of the team. Which began on the basis of its young players at the end of the season, the team returned to the topleague from first place in theLiga Alef South, with a gap of 14 points from the secondHapoel Yehud, whenMeir Barad finished the season as the team's top scorer with 18 goals. The decision was made by the champions ofLiga Alef North,Maccabi Jaffa, in theSuper Cup to thesecond league.
At the beginning of the1971–72 season, Be'er Sheva was in the top ranks of theLiga Leumit, butMeir Barad injury and a dispute between the club's management andRafi Eliyahu led the team to the bottom of the league. The return ofBarad andEliyahu two months later did not change their luck, and the team finished 12th in the table with just 25 goals, withBarad finishing the season as king of the team with 11 goals. In the same season, the team met withAston Villa, one of the top three teams in England at the time, and won it 3–1.
In the1972–73 season,Eli Fuchs was appointed coach of the team, and was joined by the pioneerShalom Avitan fromBeitar Be'er Sheva. The team opened at the bottom, but improved with the progress of the season thanks toAvraham Numa who was the team top scorer with 14 goals this season, finishing fifth in the table, the best position in its history until then.
The1973–74 season, started poorly, and after 18 matches Be'er Sheva was in 14th place in the league, but as the league progressed, it improved and finished the season in seventh place in the table. In addition, the team reached the quarter-finals of theState Cup, in which it lost 1–3 toHapoel Petah Tikva in summing up two games.
In the1974–75 season,Amazia Levkovich was appointed coach of the team when he was 37, and was considered a young coach in relation to the leading and leading coaches inIsrael. Levkovich was the first coach to introduce the style of the attacking defenders in Israel, a style taken fromGerman football. Levkovich combined young players, among them 20-year-oldUri Benjamin as a right-wing defender and 18-year-oldJacob Cohen as a left-wing defender. The team was one of the young players in the league, and included only four players who had reached the age of 25. The team started the season with three wins, including a victory over last season championsMaccabi Netanya, without conceding a single goal. During the season she competed for the championship against Maccabi Netanya, and the decision came one season before the end of the season. Be'er Sheva played againstMaccabi Jaffa, with one point separating it from Maccabi Netanya from the second place, and winning 1–0 from the gate ofEfraim Zvi Hapoel Be'er Sheva was crowned the country'sLiga Leumit champion for the first time in its history, with most of the players being home players. Efraim Zvi finished the season as the team's top scorer with 10 conquests, andUri Benjamin won the title Footballer of the Year in Israel.
In the summer 1975 the team participated in theSuper Cup game for the first time in its history, and won the title after a 2–1 victory overHapoel Kfar Saba.
In the1975–76 season, Be'er Sheva opened the league in a disappointing way when it finished twice in the first two rounds, but in the following rounds improved, and in the fifth round it was ranked first in this season in the first place in the table. During the season she fought for the first place againstBeitar Jerusalem, and in the closing round Be'er Sheva again metMaccabi Jaffa for a decisive game. This timeJaffa fought against the decline and had to win to stay in theLiga Leumit, while Be'er Sheva wanted to win to secure the championshipBeitar Jerusalem metMaccabi Tel Aviv, which also fought against the decline, and had to win.Maccabi Jaffa won 1–0, but after the defeat of Beitar Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva won a second consecutive championship.Shalom Avitan, who returned to the team at the beginning of the season, finished him as the team's top scorer with 11 conquests.
In the summer of 1976 Be'er Sheva and Beitar Jerusalem were the first teams in the history of Israeli football to play in aUEFA Intertoto Cup. Be'er Sheva was drawn toGroup 2 and held six games in a "home-away" Against the groupsKøge BK from Denmark,Herta Berlin from (Germany) andStandard Liège from Belgium The balance of the team in the factory was one victory, 2–1 onKøge BK atVasermil Stadium, three draw results and lost 2 consecutive wins for the second time in a row, losing to the Beitar JerusalemSuper Cup holder 2–3 after the extension.
In the1976–77 season, Be'er Sheva almost became the first champion team to go down in the league. Under the guidance ofEli Fuchs, who returned to coaching the team, Be'er Sheva opened the season badly and fell to the bottom. As a result, after 16 rounds Fuchs resigned from the coaching team, andEliyahu Offer, who retired from regular activity as a player during the season and also served as Fuchs's assistant, was named coach. Two rounds to the end of the season the team met outside withMaccabi Haifa for a survival game, with only a goal difference separating the two teams in the table. Be'er Sheva won 1–0 and managed to stay in the league while Maccabi Haifa dropped to the second division. In addition, the team reached the quarterfinals of the Israeli Cup again after beating Maccabi Haifa 2–0 in the eighth-finals and was eliminated after losing 0–3 toBeitar Tel Aviv.
In the1977–78 season, the team displayed a good offensive ability throughout the season, led by its top scorerShalom Avitan, with 12 goals and his deputyVictor Seroussi, with 10 goals, but at the same time showed less defensive ability. Be'er Sheva finished the season in fifth place in the table with 43 goals, the highest in a single season in the history of the team in the first division until then (except for the double season of1966–68, which scored 71 goals).
In the1978–79 season, the team finished ninth. In addition, she reached the quarter-finals of theState Cup for the sixth time in her history, following a 2–1 win overHapoel Kfar Saba in the eighth-finals. In the quarterfinals she lost toBeitar Tel Aviv with a penalty kick.
Towards the1979–80 season,Amatzia Levkovich returned to coaching the team, and was joined by the youngEfraim Davidi ofMaccabi Be'er Sheva. The team did not open the season well, and then gave Levkovich a chance to play with other young players. The number of duty gates, 27, was the lowest since the season of the first championship under Levkovich (1974–75), but the offense was deficient and the team rarely scored goals. The team finished in the tenth place in the table with only seven wins.
Towards the1980–81 season,Eliyahu Offer returned to the coach position and opened the season well. However, just as the team scored more goals, it was also a great hit, and finished the season in 11th place.
In preparation for the1981–82 season, the team appointedShimon Shenhar, and the team opened the season with four losses, two draws and a win, leading to 15th and last place in the league. From the eighth round onwards, the team achieved a series of 11 cycles without loss. At the end of the 18th round, the team ranked in fourth place in the table, which they managed to keep until the end of the season. Be'er Sheva showed a good attacking ability during the season, scoring 43 goals and equaling the record for one season. King of the team's gates wasShalom Avitan with 14 goals. In addition, the team reached their semi-finals in the history of theState Cup, after beatingMaccabi Netanya in the eighth round, 1–0, and in the quarterfinals they won 4–0 in Ramat Gan. In the semi-finals she metHapoel Tel Aviv and lost 3 to 5 in the penalty kick after 2–2 at the end of the extension.
The fourth place in the league gave Be'er Sheva a ticket to theLilian Cup, a tournament that was played in the 1980s. In preparation for the1982–83 season, the team played in the tournament and won 3–1 against Maccabi Netanya. In this season, Be'er Sheva played a very good defensive ability and took only 23 duty gates, the lowest number of duty gates since the first season. Be'er Sheva finished third in the table, and the reigning king was againShalom Avitan with 11 conquests.
In preparation for the1983–84 season,Eliyahu Offer returned to the position of coach. The team played again againstMaccabi Netanya in theLilian Cup final and lost 2–3. In the league, the team failed to maintain stability, rocking throughout the season between mid-table and bottom, and finally finished seventh in the table. In addition, she reached the finals of the Israeli Cup for the first time in her history, after winning 4–2 in the quarterfinals ofHapoel Tel Aviv in a penalty shootout after a replay, and in the semi-finals she defeated Maccabi Netanya. In the final, the team lost 2–3penalties toHapoel Lod after 0–0 at the end of the extension.
In preparation for the1984–85 season,Zvi Rosen was appointed coach of the team, who scored few goals and finished the season with the lowest number of conquests since the1976–77 season, and faced the danger of a drop to the relegation. Three seasons to the end of the season, with a lag of 5 points from where they remain in the league, Rosen was fired and replaced by former teammateJackie Dekel, who managed to keep the team in the top league.
In preparation for the1985–86 season,Nahum Stelmach was appointed coach, and his assistant was appointed former player of the teamAlon Ben Dor. This season, the team reached their finalToto Cup for the first time in their history, after beatingMaccabi Tel Aviv 2–1 in the semi-finals. In the final she lost toHapoel Petah Tikva 1–2. In the league, the team barely scored and finished the season with 24 goals, but also scored a low 24 points, the lowest since the1969–70 season. Throughout the season the team wandered between the bottom and middle of the table, finally finishing eighth in the table.
In preparation for the1986–87 season,Nino Bargig was appointed coach of the team, which started the season with two losses and a draw. Bargig was dismissed and replaced byDror Bar-Nur. Under his defense, the team improved the defense game and finished with only 19 goals, but continued to harden the game and scored only 20 goals. The team's number of goals and goals was the lowest in its history in the first division. Throughout the season, she struggled with the bottom, finishing her 11th in the table.
In preparation for the1987–88 season, the team appointedNissim Bakhar as coach. During this season the team maintained a high defense capability and improved its offensive ability. The team finished third in the table and won theLilian Cup for the third time since the tournament was established.
For the1988–89 season, the team won 1–0 againstHapoel Tel Aviv in theLilian Cup final. Later in the season, the team reached the final of theToto Cup and won theCup for the first time in its history after a victory overMaccabi Netanya. In theleague, the team did not list, and in the 22nd round they broke up with coach Nissim Bakhar, whenShimon Shenhar came in for a second term as team coach. Be'er Sheva scored only 22 goals, 29 assists and finished fifth in the table.
In the1989–90 season was the first season in which foreign players were allowed to participate in theIsraeli league, and Be'er Sheva joined the Argentinian attackersClaudio Dykstra andRicardo Cacchione. During the season, the team replaced four coaches, Shimon Shenhar, who finished in the fifth round, past playersHaim Cohen andAlon Ben Dor, andEliyahu Offer, who was appointed towards the end of the season in which the team finished ninth in the league.
In the1990–91 season, the team qualified for the playoffs, finishing sixth in the table. In the1991–92 season, the team received 43 duty rates, the highest number of duty rates since the1969–70 season. On the other hand, the team also scored a great deal, ending the season with 40 goals, the highest number of goals since1981–82, and finished the season in tenth place in the table.
In the1992–93 season,Uri Malmilian andHisham Zuabi joined the team. After five roundsEliyahu Offer was fired and replaced by assistant coachVico Haddad. Be'er Sheva showed a good offensive ability during the season, when Zuabi finished as deputy king of the league with 17 goals, and sets a record for conquering Be'er Sheva in the senior league. The entire team finished the season with 52 goals, the highest number of goals ever scored in one season in the top league, as well as their best ever goal difference in the top division, and fourth in the table.
In the1993–94 season, the team again broke the record for the season in thePremier League and scored 54 goals, and returned their best goal difference in thePremier League.Amir Avigdor finished the season as the team's top scorer with 16 conquests, the team finished third and won theUEFA Cup for the first time in which Israeli teams participated.
In the1994–95 seasonVitaly Savchenko of Ukraine was appointed to coach the team. In theUEFA Cup, the team was defeated againstAris Thessaloniki from Greece, losing twice to the team and being eliminated from the team.
In the1995–96 Liga Leumit season,Vico Haddad was again appointed to the team's training. In the first qualifying phase of theUEFA Cup, the team beatSK Tirana of Albania, and was then knocked out of the factory after a double encounter againstFC Barcelona in which she lost 0–7 at home and 5–0 outside. Later in the seasonHaddad was fired and replaced by former coachVitaly Savchenko, The team won the second time in their history in theToto Cup, after beatingHapoel Kfar Saba in the final game, and the team showed poor ability to score, and Savchenko was replaced byEli Guttman, who finished with 32 points and 10th in the table.
In the1996–97 season, Guttman led the team to their first win in theState Cup, following a 1–0 victory overMaccabi Tel Aviv in the final game, fromGiovanni Rosso goal. In the league, the team finished the season in third place, after missing the second place in the last round of the season, with 25 goals and the best goalscorer in their history in the top league.
In the summer of 1997, then-ownerEli Lahav decided to release many of the leading players in the team, includingGiovanni Rosso,Sejad Halilović andShai Holtzman, and then left the team and transferred ownership toEli Zino. As a result, the team opened the1997–98 season with a small staff. Due to the lack of players, the team brought youth playerYossi Benayoun to the senior team at the age of 17, and coach appointedBenny Tabak. In the first qualifying phase of theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the teamFK Žalgiris from Lithuania, and was then knocked out of the factory byRoda JC from Netherlands, who lost 4–1 at home and 10–0 away. After the defeatTabak resigned, replacingJackie Dekel again.Yossi Benayoun scored 15 goals this season, including a dramatic goal in a 1–0 win overMaccabi Haifa in the final round, but due to her opponent's victory in theBnei Yehuda Tel Aviv team, the team dropped to the second division after 27 consecutive years in theLiga Leumit. The number of high duty rates in its history in one season in theLiga Leumit.
In preparation for the1998–99 season, in theLiga Artzit,Shiye Feigenbaum was appointed coach of the team, and during the season was replaced byGili Landau. The team struggled withMaccabi Netanya to join thePremier League, but finally finished in third place in the table.
In preparation for the1999–2000 season,Eliyahu Offer returned to coaching the team, and was later replaced byMotti Ivanir. Towards the end of the seasonIvanir was replaced byEyal Lahman, and the team failed again in their attempt to qualify for the first division after finishing seventh in the table, whileBeitar Be'er Sheva was fifth and above in the table.
In the2000–01 season,Eyal Lahman continued on the sidelines, but was fired during the season and was replaced byShlomo Scharf, who resigned after two rounds, andLufa Kadosh replaced him as Be'er Sheva returned to the top of theLiga Leumit to fight for thePremier League. this season the team met withBeitar Jerusalem in the Premier League in the framework of theState Cup, and won 3–2 after an extension. Be'er Sheva metHapoel Ramat Gan for the first division game, Be'er Sheva won 5–0 and ensured her rise to the Premier League from the first place.
In the first two seasons after her return to thePremier League, the team finished twice in fifth place, and in the2002–03 season it even reached the finals of the State Cup after beatingHapoel Tel Aviv F.C. 1–0 with a 1–0 win atBloomfield Stadium and a 3–0 win inMaccabi Haifa. In the final, Be'er Sheva metHapoel Ramat Gan of theLiga Leumit, but was beaten by apenalty kick from 11 meters after 1–1 after the extension.
In the2003–04 seasonEli Guttman returned to the position of coach, andAlon Mizrahi,Dedi Ben Dayan,Ofir Haim andBlessing Kaku were prominent. In this season Be'er Sheva finished fourth, which earned them a ticket for theUEFA Intertoto Cup factory.
In the2004–05 season, the team suffered financial problems and at the end of the game the team dropped to theLiga Leumit after most of the players were released. The economic problems continued to accompany the team in the next two seasons, finishing fourth in the Liga Leumit.
In July 2007, businesswomanAlona Barkat purchased the team fromEli Zino. On 29 August 2007, during a training match againstMaccabi Be'er Sheva, the team pioneerChaswe Nsofwa collapsed and died of cardiac arrest.
In the first season of the Alona Barkat season, the2007–08 season, the team finished fourth in theLiga Leumit and failed to qualify for thePremier League. In the2008–09 season,Guy Levy was appointed coach of the team, and the midfielderMaor Melikson signed in the club. This season the team managed to return to the Premier League after four years in theLiga Leumit. In the same season, the team won theToto Cup for theLiga Leumit, after beatingMaccabi Herzliya 1–0 in the final.
In the2009–10 season,Guy Azouri was appointed coach of the team, who signed a number of new players in the team, includingDavid Revivo,Siraj Nassar and BrazilianWilliam Soares, who joined in January. The team presented a weak ability and its supporters protested and demandedAzouri resignation. In March 2010, following a violent incident by Fan towards the coach,Azouri decided to resign. The owner,Barkat, announced that following the fans behavior, she will leave the team at the end of the season. The fans launched a campaign to keep her at the club, and eventuallyBarkat stayed at Be'er Sheva. The professional director of the youth department at the time,Vico Haddad, served as coach until the end of the season, when the team finished ninth.
In the2010–11 season,Nir Klinger was appointed coach of the team. The team started the season well, but in January 2011 the team starMaor Melikson was sold toWisła Kraków, and after that there was a significant decline in its ability. In the last round of the regular season she managed to reach the midfield playoffs, after a 2–0 away win overMaccabi Tel Aviv, and finished the season for the second time in a row in ninth place.
In the2011–12 season, ownerAlona Barkat decided to build on young home players, including the left defenderOfir Davidzada, with experienced players, but the season started badly, when the team lost six consecutive games. In the seventh round the team won 0–2Hapoel Haifa, and at the end of the gameKlinger decided to resign.Nir Klinger was replaced byGuy Levy, who returned to another term as coach of the team and signed a contract until the end of the season. In the last round, the team won 3–1 atBeitar Jerusalem, and then finished in 13th place and stayed in the Premier League.
In the2012–13 season, owner Alona Barkat signed outgoing coach ofMaccabi HaifaElisha Levi. This season a senior goalie in the form ofAustin Ejide signed. In the same season, the team reached theToto Cup final againstHapoel Haifa and lost 0–1, whenIdo Axebrad, missed aPenalty kick in the 88th minute. In this season the team reached the playoffs, Location. Following the victory, Be'er Sheva finished eighth, and Maccabi Netanya was relegated to theLiga Leumit.
In preparation for the2013–14 season, Alona Barkat decided to signElisha Levi for another season, and to bring together players with a name and potential for the future. As a result,Alona Barkat increased the budget Accordingly, senior actors in the form ofElyaniv Barda,Maor Buzaglo,Glynor Plet signed. These signings led the team to its best season since the championship season, finishing the season in second place. As a result, the club received a ticket to theUEFA Europa League preliminaries.
In the2014–15 season, the team returned to the European competitions after 18 years of absence playing againstRNK Split in the preliminaries of theUEFA Europa League. Due to the security situation at that time, the Israeli teams were forced to host the home game in Cyprus. The first game was held in Croatia and ended 1–2 in favor of Croatia, Be'er Sheva was eliminated from Europe after the return leg finished 0–0 in Cyprus. That season, a number of senior players were signed in the form ofMaor Melikson andShlomi Arbeitman who returned from Europe. In addition,John Ogu from Nigeria andOvidiu Hoban from Romania were signed. In the semi-finals of theState Cup, Be'er Sheva defeatedHapoel Afula and qualified for theState Cup final, losing 2–6 toMaccabi Tel Aviv. In the league, the team finished the season in third place.
In the2015–16 Barak Bakhar was appointed as the team new coach. In addition, a number of leading players were signed in the form ofAnthony Nwakaeme,Shir Tzedek,Maharan Radi andBen Sahar. As part of the UEFA Europa League, Be'er Sheva was drawn againstFC Thun from Switzerland for a home-away game encounter. In the first game held atTeddy Stadium the game ended with a 1–1 draw. Following a 1–2 defeat in the return leg atStockhorn Arena Be'er Sheva was eliminated from the Europa League. In the fourth round of the season, the team inaugurated theTurner Stadium which was built in the city, in a match againstMaccabi Haifa in front of 16,126 spectators. On 21 May 2016. the team won the third championship in its history after 40 years. During the season the team had 29 games without a loss, and throughout the season Be'er Sheva suffered only three losses. In the deciding game of the last round, Be'er Sheva defeated Bnei Sakhnin 3–1 atTurner Stadium and won the championship title.
In the2016–17 season, Be'er Sheva won the title ofSuper Cup after winning 4–2 against the cup holder Maccabi Haifa. That season the team participated in theUEFA Champions League qualification reaching the playoffs after beatingSheriff Tiraspol from Moldova andOlympiacos from Greece. In the playoffs the team was eliminated byCeltic and as a result fell to theUEFA Europa League stage. In the group stage the club won twice againstInter Milan, managed two draws againstSouthampton and lost twice toSparta Prague finishing second in the Group and progressing beyond the group stage of a European competition for the first time in their history. In the round of 32, Be'er Sheva was drawn againstBeşiktaş from Turkey, and was eliminated after losing 2–5 in the final two games. On 28 December 2016, the team won theToto Cup of the Israeli Premier League, the third most important Israeli football competition, after a 4–1 win overIroni Kiryat Shmona in the final game held inNetanya Stadium. On 29 April, Be'er Sheva won 2–1Maccabi Tel Aviv inNetanya Stadium achieving the second consecutive championship with three games remaining for the season.
In the2017–18 season, Be'er Sheva won the title ofSuper Cup after winning 4–2 thecup holderBnei Yehuda Tel Aviv. This season the team took part in qualifying for theUEFA Champions League and reached the playoff stage after beatingBudapest Honvéd from Hungary andLudogorets Razgrad from Bulgaria. In the playoffs, the team was eliminated againstMaribor from Slovenia and as a result fell to theUEFA Europa League stage. At the end of the season the team won the fifth championship in its history, and for the third time in a row.
In the2018–19 season, Be'er Sheva made several changes to its squad, the most significant of which was the sale ofAnthony Nwakaeme toTrabzonspor for €1.1 million.[2] In addition, the club released both of itsgoalkeepers,Dudu Goresh andGuy Haimov, and signedOhad Levita andAriel Harush as their replacements. Be'er Sheva purchasedNigel Hasselbaink fromIroni Kiryat Shmona for €1.7 million and acquiredDia Saba fromMaccabi Netanya for €2 million, withGuy Melamed moving in the opposite direction as part of the deal.[3][4] The club also signedErik Sabo andHen Ezra fromBeitar Jerusalem, as well asKevin Tapoko fromHapoel Hadera.[5] In theUEFA Champions League qualifiers, Be'er Sheva were drawn againstFlora ofEstonia in thefirst qualifying round, defeating them 4–1 away and 3–1 at home.[6] In thesecond qualifying round, they facedDinamo Zagreb ofCroatia and were eliminated after a 0–5 away defeat and a 2–2 draw at home.[7] Following the 0–5 loss,GreekgoalkeeperGiannis Anestis was released from the club.[8] As a result of their elimination from theUEFA Champions League qualifiers, Be'er Sheva entered thethird qualifying round of theUEFA Europa League, where they were drawn againstAPOEL ofCyprus. The club was eliminated fromEuropean competitions after a 2–2 home draw and a 1–3 away defeat.[9] On 28 July 2018, Be'er Sheva lost theSuper Cup toHapoel Haifa on 4–5penalty shootout, after having won the title for two consecutive seasons.[10] On 15 January 2019, the club was eliminated from theState Cup byMaccabi Netanya following a 4–2penalty shootout defeat.[11] Be'er Sheva finished the season in third place, thereby ending a run of three consecutiveleague championships.
In the2019–20 season, Be’er Sheva added several significant players to its squad, includingJosué Pesqueira andRamzi Safuri, whileElton Acolatse joined the club inFebruary2020.[12][13][14] Be’er Sheva were drawn againstLaçi ofAlbania in thefirst qualifying round of theUEFA Europa League. On 11 July 2019, the club drew 1–1 withLaçi atLaçi Stadium inLaç. On 18 July, Be’er Sheva secured a 1–0 victory atTurner Stadium,[15] advancing to thesecond qualifying round to faceKairat Almaty ofKazakhstan. On 25 July, Be’er Sheva defeatedKairat Almaty 2–0 atTurner Stadium. The return leg, played on 1 August atAlmaty Central Stadium inAlmaty, ended in a 1–1 draw,[16] sending Be’er Sheva through to thethird qualifying round, where they metNorrköping ofSweden. On 8 August, Be’er Sheva drew 1–1 withNorrköping atNya Parken inNorrköping. A 3–1 home victory atTurner Stadium.[17] On 15 August secured their progression to the play-off round againstFeyenoord of theNetherlands. On 22 August, Be’er Sheva lost 0–3 toFeyenoord atDe Kuip inRotterdam. The return leg on 29 August atTurner Stadium also ended in a 0–3 defeat, resulting in the team elimination fromEuropean competitions.[18] On 6 January,Barak Bakhar concluded his tenure ashead coach of Be’er Sheva following a period of unsatisfactory professional results. Bakhar stepped down after four and a half years in charge of the club.[19] On 8 January,Yossi Abukasis signed ashead coach of Be'er Sheva.[20] On 13 July 2020, Be’er Sheva won theState Cup, defeatingMaccabi Petah Tikva 2–0 in the final held atBloomfield Stadium.[21] The club concluded the league season in fourth place.
In the2021–22 season, Be'er Sheva won theState Cup for the second time in three years, in the final game played atTeddy Stadium in Jerusalem and ended in a 2–2 draw plus overtime and in the penalty shootout, in which the club won 3–1 with goalkeeperOmri Glazer stopping three of four kicks.
During the2024–25 season, Be'er Sheva appointedRan Kozuch ashead coach on a two-year contract, replacingElyaniv Barda, whose contract with the club had expired. Be'er Sheva competed in the2024–25UEFA Conference League and were drawn in thesecond qualifying round againstCherno More of theBulgarian First League. On 25 July 2024, Be'er Sheva played to a 0–0 draw againstCherno More in a match held atGradski Stadion inLovech,Bulgaria, due to the ongoing war inIsrael. On 1 August, Be'er Sheva defeatedCherno More 2–1 atHuvepharma Arena inRazgrad,Bulgaria advancing to thethird qualifying round. In the third round, the club was drawn againstMladá Boleslav. On 8 August, Be'er Sheva drew 0–0 in the first leg atLokotrans Aréna inMladá Boleslav,Czech Republic. On 15 August atGradski Stadion inLovech,Bulgaria. Be'er Sheva led 2–0 at halftime but ultimately lost 2–4 and were eliminated fromEuropean competitions.
On 1 September, Be'er Sheva were scheduled to faceBnei Sakhnin in the third round of theIsraeli Premier League. Prior to kickoff, during the playing of theIsraeli national anthem, a disturbance broke out among supporters in the stands. According to reports, tensions escalated after allegations that Bnei Sakhnin supporters had shown disrespect during the anthem, prompting Be'er Sheva supporters to enter the pitch. Clashes subsequently erupted between supporters of both teams, though security forces quickly intervened and separated the sides. Following the incident, the police commander at the stadium authorized the match to proceed, and the referee instructed both teams to prepare to resume play. After approximately one hour of delay, Bnei Sakhnin declined to take the field, and the match did not commence.[22] The case was brought before theIsrael Football Association’s disciplinary court, which ruled that Hapoel Be'er Sheva would be deducted one point and that the match would be recorded as a draw with no points awarded.[23] The matter was later appealed to theTel Aviv District Court, which rejected Be'er Sheva’s petition to overturn the technical ruling against Bnei Sakhnin. However, Judge Gilad Hess recommended that theIsrael Football Association consider the possibility of a replay. A subsequent hearing determined that no replay would be held, and the original disciplinary decision remained in effect.[24][25]
At the conclusion of the season, Be'er Sheva finished in second place, despite ending the regular season at the top of the table. The club lost the league title toMaccabi Tel Aviv by a margin of two points.[26] On 29 May 2025, Be'er Sheva won theState Cup after defeatingBeitar Jerusalem in the final.[27]
Ahead of the2025–26 season, on 13 July 2025 Be'er Sheva defeatedMaccabi Tel Aviv 2–1 in theSuper Cup atBloomfield Stadium.[28] The club participated in the2025–26 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds, Be'er Sheva were eliminated after losing onPenalty shoot-out toLevski Sofia fromBulgaria, following a 0–0 draw away and a 1–1 draw at home.[29] As a result, the team dropped to thesecond qualifying round of theUEFA Conference League, where they were drawn againstAEK Athens fromGreece. Be'er Sheva 0–1 lost away and 0–0 draw at home, thereby being eliminated fromEuropean competitions for the season.[30] Due to theSwords of Iron War, Israeli clubs were required to host their home matches outsideIsrael. Be'er Sheva hostedLevski Sofia atVárosi Stadion inNyíregyháza,Hungary, andAEK Athens atNagyerdei Stadion inDebrecen,Hungary. On 16 August, the club was eliminated in the semi-finals of theToto Cup after a 0–2 defeat toHapoel Tel Aviv atTurner Stadium.[31] Be'er Sheva set a club record by scoring 16 league goals in their first three matches of the season. The previous record of 15 goals had been set byMaccabi Tel Aviv in 1952.[32] On 29 September, Be'er Sheva continued their record-breaking start to the season with a 1–0 victory overMaccabi Haifa atSammy Ofer Stadium, secured by a goal fromDan Biton. The result marked the first time in the club's history that Be'er Sheva opened a top-flight league season with five consecutive wins.[33]
Since its inception in 1949, the club Hapoel Be'er Sheva has played in 3 different plots, starting out playing on the soil surface at the stadium which was located in the old city.
In 1959, the municipal stadium was built and inaugurated in Be'er Sheva on 31 October 1959 in a Hapoel Be'er Sheva game againstHapoel Tel Aviv.December 1988 ended in a major overhaul of the stadium, the contribution of Mrs. Lilly Friedman-Vasermil, and the stadium was named for Arthur Vasermil. Ms. Friedman-Vasermil perpetuated the name of her son, who was murdered in the Holocaust by the Nazis, in 1943, Majdanek extermination camp, at the age of seven.
In 1995, in honor of her portrayal of Hapoel Be'er Sheva in front of aBarcelonaUEFA Cup group, the stadium was renovated and plastic seats were installed at the bleachers instead of exposed concrete.
In 2009 the rest of the seats were installed in the galleries, following the return of Hapoel Be'er ShevaPremier League.
On 30 May 2015 the last game was played inVasermil Stadium, which increased Hapoel Be'er Sheva 4–0 on the teamBeitar Jerusalem.
On 16 September 2015,Turner Stadium opened for the first time to some 4,000 fans who watched the team public show practice. The first game hosted by the stadium took place on 21 September 2015 againstMaccabi Haifa, and ended with a 0–0 draw. Before the game there was a dedication ceremony for a house and the setting of mezuzot in the presence of MayorRubik Danilovich.
Be'er Sheva Municipality decided during 2015 to commemorate the legendary stadium named Arthur Vasermil that carries on a meaningful story.
This compound serves mainly the youth department groups Hapoel Be'er Sheva, but sometimes even the older group.
Compound five training facilities include a field with artificial turf as required byFIFA.
In 2013 the building was inaugurated "at the Association". The project includes 750 square meters of computer rooms, professional spaces, dressing rooms, doctor's room, coaches room, an area for gatherings, logistics and other rooms with modern elements of the most advanced in the country and meets all the standards of the Israel Football Association Premier leagues. There is a possibility of building another floor to the club in the future, to continue activities such as a football academy construction project.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans spread throughout the country and are one of the largest audiences in Israel.
The2012–13 season fans won the title of Be'er Sheva year's fair audience.
UltraSouth was founded in 2014 out of a union between 2 groups – The Camels 2005 & and TheSouth Side. Its activity was centered in Gate 5 atVasermil Stadium. AtTurner Stadium it runs behind the gate in the south gallery. The organization focuses on encouraging the group and preparing a stage for the games. In addition, the organization helps organize the fans of the group in ways of reaching out. Since the group moved toTurner Stadium, the organization has begun to present advanced sets of encouragement. In the2016–17 season, the fans organization launched a fundraising campaign to purchase crankshafts for the southern pavilion to assist in the layout of the sets. The sum they sought to reach was 100,000Shekels and the end of the campaign was about a month, but after 24 hours the money was raised in full. The organization advocated political isolation and the ultras of "ULTRAS NO POLITICA". The approach of the UltraSouth organization to avoid political affiliation turned out to be successful. After the display of Palestinian flags inCeltic Park, the organization emphasized that anyone who wanted to bring the Israeli flag to the tour was welcome, but it would not be related to the group.
The organization takes care to make flags and signs in high-level deployment to increase the standard of decor in the stands. There is a songwriter for the group and for the players. In addition, the organization is in regular contact with the fans through Facebook, a dedicated Telegram channel, and other social media.
With the establishment of the club, it was decided by the management team that a crest, labeled below with Hapoel Be'er Sheva, would be placed on jerseys. This symbol has served the club until 1993.
In 1993 the club management decided to change the group crest, and because over the years the club had earned the nickname "Camel", the club tried to create a symbol for it. Between 1993 and 1995 the crest had a modified camel hump below, a soccer ball in the center circle, and the team name written inHebrew and English at the edges.
From 1995 to 2016, Hapoel Be'er Sheva flaunted symbol whose lower half was a soccer ball, and the top half contained a chimney that symbolizes the municipal building, a symbol of the original executive, and the slogan "the pride of the Negev" to describe the team from the capital of the Negev.
On 21 June 2016 the club's management presented the official emblem at the2016–17 season press conference. The current symbol is based on the symbol that served the club from the1995–96 season to the2015–16 season: the lower half circle shape is half a soccer ball, the top half contains a chimney symbolizing the municipal building, a symbol of the original executive, and the top edges of the circle display the club'sHebrew and English name. In addition, the crest is displayed below a star; this star represents that the club has won five championships.
The shirt and shorts of Hapoel Be'er Sheva have been red and white since its inception; the group's third costume is blue.
At some point in time, the team has added a rather black color. During the 1990s, the team also played in costumes that are not related to their traditional colors, such as a purple outfit, which represents the forum club that was then the main sponsor. The club's famous uniforms are red and white striped shirts, the first and second championship seasons.
The uniform of the team beginning with the2019–20 season are made by theKelme company. Over the years, Hapoel Be'er Sheva has used uniforms fromKappa,Adidas,Nike,Diadora,Lotto,Puma andUmbro.
Here are the manufacturers of team uniforms starting in 1975:
| Period | Kit manufacturer |
|---|---|
| 1975–1980 | Umbro |
| 1980–1983 | Adidas |
| 1983–1986 | Umbro |
| 1986–1995 | Diadora |
| 1995–1998 | Lotto |
| 1998–2000 | Diadora |
| 2000–2004 | Kappa |
| 2004–2005 | Nike |
| 2005–2008 | Lotto |
| 2008–2011 | Diadora |
| 2011–2016 | Kappa |
| 2016–2019 | Puma |
| 2019–2023 | Kelme |
| 2023–present | Umbro |
Since its inception Hapoel Be'er Sheva has worked with a number of sponsors recognized locally asSolel Boneh in the 1980s, and theSouth Korean car companyKia and Forum Club at the beginning and middle of the decade.
As of 2020, the main sponsor is Mahsanei HaShuk. Secondary Hapoel Be'er Sheva sponsors include the companyMetropoline, Fattal Hotels,Kelme and Eurotec group.
Here are the main sponsors of the team from 2012:
| Period | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|
| 2012–2015 | O-Mobli |
| 2015–2016 | Get Stocks |
| 2016–2020 | Tadiran |
| 2020–2022 | Mahsanei HaShuk |
| 2022–present | Victory |
| # | Name | Games | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shlomo Iluz | 515 | 1977–1996 |
| 2 | Eliyahu Offer | 450 | 1959–1978 |
| 3 | Stav Elimelech | 431 | 1987–1997, 1998–2005 |
| 4 | Rafi Eliyahu | 419 | 1966–1984 |
| 5 | Meir Barad | 344 | 1966–1977, 1978–1982 |
| 6 | Shalom Avitan | 251 | 1972–1973, 1975–1980, 1981–1985 |
| 7 | Evyatar Iluz | 249 | 2001–2005, 2006–2015 |
| 8 | Maor Melikson | 230 | 2008–2011, 2014–2020 |
| 9 | Miguel Vítor | 214 | 2016– |
| 10 | Elyaniv Barda | 207 | 1998–2003, 2013–2018 |
| # | Name | Goals | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shalom Avitan | 100 | 1972–1973, 1975–1980, 1981–1985 |
| 2 | Meir Barad | 80 | 1966–1977, 1978–1982 |
| 3 | Rafi Eliyahu | 66 | 1966–1984 |
| 4 | Eliyahu Offer | 64 | 2059–2076 |
| 5 | Avraham Numa | 64 | 1964–1978 |
| 6 | Ben Sahar | 62 | 2015–2020 |
| 7 | Efraim Tzvi | 55 | 1968–1980 |
| 8 | Elyaniv Barda | 53 | 1998–2003, 2013–2018 |
| Season | Name | Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Ofir Haim | 16 | Together withShay Holtzman fromAshdod |
| 2018–19 | Ben Sahar | 15 | – |
| Season | Name | Group titles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966–68 | Avraham Numa | – | Maariv footballer of the year |
| 1973–74 | Meir Barad | – | Yedioth Ahronoth footballer of the year |
| 1974–75 | Uri Benjamin | Championship | – |
| 2015–16 | Elyaniv Barda | Championship | "Leagues Manager" and "ONE" footballer of the year |
| 2016–17 | Miguel Vítor | Championship, Super Cup and Toto Cup | "Leagues Manager" footballer of the year |
| 2017–18 | Hanan Maman | Championship | "Leagues Manager" footballer of the year |
| Season | Rank | T.Points | S.Points | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | 117 | 14.000 | 1.500 | [34] |
| 2024–25 | 109 | 16.500 | 2.000 | [35] |
| 2023–24 | 99 | 17.000 | 2.000 | [36] |
| 2022–23 | 93 | 17.000 | 6.000 | [37] |
| 2021–22 | 109 | 14.000 | 2.500 | [38] |
| 2020–21 | 91 | 17.500 | 4.000 | [39][40] |
| 2019–20 | 106 | 14.000 | 2.500 | [41][42] |
| 2018–19 | 109 | 12.000 | 2.000 | [43][44] |
| 2017–18 | 122 | 10.000 | 3.000 | [45][46] |
| 2016–17 | 150 | 10.875 | 7.350 | [47] |
| 2015–16 | 275 | 4.725 | 0.950 | [48] |
| 2014–15 | 278 | 4.700 | 0.775 | [49] |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Only up to eight non-Israeli nationals may be registered in an Israeli club’s squad. Players who have competed in Israel for an extended period (such asMiguel Vítor) may obtain Israeli citizenship or permanent residency status, allowing them to be registered and compete as domestic players.
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Ran Kozuch |
| Assistant manager | Ben Binyamin |
| Goalkeeping coach | Sheila Miara |
| Fitness coach | Michael Brosh |
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The ten most prominent players, per category, based on the ratio between titles won and appearances, taking into account the significance of the club’s achievements.
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Hapoel "Hashlosha" Be'er Sheva, which represents the country's main southern football, and one of the largest youth departments in Israel.
During most of the club's years, the club enjoys a strong youth department. Until 1969 Hapoel Be'er Sheva had one youth team, and it even won the first Israeli Youth Championship this year. At the end of the championship season, another group, Hapoel "Hashlosha", was established in Be'er Sheva after three employees of the "Makhteshim" factory who died in a work accident. The "Hashlosha" coach wasChaim Sne and within a short time the "Hashlosha" became the senior youth group in the city. "Hashlosha" won the first Israeli youth championship in 1973–74. Until the end of the 1980s Hapoel "HaShlosha" Be'er Sheva was regularly ranked in the top ranks of the Youth Super League and even won four State Youth Championships. From the mid-1960s, Hapoel Be'er Sheva youth teams relied on the talents discovered in the municipal youth leagues, founded byAharon Ben Yaakov, who in their heyday numbered thousands of boys who played in hundreds of teams. As the group moved into private hands in the 1990s, the investment in the youth department declined and the youth group dropped to the re-election after a few years. Since 2007, whenAlona Barkat has purchased the club, many funds have been invested to bring the youth departments back to the forefront, and in recent years the youth group has gradually returned to the top of the youth league.
Professional director of the Youth Department: Shmulik Hanin
| Team name | League | Head coach |
|---|---|---|
| Hapoel "Hashlosha" Be'er Sheva | Youth Premier League | Uri David |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U17 Premier League | Oren Fahima |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U16 Premier League | Eli Hayat |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U15 Premier League | Nir Danon |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U14 Center Premier League | Bar Harush |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U13 Center Premier League | Adi Peretz |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U12 Center Premier League | Michael Cherniak |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U11 Center Premier League | Shlomi Sasson |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U10 Center Premier League | |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | U09 Center Premier League | Assaf Zalmanov |
The title character of the Israeli sitcomShemesh, is a devoted supporter of the club, and the club appears in the show's main setting and is mentioned several times throughout the show.
The love for Hapoel Be'er Sheva is at the center ofAsher Halperin book, "I was crazy about it: a story about love and football."
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