Liga Gimel (Hebrew: ליגה ג', lit. C League) is the fifth and bottom tier of Israeli football league system, a position it has held since 2009.
History
Between 1999 and 2009 it was the sixth tier after Liga Bet, Between 1974 and 1999 it was the fifth tier after the creation of Liga Artzit, and between 1949 and 1974 it was the fourth division. Liga Gimel consists of seven divisions of varying size, three in the north and four in the less-populated south. At the start of the 2009–10 season there are a total of 93 member clubs. If they meet criteria laid down by the IFA, the top club from each division is promoted at the end of the season to the Liga Bet (the fourth level). Teams are assigned to their new Liga Bet divisions based on their geographical locations. As it is the lowest division, no clubs are relegated.
Liga Gimel Central
The champion of Liga Gimel Central, which covers the southern half of the country, is promoted to Liga Bet South B. Until 2007 it was known as Liga Gimel Central-South. For the 2009–10 season, the division is composed of:
- Agudat Sport Holon
- Beitar Jaffa Zion
- Bnei Shefi Yahud
- Bnei Yihalel Rehovot
- Elitzur Yehud Yotel
- F.C. Rishon LeZion
- Hapoel Matzliah
- Hapoel Ramla
- Ironi Beit Dagan
- Maccabi Dinamo Holon
- Maccabi Ironi Or Yehuda
- Maccabi Rehovot
Past champions
- 1999-00: Hapoel Sde Uziyahu/Be'er Tuvia
- 2006-07: Bnei Eilat
- 2007-08: Hapoel MS Ortodoxim Lod
- 2008–09: Hapoel Rahat
Liga Gimel Jezreel
The champion of Liga Gimel Jezreel is promoted to Liga Bet North B. For the 2009–10 season, the division is composed of:
- Beitar Afula
- Beitar al-Amal Nazareth
- Beitar Umm al-Fahm
- F.C. Daburiyya
- F.C. Kfar Kama
- F.C. Maccabi Nazareth Illit
- Hapoel Bnei Hajajre
- Hapoel Bnei Nazareth
- Hapoel Bnei Nujeidat
- Hapoel al-Ittihad Nazareth
- Hapoel Ironi Muawiyah
- Hapoel Ka'abiyye
- Hapoel Manshiya Zabda
- Maccabi Ein Mahil/Jamel
Past champions
- 1999-00: Hapoel Yafia
- 2006-07: Maccabi Beit She'an Nissim
- 2007-08: Hapoel Umm al-Ghanem Nein
- 2008–09: Maccabi Ahi Iksal
Liga Gimel Sharon
The champion of Liga Gimel Sharon is promoted to Liga Bet South A. For the 2009–10 season, the division is composed of:
- Ahva Tayibe
- Beitar Nes Tubruk
- Beitar Oranit
- F.C. Ariel
- F.C. Bnei Ra'anana
- F.C. Kafr Qasim Nibrass
- F.C. Tel Mond
- F.C. Tira
- F.C. Tzeirei Tayibe
- Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba
- Hapoel Ironi Hod HaSharon
- Hapoel Kafr Bara
- Ironi Ariel
- Maccabi Bnei Jaljulia
Past champions
- 1999-00: Shimshon Bnei Tayibe
- 2006-07: Hapoel Pardesiya Noam
- 2007-08: Maccabi HaSharon Netanya
- 2008–09: Beitar Petah Tikva
Liga Gimel Shomron
The champion of Liga Gimel Shomron is promoted to Liga Bet North B. For the 2009–10 season, the division is composed of:
- Beitar Hadera
- Beitar Pardes Hanna
- F.C. Giv'at Olga
- F.C. Kiryat Yam
- Hapoel Bnei Zemer
- Hapoel Spartak Haifa
- Hapoel Yokneam
- Ironi Nesher
- Maccabi Barkai
- Maccabi Daliyat al-Karmel
- Maccabi Fureidis
- Maccabi Jisr az-Zarqa
- Maccabi Neve Sha'anan Eldad
Past champions
- 1999-00: Hapoel Baqa al-Gharbiyye
- 2006-07: Maccabi Ironi Barta'a
- 2007-08: Maccabi Ironi Jatt
- 2008–09: Maccabi Or Akiva
Liga Gimel South
The champion of Liga Gimel South, which covers the southern half of the country, is promoted to Liga Bet South A. As of 2009, the division was opened once again.
- Beitar Ashkelon
- F.C. Tzeirei Elhoshla
- Hapoel Bnei Beit Tzfefa
- Hapoel F.C. Hevel Modi'in
- Hapoel Hura
- Hapoel Jerusalem Katamon
- Hapoel Tel Sheva
- Ironi Beit Shemesh
- Ironi Modi'in
- Maccabi Segev Shalom
- Tzeirei Elhuzayil
Past champions
Liga Gimel Tel Aviv
The champion of Liga Gimel Tel Aviv is promoted to Liga Bet South A. For the 2009–10 season, the division is composed of:
- Beitar Ezra
- Beitar Oranit
- Brit Sport Ma'of
- Elitzur Jaffa Tel Aviv
- F.C. Benleumi Tel Aviv
- F.C. Mahanaim Ramat Gan
- F.C. Roah Tel Aviv
- Gadna Tel Aviv Yehuda
- Hapoel Ironi Oranit
- Hapoel Jaljulia
- Hapoel Kafr Qasim Shouaa
- Hapoel Kiryat Shalom
- Hapoel Neve Golan
Past champions
- 1999-00: Beitar Ironi Holon
- 2006-07: Ironi Or Yehuda
- 2007-08: Maccabi Ironi Or Yehuda
- 2008–09: Beitar Petah Tikva
Liga Gimel Upper Galilee
The champion of Liga Gimel Upper Galilee is promoted to Liga Bet North A. For the 2009–10 season, the division is composed of:
- Alfa Ironi Safed
- Beitar Kafr Kanna
- Bnei Kabul
- F.C. Bnei Arraba
- F.C. Otzma Bnei Yirka
- F.C. Tzeirei Tur'an
- Hapoel Bnei Bi'ina
- Hapoel Bnei Maghar
- Hapoel Bnei Rameh
- Hapoel Deir El Asad
- Hapoel Jatt HaGlilit Sayif
- Hapoel Shefa-'Amr
- Maccabi Bnei Nahf
- Maccabi Sha'ab
- Maccabi Tuba-Zangariyye
- Maccabi Tzeirei Shefa-'Amr
Past champions
- 1999-00: Beitar Safed
- 2006-07: Ahi Acre
- 2007-08: Hapoel Kaukab
- 2008–09: Ihud Bnei Majdal Krum
Defunct division champions
Western Galilee
Bay Area
- 1999-00: Hapoel Bnei Manda
Haifa
- 1999-00: Maccabi Tzur Shalom
Gush Dan
External links
Football in Israel
Domestic leagues
Domestic cups
European competitions
National teams
Related to
national team
Lists and categories
Israel Football Association (IFA)