The 2016–17 Liga Leumit is the 18th season as second tier since its re-alignment in 1999 and the 75th season of second-tier football in Israel.
A total of sixteen teams are contesting in the league, including twelve sides from the 2015–16 season, the two promoted teams from 2015–16 Liga Alef and the two relegated teams from 2015–16 Israeli Premier League.
Changes from 2015–16 season Team changes F.C. Ashdod and Hapoel Ashkelon, were promoted to the 2016–17 Israeli Premier League.
Maccabi Netanya and Hapoel Acre were relegated after finishing as the two bottom-placed clubs in the 2015–16 Israeli Premier League.
Maccabi Kiryat Gat, and Maccabi Yavne were directly relegated to Liga Alef after finishing in the previous season in last two league places. They were replaced the top placed teams from each division of 2015–16 Liga Alef, Maccabi Sha'arayim (from South Division) and Ironi Nesher (from North Division).
Overview Stadia and locations Club Home City Stadium Capacity Beitar Tel Aviv Ramla Tel Aviv and Ramla Ramla Municipal Stadium 2,000 Hapoel Afula Afula Afula Illit Stadium 3,000 Hapoel Acre Acre Acre Municipal Stadium 5,000 Hapoel Bnei Lod Lod Lod Municipal Stadium 3,000 Hapoel Jerusalem Jerusalem Teddy Stadium 31,733 Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem Jerusalem Teddy Stadium 31,733 Hapoel Nazareth Illit Nazareth Illit Green Stadium 4,000 Hapoel Petah Tikva Petah Tikva HaMoshava Stadium 11,500 Hapoel Ramat Gan Ramat Gan Ramat Gan Stadium 13,370 Hapoel Ramat HaSharon Ramat HaSharon Grundman Stadium 4,300 Hapoel Rishon LeZion Rishon LeZion Haberfeld Stadium 6,000 Ironi Nesher Nesher Nesher Stadium 2,500 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Nazareth Ilut Stadium 4,932 Maccabi Herzliya Herzliya Herzliya Municipal Stadium 8,100 Maccabi Netanya Netanya Netanya Stadium 13,610 Maccabi Sha'arayim Ness Ziona Ness Ziona Stadium 3,500 The club is playing their home games at a neutral venue because their own ground does not meet Premier League requirements.
Regular season Regular season table
Playoffs Top Playoff Top Playoff table
Bottom Playoff Bottom Playoff table
Positions by round The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches.
Promotion/relegation playoff The 14th-placed team will face 2016–17 Liga Alef promotion play-offs winner in a two-legged tie. The matches took place on 27 and 30 May 2017.
Hapoel Nazareth Illit won 3–2 on aggregate and remained in Liga Leumit. F.C. Kafr Qasim remained in Liga Alef.
See also 2016–17 Toto Cup Leumit
References