2003–04 Israeli Premier League

The 2003–04 Israeli Premier League season was held between 13 September 2003 and 22 May 2004. For the first time, there were two Israeli Arab clubs in the top division; Maccabi Ahi Nazareth and Bnei Sakhnin.

Israeli Premier League
Season2003–04
ChampionsMaccabi Haifa
8th title
RelegatedMaccabi Ahi Nazareth
Maccabi Netanya
Top goalscorerShay Holtzman
Ofir Haim (16)

Maccabi Haifa won the title, whilst Nazareth and Maccabi Netanya were relegated. Bnei Sakhnin (who qualified for Europe by winning the State Cup) became the first Arab club to spend more than a single season in the top flight.

Teams and Locations edit

Twelve teams took part in the 2003-04 Israeli Premier League season, including ten teams from the 2002-03 season, as well as two teams which were promoted from the 2002-03 Liga Leumit.

Maccabi Ahi Nazareth were promoted as champions of the 2002-03 Liga Leumit. Bnei Sakhnin were promoted as runners up. Both Maccabi Ahi Nazareth and Bnei Sakhnin made their debut in the top flight.

Hapoel Kfar Saba and Ironi Rishon LeZion were relegated after finishing in the bottom two places in the 2002-03 season.

ClubStadiumCapacity
Beitar JerusalemTeddy Stadium021,600
Bnei YehudaBloomfield Stadium015,700
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi HaifaKiryat Eliezer Stadium014,002
Bnei Sakhnin[A]
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
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth[A]Beit She'an Municipal Stadium03,000

^ ^ The club played their home games at a neutral venue because their own ground did not meet Premier League requirements.

Beitar JerusalemBnei Yehuda
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Teddy Stadium
Bloomfield Stadium
Vasermil Stadium
Maccabi Haifa
Bnei Sakhnin
Maccabi Petah Tikva
Hapoel Petah Tikva
F.C. Ashdod
Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
Petah Tikva Municipal StadiumYud-Alef Stadium
Maccabi NetanyaMaccabi Ahi Nazareth
Sar-Tov StadiumBeit She'an Municipal Stadium

Final table edit

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Maccabi Haifa (C)3319685425+2963Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
2Maccabi Tel Aviv3316983522+1357Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3Maccabi Petah Tikva3316894935+1456Qualification for the UEFA Cup second qualifying round
4Hapoel Be'er Sheva33167104836+1255Qualification for the Intertoto Cup first round
5Hapoel Tel Aviv331310104837+1149
6Bnei Yehuda33129123442−845
7F.C. Ashdod33119134749−242
8Hapoel Petah Tikva33119134652−642
9Beitar Jerusalem33109143242−1039
10Bnei Sakhnin33811143138−735Qualification for the UEFA Cup second qualifying round
11Maccabi Netanya (R)3387182852−2431Relegated to Liga Leumit
12Maccabi Ahi Nazareth[a] (R)3386194062−2227
Source: futbol24.com
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Deducted 3 points

Results edit

First and second round edit

Home \ AwayBEIBnSBnYASHHBSHPTHTAMANMHAMNEMPTMTA
Beitar Jerusalem1–10–01–00–12–01–14–11–00–03–21–0
Bnei Sakhnin0–22–31–01–21–11–11–00–12–10–01–1
Bnei Yehuda1–10–12–10–13–31–12–01–22–01–00–0
F.C. Ashdod2–11–01–21–22–03–33–51–14–03–20–2
Hapoel Be'er Sheva2–02–10–04–00–10–01–22–22–02–10–0
Hapoel Petah Tikva3–30–01–03–12–11–13–13–14–01–11–0
Hapoel Tel Aviv4–10–13–03–03–03–01–00–02–01–00–2
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth2–10–41–22–22–23–30–20–22–00–10–1
Maccabi Haifa4–01–03–00–03–20–21–04–14–00–00–1
Maccabi Netanya1–00–13–30–01–02–12–21–24–33–00–1
Maccabi Petah Tikva1–02–10–04–11–24–12–12–00–20–02–2
Maccabi Tel Aviv2–12–20–20–11–33–03–02–00–31–00–2
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third round edit

Home \ AwayBEIBnSBnYASHHBSHPTHTAMANMHAMNEMPTMTA
Beitar Jerusalem0–31–03–20–12–4
Bnei Sakhnin0–01–10–10–10–0
Bnei Yehuda2–01–60–21–00–11–0
F.C. Ashdod4–13–01–12–11–1
Hapoel Be'er Sheva0–10–03–22–12–11–3
Hapoel Petah Tikva1–31–20–32–24–10–2
Hapoel Tel Aviv2–22–11–03–21–00–1
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth0–01–03–02–22–3
Maccabi Haifa4–12–01–13–13–10–1
Maccabi Netanya1–11–32–01–00–3
Maccabi Petah Tikva2–12–22–12–10–1
Maccabi Tel Aviv1–01–03–01–12–00–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top goal scorers edit

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Shay HoltzmanF.C. Ashdod16
Ofir HaimHapoel Be'er Sheva16
3 Assi TubiMaccabi Ahi Nazareth13
Manor HassanHapoel Petah Tikva13
Omer GolanMaccabi Petah Tikva13
6 Tomislav ErcegHapoel Petah Tikva12
7 Mate BaturinaBnei Yehuda11
Ibezito OgbonnaHapoel Tel Aviv11
9 Lior AsulinBnei Sakhnin10
Gustavo BoccoliMaccabi Ahi Nazareth10

See also edit