Hapoel Ra'anana A.F.C.

Hapoel Ra'anana
Full nameHapoel Ra'anana Association Football Club
NicknameHakbutza Mehisron (The group from Sharon)
Founded1938 (1938) as Hapoel Ra'anana F.C.
1972 (1972) as Hapoel Ra'anana A.F.C.
GroundKarnei Oren Memorial Field, Ra'anana, Israel
Capacity2,500
OwnerAsher Alon
ChairmanIlan Katz
ManagerAsi Elimelech
LeagueLiga Leumit
2024–25Liga Leumit, 11th of 16

Hapoel Ra'anana Association Football Club (Hebrew: עמותת הפועל רעננה מחלקת כדורגל, Amutat Hapoel Ra'anana Mahleket Kaduregel) is an Israeli football club based in the city of Ra'anana. They currently play in Liga Leumit, the second division of the Israeli Football League.

History

A Hapoel Ra'anana was established in 1938. They were placed in the South Division of Liga Bet (then the second division) in 1951–52.

The modern club was established in 1972, and in the mid-1990s was playing in Liga Gimel, the lowest tier of Israeli football. In 1995 they started a remarkable period of success after they won their division of Liga Gimel and were promoted to Liga Bet. In 1997–98, they won Liga Bet South A division and were promoted to Liga Alef. In 1998–99 they won the North Division of Liga Alef to earn promotion to Liga Artzit. After finishing third in 1999–2000, they won the league the following season and were promoted to Liga Leumit.

In 2008–09, the club was promoted to the Israeli Premier League for the first time in their history. However, they had to play its home matches at Hapoel Kfar Saba's Levita Stadium, as its home ground, the Karnei Oren Memorial Field, did not meet Premier League requirements. In January 2010, the city council published plans for a 7,500-capacity new stadium in Lev HaPark neighborhood.

After a single season in the top division, in which the club finished at the second bottom place, Ra'anana were relegated to Liga Leumit.

After three seasons in Liga Leumit, in 2012–13, Ra'anana finished runners-up and were promoted again to the Israeli Premier League. In the 2015–16 season, the club achieved its best placing to date, when they finished sixth in the Israeli Premier League.

In the 2019–20 season, Hapoel Ra'anana were relegated after suffering a 1–0 defeat to Ironi Kiryat Shmona, after 7 seasons in the top flight.

Players

Current squad

As of 29 March, 2026
No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ISR Dor Hebron
3 DF  ISR Adir Córdoba (on loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv)
4 DF  ISR Tarek Boshanek
5 DF  ISR Aviv Lin (on loan from Hapoel Hadera)
6 MF  ISR Gal Kolani
7 MF  ISR Yuvel Titelman
8 MF  ISR Snir Shoker (captain)
9 FW  ISR Michael Maman
10 MF  ISR Awajo Asefa
11 MF  ISR Ihab Abu Alsheikh
12 DF  ISR Itamar Gueta
15 DF  ISR Harel Lichtenstein
16 MF  ISR Roee Satularo
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW  ISR Omer Senior
21 FW  GHA Isaac Oppong
22 GK  ISR Gil Barda
23 DF  ISR Ron Gabay
25 DF  ISR Noam Agmon
28 MF  ISR Lee-Yam Dan (on loan from Maccabi Netanya)
33 GK  ISR Nir Ohayon
38 FW  ISR Omer Dahan (on loan from Maccabi Haifa)
45 MF  SLE Saidu Fofanah
52 DF  CIV Hamed Sawadogo
77 MF  ISR Dor Kochav
97 FW  NGA Wonderson Yakubu
99 MF  ISR Tom Berkovic

Club officials

Boardroom

Management

  • Manager (interim): Gal Cohen
  • Assistant Manager: Dani Bondar

Academy Coaching Staff

  • Youth Academy Director: Ami Vazana
  • Under 23 Coach: Ronny Keidar

Managers

  • Israel Eli Cohen (2006 – Feb 28, 2010)
  • Israel Tzvika Tzemah (April 1, 2010 – July 19, 2010)
  • Israel Eyal Lachman (May 1, 2010 – Oct 18, 2011)
  • Israel Meni Koretski (July 1, 2013– May 10, 2014)
  • Israel Haim Silvas (May 10, 2014– May 2017)
  • Israel Dudu Avraham (May 2017- September 2017)
  • Israel Guy Levy (September 2017- October 2017)
  • Israel Meni Koretski (October 2017-December 2019)
  • Israel Nisso Avitan (December 2019-February 2020)
  • Israel Eyal Lachman (February 2020-July 2020)
  • Israel Gal Cohen (July 2020-)

References

  • About Hapoel Ra'anana (in Hebrew)