01In brief
Gal Arel is a football coach who played as a midfielder for Hapoel Haifa and was appointed the club's rookie head coach for the 2025/26 Israel Premier League season. Before taking charge of the Carmel Reds, he spent two seasons as an understudy to coach Roni Levy. Arel was identified as a Hapoel Haifa midfielder in a 2012 interview. Match reports record him providing an assist in 2021 and scoring for the club in 2022.
02Playing Career
In 2012, Ynet identified Arel as a Hapoel Haifa midfielder.[2] In a 2022 Israel Premier League match, he opened the scoring in the 20th minute against Hapoel Beersheba. Beersheba responded with two goals from Nikita Rukavytsya before halftime, and Rotem Hatuel scored in the 78th minute to complete a 3–1 victory.[3]
In a 2021 match at Teddy Stadium, Arel supplied a "tremendous through-ball" to Raz Stain, who gave Hapoel Haifa a 1–0 halftime lead. The match against Beitar Jerusalem ended 3–3.[4]
The 2012 Passover-themed interview also offered a personal glimpse of Arel during his playing career. He said that he was preparing to celebrate the Seder with his entire family and that events involving Maccabi Petah Tikva would not spoil the holiday. He recited the Ten Plagues and later emphasized that his answers came from memory rather than Google.[2]
03Managerial Career at Hapoel Haifa
Arel was appointed Hapoel Haifa's rookie head coach for the 2025/26 season after spending the previous two seasons as an understudy to Roni Levy. The appointment marked his debut season as a head coach.[1]
In one of his early matches in charge, Arel led Hapoel Haifa to a 2–0 away victory over Bnei Sakhnin. The match was goalless at halftime, with Sakhnin's Glid Otanga sent off for a second yellow card. Ofek Bitton scored in the 63rd minute, and Javon East added the second goal ten minutes later.[5] After the match, Arel said, "I was pleased with the second half. We created chances, and I’m very encouraged."[5]
Sources
- 1The Jerusalem Post – Arel appointment 2025/26 (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 2Ynet News – 2012 Passover interview (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 3The Jerusalem Post – Haifa vs Beersheba match report (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 4The Jerusalem Post – Haifa vs Beitar Jerusalem 3–3 (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 5The Jerusalem Post – Haifa vs Bnei Sakhnin 2–0 (accessed September 16, 2026)
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
Who is Gal Arel?
Gal Arel is a football coach who played as a midfielder for Hapoel Haifa and was appointed the club's rookie head coach for the 2025/26 Israel Premier League season. Before taking charge, he spent two seasons as an understudy to coach Roni Levy.
What did Gal Arel do as a player for Hapoel Haifa?
During his playing career at Hapoel Haifa, Gal Arel supplied an assist in a 2021 match against Beitar Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium, setting up Raz Stain for a 1–0 halftime lead in a match that ended 3–3. In a 2022 Israel Premier League match, he opened the scoring in the 20th minute against Hapoel Beersheba, though Hapoel Haifa went on to lose 3–1.
How did Gal Arel's managerial debut at Hapoel Haifa go?
In one of his early matches as head coach, Gal Arel led Hapoel Haifa to a 2–0 away victory over Bnei Sakhnin. The match was goalless at halftime, but Ofek Bitton scored in the 63rd minute and Javon East added a second goal ten minutes later. After the match, Arel said, "I was pleased with the second half. We created chances, and I'm very encouraged."