The 1961–62 season was the 14th season of competitive football in Israel and the 36th season under the Israeli Football Association, established in 1928, during the British Mandate.
Review and Events The national team completed their involvement in the 1962 World Cup qualification, playing Italy during October 1961. The team stunned Italy in the first match by taking a 2–0 lead in the first half of the first match, played at Ramat Gan Stadium, only to concede 4 goals in the second half,QWC 1962 Israel vs. Italy 2-4 youtube.com and then losing 0–6 in the second leg.QWC 1962 Italy vs. Israel 6-0 (04.11.1961) youtube.com At the end of the season, Liga Alef was expanded from 14 clubs to 16 clubs, as 2 clubs relegated from the league at the end of the season and the 4 winners of Liga Bet promoted to Liga Alef. This also meant that at the end of the season the 8 relegated teams from Liga Bet were replaced by 10 promoted clubs from Liga Gimel.
Domestic leagues
Promotion and relegation The following promotions and relegations took place at the end of the season:
Promoted to Liga Leumit Hakoah Tel Aviv1
Promoted to Liga Alef Hapoel Safed Hapoel Hadera Hapoel Lod Hapoel Holon
Promoted to Liga Bet Beitar Kiryat Shmona Beitar Binyamina Hapoel Bnei Nazareth Hapoel Dora Netanya Beitar Kiryat Ono Hapoel Givatayim ASA Jerusalem Beitar Harari Tel Aviv Hapoel Ofakim Hapoel Kiryat Gat
Relegated from Liga Leumit Maccabi Netanya
Relegated from Liga Alef Maccabi Hadera Hapoel Rehovot
Relegated from Liga Bet Hapoel Tel Hanan Hapoel Beit HaShita Hapoel Pardesiya HaCarmel Club Haifa Maccabi Jerusalem Hapoel Ein Karem Hapoel Bnei Zion Beitar Jaffa
1. Hakoah Tel Aviv merged with Maccabi Ramat Gan to form Hakoah Maccabi Ramat Gan. The merged club took Hakoah Tel Aviv's place in Liga Leumit.
Domestic cups
Israel State Cup The 1961–62 Israel State Cup started on 12 February 1961, during the previous season, and was carried over the summer break and finished with the replayed final on 7 May 1962, in which Maccabi Haifa defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 5–2.
On 24 March 1962, the next season's competition began, and was carried over to the next season.
National Teams
National team
1962 World Cup qualification (UEFA Group 7, final round)
1961–62 matches
References