F.C. Ashdod

F.C. Ironi Ashdod (Hebrew: מועדון ספורט עירוני אשדוד‎, Moadon Sport Ashdod, lit. Ashdod Sport Club or in short Hebrew: מ.ס. אשדוד‎, Mem Samekh Ashdod, lit. F.C. Ashdod) is an Israeli football club, playing in the port city of Ashdod. The unorthodox name of the team (unlike most Israeli soccer teams, the name indicates only the club's home city but no association, e.g. Hapoel, Maccabi, Beitar etc.) is the result of the union of two city rivals, Hapoel Ashdod and Maccabi Ironi Ashdod.

Ashdod
Full nameFootball Club Ironi Ashdod
מועדון ספורט עירוני אשדוד‎
Nickname(s)The Port City Team The Dolphins
Founded1999 (1999)
GroundYud-Alef Stadium, Ashdod
Capacity7,800
OwnerF.C. Ashdod Supporters trust
ChairmanMunicipality of Ashdod
ManagerRan Ben Shimon
LeagueIsraeli Premier League
2019–20Israeli Premier League, 8th

History

During the club's first years, its kit colors were completely blue. However, when Haim Revivo took a more prominent role in the club, the colors were changed to red and yellow. The decision was made that the kit should incorporate the previous two clubs' colors, Hapoel having been red and Maccabi yellow.

The club was not immediately successful after the merger, and fan support was lacking. During the 2004–05 season, they reached their greatest achievement, a third-place finish in the Israeli Premier League and a berth in the UEFA Cup. The club also reached the final of the Toto Cup, only to go out on penalty kicks. Their first time in a continental competition was not a memorable one, as they went out to the Slovenian PrvaLiga runners-up, NK Domžale.

Prior to the 2014–15 season, the club added Ironi to its name. However, following a dispute with fans of the previous club, Maccabi Ironi Ashdod, during the 2–3 defeat against Maccabi Netanya in the last match of the regular season, the club's chairman, Jacky Ben-Zaken, decided to rename the club to Hapoel Ashdod and to play in red shirts.[1] Despite warnings from the Israel Football Association, which informed the club that such changes during season are illegal,[2] Ashdod did show up for their next match, which opened the Bottom playoff, against Hapoel Ra'anana in red shirts, with the caption "F.C. Hapoel Ashdod",[3] and was eventually disciplined.[4] Furthermore, the club was punished by FIFA with six points deduction for failing to pay an arbitration award to Nigerian club, Kaduna United, for the transfer of Efe Ambrose in 2010. As a result, the club has been dropped to the bottom place in the Israeli Premier League.[5] However, in an exceptional decision, FIFA reversed its decision after it was found out that the club did pay the arbitration award.[6] At the end of the season, the club finished at the bottom of the league, after failing to register a win during their last 15 matches, and for the first time in their history, were relegated to the second tier, Liga Leumit, following a defeat of 0–1 against Hapoel Tel Aviv.[7][8]

In the 2015–16 season, the club won Liga Leumit and made an immediate return to the Israeli Premier League.

Players

Current squad

Updated 12 July 2020.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ISR Yoav Gerafi
3 DF  ISR Gil Cohen
4 DF  UGA Timothy Awany
6 MF  ISR Hamoudi Kna'an
7 FW  UGA Fahad Bayo
8 MF  ISR Shlomi Azulay
9 MF  ISR Roei Gordana
10 MF  MLI Moussa Bagayoko
11 FW  ISR Sagiv Yehezkel
12 MF  ISR Yoni Sisai
13 DF  GHA Montari Kamaheni
14 FW  ISR Dean David
15 DF  ISR Tom Ben Zaken (captain)
16 DF  ISR Zohar Zasno
18 FW  ISR Bentzi Moshel
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW  ISR Stav Turiel
20 DF  ISR Omri Ben Harush
21 MF  ISR Hamza Mawassi
23 MF  ISR Fares Abu Akel
41 GK  ISR Ron Shushan
55 DF  SRB Nenad Cvetković
66 MF  ISR Nir Hasson
77 MF  ISR Ya'akov Berihon
80 MF  ISR Mor Edri
88 FW  ISR Idan Dahan
90 GK  ISR Roei Mishpati
99 FW  ISR Oz Bilu
— DF  ISR David Tiram
— FW  GHA Hayford Adjei
— FW  ISR Shalev Harush

Out on loan
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ISR Omer Egozi (at Hapoel Kfar Shalem until 30 June 2021)

Foreigners 2020–21

Only up six non-Israeli nationals can be in an Israeli club squad (only five can play at the same time). Those with Jewish ancestry, married to an Israeli or have played in Israel for an extended period of time, can claim a passport or permanent residency which would allow them to play with Israeli status.

Managers

European cup history
As of 29 August 2013
Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
2005–06 UEFA Cup Q1 Domžale 2–2 1–1 3–3(a)

Club personnel
Position Person
Head Coach Ran Ben Shimon
Assistant Coach Ronny Awat
Assistant Coach Moshe Ohayon
Assistant Coach Yossi Fahima
Goalkeeper Coach Moshe Purnell
Physiotherapist Naftali Harush
Fitness Coach Yoav Herzog
Fitness Coach Moshe Dameron
Doctor Haim Kovachich
Academy Director Tal Cohen

Kit makers
Years Kit manufacturers
2000–2007Diadora
2007–2009Sektor Sport
2009–2013Nike
2013–2014Legea
2014–2016Nike
2016–2017Jartazi
2017–Nike

References
  1. Ben Zaken decided: The team will be called Hapoel Ashdod Shirley Bar Dayan, Sport 5, 14 March 2015 (in Hebrew)
  2. Ashdod can't change name Sport 2, 18 March 2015 (in Hebrew)
  3. Red of shame: 4:0 for Ra'anana over Ashdod. Watch David Nathan, Ynet, 21 March 2015 (in Hebrew)
  4. Not a bargain: Ashdod to be disciplined for the red shirts Sport 5, 30 March 2015 (in Hebrew)
  5. In FIFA order: 6 points deducted for Ashdod Ynet, 8 April 2015 (in Hebrew)
  6. Back to life: FIFA returned F.C. Ashdod the six points Motti Pshehatzki, Sport 5, 17 April 2015 (in Hebrew)
  7. No remaining in the league like this: All the numbers of F.C. Ashdod Sport 1, 16 May 2015 (in Hebrew)
  8. Watch: F.C. Ashdod relegated to Leumit after 18 years Erez Na'aman & Igal Berman, One, 16 May 2015 (in Hebrew)
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