Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Bnei Yehuda


fullname = Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
Football Club
nickname = "HaShkhuna" (The Neighbourhood),
"HaZehuvim" (The Goldens)
founded = 1936
ground = Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv
capacity = 20,000
chairman = flagicon|Israel Hezi Magen
manager = flagicon|Israel Guy Luzon
league = Israeli Premier League
season = 2007-08
position = 9th
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Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. ( _he. מועדון כדורגל בני יהודה תל אביב, "Moadon Kaduregel Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv"), commonly known as just Bnei Yehuda, is an Israeli football club from the Hatikva Quarter of Tel Aviv. The club is currently a member of the Israeli Premier League and plays its home matches at Bloomfield Stadium.

History

The club was formed in January 1936 by Nathan Sulami and his friends. [cite web
last = Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv Official Website
url = http://d3856902.u51.infinology.com/cgi-bin/SheepWool/sheepwool.pl?act=view&wiki=7137418
title = Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
accessdate = 2006-09-02] They were first promoted to the top division in 1959. Two seasons later they narrowly avoided relegation, finishing second from bottom. In 1965 the club reached the State Cup final for the first time, but lost 2-1 to Maccabi Tel Aviv. [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/isracuphist.html Israel - List of Cup Finals] RSSSF] In 1968 they reached the final again, this time beating Hapoel Petah Tikva to claim their first piece of major silverware.

After several near-misses, the club was relegated at the end of the 1971-72 season after finishing second from bottom. However, they made an immediate return as Liga Alef champions but were relegated again in 1976. In the 1977-78 season the club were promoted back to the top division as Liga Artzit champions, and also reached the State Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to Maccabi Netanya. The following season the club finished fourth in Liga Leumit, its highest ever finish.

The 1980-81 season was the club's best so far. Managed by Shlomo Sharf they finished second in the league and reached the cup final again, this time beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 4-3 after extra time. However, the success was not maintained, and they were relegated at the end of the 1983-84 season.

The club made an immediate return as Liga Artzit champions and finished second in 1986-87. The 1989-90 season saw the club win its first, and to date only, championship under the leadership of Giora Spiegel. Two seasons later they won the Toto Cup for the first time, repeating the feat in 1997.

The 2000-01 season saw Bnei Yehuda finish second from bottom of the Premier League (which had replaced Liga Leumit as the top division) and the club was relegated. However, they made an immediate return as Liga Leumit runners-up. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/isra2-02.html Israel Second Level 2001/02] RSSSF] The club have remained in the Premier League since. In 2005-06 they reached the cup final, losing 1-0 to Hapoel Tel Aviv, but also qualifying for Europe for the first time. In the 2006-07 UEFA Cup they lost 6-1 on aggregate to Lokomotiv Sofia and had to play their home match in Senec in Slovakia due to security concerns. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/08/03/bulgaria.lokomotiv/index.html Slovakia to stage Israeli UEFA tie] CNN, 3 August 2006]

tadium

For most of its existence, Bnei Yehuda played at the Hatikva Neighborhood Stadium in the Hatikva Quarter of Tel Aviv. However, in 2004 the team moved their home matches to the Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa, though the club offices, the team's practice grounds and most activities within the club are still held in the Hatikva stadium.

Current squad

"As of February, 2008"

Honours

*Israeli championship
**Winners 1989-90
*State Cup
**Winners 1968, 1981
*Toto Cup
**Winners 1992, 1997

References

External links

* [http://www.fc-bnei-yehuda.co.il/ Official website]
* [http://www.bnei-yehuda.co.il Fansite] he icon