Hapoel Ironi Ashkelon F.C.

Founded in 1955, the historic Hapoel Ashkelon progressed through the lower leagues before first reaching Israel’s top division in 1997/98.[4] Its competitive record included a State Cup final appearance in 2006/07 and second-division Toto Cup victories in 1984/85 and 2015/16.[5] League relegations accompanied some of its most prominent cup achievements: the club reached the 2007 final in the same season that it dropped to the third division.[6]

The historic club dissolved in summer 2023, and a new Ironi Ashkelon was established in 2024 with former Hapoel Ashkelon personnel involved in its leadership and coaching.[2] The new side began in Liga Gimel and subsequently secured promotion to Liga Bet, later adopting the Hapoel Ashkelon name with approval.[1][5]

Hapoel Ashkelon’s first top-flight campaign came in 1997/98, when Israel’s highest division was called the National League.[4] The team was immediately relegated, and that remained its only top-flight season as of a May 2010 account of its subsequent recovery.[6] Its earlier honours included the second-division Toto Cup in 1984/85.[5]

Ashkelon reached its first State Cup final in 2006/07 after defeating Hapoel Beersheba, Maccabi Hashikma/Ramat Hen, Hapoel Haifa, and Hapoel Ramat Gan.[6][7] Across those matches it scored seven goals without conceding; the final was its first encounter with a Premier League side in that cup campaign.[7]

The cup run coincided with a struggle against relegation: before the final, Ashkelon occupied a National League relegation position with two league matches remaining.[7] Player Roei Sabag called the final the greatest moment of his career, but said he would prefer losing it to suffering relegation, while insisting that the team was not travelling to Ramat Gan simply to lose.[7]

The municipality arranged trains and more than 20 buses to carry supporters to Ramat Gan free of charge.[7] Coach Miro BenShimon said the town was excited and that the players understood the occasion’s importance.[7] The final ended 1–1 after extra time, with Hapoel Tel Aviv winning the penalty shootout 5–4.[3] By the end of the league season, Ashkelon had been relegated to the third division.[6]

After two seasons in Liga Artzit, Ashkelon returned to the National League in 2009.[8] During the preceding period, its stadium had been hit by a rocket in December 2008 during Operation Cast Lead.[6]

Under Uri Malmilian, the 2009/10 campaign began with only one victory in the first 12 matches, leaving the team well behind the leaders.[6] Four victories in five matches then eased relegation concerns, followed by seven consecutive wins beginning on March 19.[6] A 2–1 away victory over Hapoel Kfar Saba moved Ashkelon into second place.[6] Home attendances rose during the surge from a few hundred spectators to more than 5,000 at recent matches.[6]

Ashkelon finished the 2009/10 National League season second, with 15 wins, 11 draws, nine defeats, and 34 points.[8] Guy Azuri replaced Malmilian before the 2010/11 campaign, which was the club’s second season of Premier League football.[8] At that point, Ashkelon had won neither a league championship nor the State Cup.[8]

Yuval Naim later led the club through two consecutive promotions.[4] Idan Shriki scored 18 goals during its 2016 promotion to the top division, and the club also won the second-division Toto Cup in 2015/16.[2][5] Ashkelon survived in the Premier League in 2016/17, when Hapoel Tel Aviv’s 1–1 draw with Hapoel Ra’anana left Tel Aviv relegated instead.[9]

Relegation to the National League in 2017/18 began a sequence of divisional setbacks.[4] In July 2019, the district court decided to liquidate the Veterans of Hapoel Ashkelon association, and the team began the following season with a related nine-point deduction.[4] It was relegated to Liga Alef at the end of 2019/20.[4]

Ashkelon retained its Liga Alef place during the COVID-19-affected 2020/21 season, but was among four teams relegated to Liga Bet at the end of 2021/22.[4] That completed three relegations in five years.[4] In March 2023, a 9–0 defeat by Bnei Ashdod confirmed relegation to Liga Gimel; the historic club dissolved that summer.[2]

A separate revival initiative, Hapoel Shimshon Ashkelon, was reported in 2022 as a supporter-led project involving people associated with the historic club.[4] It planned to begin in Liga Gimel, attracted around 300 supporters to its opening training session, and had a reported squad of 24 players, 23 from Ashkelon.[4]

By July 2024, Ironi Ashkelon was preparing to enter Liga Gimel for the 2024/25 season, with Yair Azulay appointed coach and an emphasis on bringing back players who had developed at Hapoel Ashkelon.[5] Local businessman Dror Elmalem, a former player and chairman of the historic club, became owner, while former player Ami Jerbi served as general manager.[2] Jerbi said supporters had urged them to restore football to the city, credited mayor Tomer Glam with helping establish the club, and set a goal of reaching the National League or higher within four years.[2]

On December 30, 2024, Ironi Ashkelon led Liga Gimel South with 34 points from 11 victories and one draw, two points ahead of Arad.[2] It had scored 50 goals and conceded two, giving it the league’s strongest defensive record.[2] Its State Cup campaign had included victories over M.C. Arad, Ironi Hura, M.C. Beersheba, Bnei Mamba, and A.S. Ashdod before a meeting with Maccabi Haifa.[2]

The coaching staff included links to the historic club: Azulay had played during two consecutive promotions, while assistant coach Shriki had contributed to the 2016 promotion.[2] Shriki said attendance had grown from 20 spectators at the season’s beginning to 1,500 for the cup match against Adumim Ashdod.[2]

In the final league match of 2024/25, Eliezer Yosef scored the only goal against M.C. Arad at Sela Stadium, securing promotion to Liga Bet before more than 3,000 spectators.[1] During that season, the team received approval to use the name Hapoel Ashkelon.[1] By November 16, 2025, it stood 13th in Liga Bet South B with one victory, six draws, and two defeats.[1] The club parted with Azulay and appointed Asi Bruchian, with the stated aim of reaching the upper playoff group.[1]

The historic club and the 2024 revival should not be treated as an uninterrupted organization: the former dissolved in 2023, while Ironi Ashkelon was established as a new club the following year.[2] The revival nevertheless drew on local football ties. Its coaching and management included former Hapoel Ashkelon figures, attendance rose from 20 spectators early in the season to 1,500 for the cup match against Adumim Ashdod, and more than 3,000 attended the promotion-clinching match against M.C. Arad.[1][2]

The later permission to use the Hapoel Ashkelon name created a documented naming connection, but did not by itself establish uninterrupted organizational continuity.[1][2]