Hapoel Ramat Gan F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Hapoel Ramat Gan

| fullname = Hapoel Ramat Gan מועדון כדורגל הפועל רמת גן
founded = 1927
ground = HaMakhtesh Stadium, Ramat Gan
capacity = 5,500
chairman = Yaron Kuris
manager = Yuval Naim
league = Liga Leumit
season = 2007-08
position = Liga Leumit, 6th
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pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
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Hapoel Ramat Gan F.C. ( _he. מועדון כדורגל הפועל רמת גן, "Moadon Kaduregel Hapoel Ramat Gan") are an Israeli football club from the central Israeli city of Ramat Gan. They play in an all-red strip, and are currently in Liga Artzit, the third level of Israeli football. Home matches are played at HaMakhtesh Stadium (literally 'the crater'), which has a capacity of around 5,500.

History

Hapoel were founded during the Mandate era by Jewish settlers in Ramat Gan. After independence, the club became founder members of the Israeli top division, then known as the Israeli League.

After a series of mid-table finishes, the club was relegated to the second division in 1959-60 after finishing bottom. In 1962-3, the club returned to the top flight as second division champions, and followed it up by becoming the first team to win the championship in the first season after promotion. The championship-winning match against Hapoel Petah Tikva was watched by Hapoel's record crowd of 9,000. However, this success proved to be their zenith, as they were overtaken by city rivals Hakoah who were champions in the following season. Hapoel were relegated at the end of the 1968-9 season.

The early 1980s was a yo-yo era, as the club were promoted and immediately relegated twice in succession from 1979-80 to 1982-3. In 1988-9 they won promotion again, but were again immediately relegated, this being their last period of time in the top flight.

By the end of the 1990s, the club had sunk into Liga Artzit, the third division, though they did pick up some silverware by winning the Toto Cup for third division teams in 1999-2000. In the same season, they were promoted back to the second division.

In 2002-3, the club returned to the national conscience by becoming the first team from outside the top division to win the State Cup, when they beat Hapoel Be'er Sheva 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The win also meant the club qualified for the UEFA Cup.

Hapoel were drawn against Levski Sofia of Bulgaria in the first round. However, because of a UEFA ban on matches in Israel at the time (due to the security situation), the club had to play their home match in Dunajská Streda, Slovakia. The "home" match attracted a crowd of just 300, and Hapoel lost the tie 5-0 on aggregate (1-0, 4-0).

The following season, the costs of playing in Europe and the loss of many of the best players resulted in relegation back to the third level. A 9 point deduction for financial issues at the start of the 2005-6 season resulted in another season of struggle, with the club finishing one place above a potentially embarrassing relegation to Liga Alef.

In May 2007, Hapoel Ramat Gan continued their tradition of success in the Israeli State Cup by defeating Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli 1st Division 1-0 in extra time. This victory brought Hapoel Ramat Gan into the Israeli semi-finals and effectively disqualified Maccabi Haifa from European competition in 2008.

Players

Current squad

"As of July 4, 2008"

Honours

* Championship
**1963-4
* State Cup
**Winners 2003
*Liga Artzit
**Champions 2006-07
* Toto Cup (Liga Artzit)
**Winners 2000, 2006, 2007

Records

* Attendance: 9,000 vs Hapoel Petah Tikva (28 March 1964)
* Win: 10-0 vs Beitar Netanya (18 May 1940)
* Goalscorer: Reuven Cohen, 85 goals (1955-1968)

Notable Former Players

* Ya'akov Hodorov
* Shlomo Levi
* Moshe Perl
* Tsvika Heyman
* Reuven Cohen
* Roni Kaldaron
* Avi Buksenboim
* Avraham Lev
* Igal Kohavi
* Shooli Gilardi
* Avi Barshatzki
* Yuval Naim
* Ronen Harazi
* Ilan Bahar
* Michael Zandberg
* Ofir Halwani
* Miki Maman
* Tomar Brazilai
* Shahar Kaduri
* Omer Buchsenbaum

Trivia

* "Hapoel" is translated as "The Worker"

External links

* [http://www.hapoelrg-fc.co.il/ Official Site]
* [http://www.hapoel-ramatgan.co.il/ Fansite]