2002–03 Israeli Premier League

The 2002–03 Israeli Premier League season saw Maccabi Tel Aviv win the title. It took place from the first match on 14 September 2002 to the final match on 31 May 2003.

Israeli Premier League
Season2002–03
ChampionsMaccabi Tel Aviv
18th title
RelegatedHapoel Kfar Saba
Hapoel Rishon LeZion
Top goalscorerShay Holtzman
Yaniv Abargil (18)

Two teams from Liga Leumit were promoted at the end of the previous season: Hapoel Kfar Saba and Bnei Yehuda. The two teams relegated were Hapoel Haifa and Maccabi Kiryat Gat.

Teams and Locations edit

Twelve teams took part in the 2002-03 Israeli Premier League season, including ten teams from the 2001-02 season, as well as two teams that were promoted from the 2001-02 Liga Leumit.

Hapoel Kfar Saba were promoted as champions of the 2001-02 Liga Leumit. Bnei Yehuda were promoted as runners up. Bnei Yehuda and Hapoel Kfar Saba returned to the top flight after an absence of one and two seasons respectively.

Hapoel Haifa and Maccabi Kiryat Gat were relegated after finishing in the bottom two places in the 2001-02 season.

ClubStadiumCapacity
Beitar JerusalemTeddy Stadium021,600
Bnei YehudaBloomfield Stadium015,700
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi HaifaKiryat Eliezer Stadium014,002
Hapoel Be'er ShevaVasermil Stadium013,000
F.C. AshdodYud-Alef Stadium07,800
Maccabi NetanyaSar-Tov Stadium07,500
Maccabi Petah TikvaPetah Tikva Municipal Stadium06,800
Hapoel Petah Tikva
Ironi Rishon LeZionHaberfeld Stadium06,000
Hapoel Kfar SabaLevita Stadium05,800
Beitar JerusalemBnei Yehuda
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Teddy Stadium
Bloomfield Stadium
Vasermil Stadium
Maccabi HaifaMaccabi Petah Tikva
Hapoel Petah Tikva
F.C. Ashdod
Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
Petah Tikva Municipal StadiumYud-Alef Stadium
Maccabi NetanyaIroni Rishon LeZionHapoel Kfar Saba
Sar-Tov StadiumHaberfeld StadiumLevita Stadium

Final table edit

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Maccabi Tel Aviv (C)3322386631+3569Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
2Maccabi Haifa3321667542+3369Qualification for the UEFA Cup qualifying round
3Hapoel Tel Aviv33191045322+3167
4Maccabi Netanya3315994736+1154Qualification for the Intertoto Cup first round
5Hapoel Be'er Sheva33156125641+1551
6Maccabi Petah Tikva33131194537+850
7F.C. Ashdod33117153549−1440
8Hapoel Petah Tikva33116164153−1239
9Beitar Jerusalem33106174659−1336
10Bnei Yehuda3397173963−2434
11Hapoel Kfar Saba[a] (R)3375214381−3823Relegation to Liga Leumit
12Ironi Rishon LeZion (R)3346233567−3218
Source: futbol24.com
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Deducted 3 points

Results edit

First and second round edit

Home \ AwayBEIBnYASHHBSHKSHPTHTAIRZMHAMNEMPTMTA
Beitar Jerusalem2–35–01–41–00–00–12–04–01–11–32–1
Bnei Yehuda1–02–10–02–31–21–44–11–31–21–32–0
F.C. Ashdod0–01–12–20–52–00–02–12–32–12–00–1
Hapoel Be'er Sheva2–02–33–01–24–00–21–02–02–12–01–0
Hapoel Kfar Saba1–30–10–23–10–21–11–01–32–11–30–3
Hapoel Petah Tikva0–01–00–00–11–32–32–31–12–11–31–2
Hapoel Tel Aviv2–03–01–01–02–12–11–11–22–00–03–1
Ironi Rishon LeZion4–02–31–01–12–20–31–20–30–21–10–1
Maccabi Haifa0–15–21–04–25–03–11–14–32–13–12–3
Maccabi Netanya1–11–00–01–04–11–02–22–10–00–03–1
Maccabi Petah Tikva5–12–01–01–13–30–30–00–00–11–10–1
Maccabi Tel Aviv4–11–04–10–33–05–11–02–10–15–04–2
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third round edit

Home \ AwayBEIBnYASHHBSHKSHPTHTAIRZMHAMNEMPTMTA
Beitar Jerusalem4–14–23–40–22–3
Bnei Yehuda0–02–20–01–31–4
F.C. Ashdod2–12–11–52–00–3
Hapoel Be'er Sheva3–20–11–20–15–13–3
Hapoel Kfar Saba1–12–51–21–60–1
Hapoel Petah Tikva4–12–00–53–20–3
Hapoel Tel Aviv4–11–01–12–00–10–0
Ironi Rishon LeZion1–11–22–45–20–3
Maccabi Haifa2–23–15–11–12–11–1
Maccabi Netanya2–04–12–02–01–12–0
Maccabi Petah Tikva0–12–11–33–11–02–1
Maccabi Tel Aviv5–02–12–23–02–00–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top goal scorers edit

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Shay HoltzmanIroni Rishon LeZion / F.C. Ashdod18
Yaniv AbargilHapoel Kfar Saba18
3 Kobi RefuaMaccabi Petah Tikva15
4 Alon MizrahiHapoel Kfar Saba14
Avi NimniMaccabi Tel Aviv14
Michael ZandbergMaccabi Haifa14
7 Vladimir AndonovBnei Yehuda12
Manor HassanHapoel Petah Tikva12
Andrzej KubicaBeitar Jerusalem12
10 Lior AsulinMaccabi Petah Tikva11
Đovani RosoMaccabi Haifa11
Itzik ZoharBeitar Jerusalem11

See also edit