Tel Aviv derby

The Tel Aviv derby refers to football matches between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv.[1] Other matches between top-tier teams from Tel Aviv, currently Bnei Yehuda, and in the past also Beitar Tel Aviv and Shimson Tel Aviv and Maccabi Jaffa, and between those other teams and either Maccabi or Hapoel are usually referred to as the Tel Aviv mini-derby. [2][3]

Tel Aviv derby
Locale Tel Aviv (Israel)
TeamsMaccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv
First meeting25 February 1928 (Friendly)
19 December 1931 (League)
Latest meetingMaccabi 4–0 Hapoel
Israeli Premier League
(28 December 2020)
StadiumsBloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv
Statistics
Meetings total158
Most winsMaccabi Tel Aviv
All-time series (Israeli Premier League only)Maccabi: 56
Drawn: 56
Hapoel: 46

The rivalry between the clubs also exists in basketball, although Maccabi have been the dominant club in Israeli basketball since the 1960s.

History
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, 2007
Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, 2012

Maccabi Tel Aviv was established in 1906, while Hapoel Tel Aviv was founded in 1923. Although initially reluctant to play each other, in early 1928 the clubs came to an operating agreement, and the first friendly encounter between the teams took place on 25 February 1928 on Maccabi ground, with Maccabi winning 3–0,[4][5][6][7][8] With a rematch played a week later on Hapoel ground, this time Maccabi winning 2–1.[9]

Between them, the clubs had together won 33 championships and 37 national cups. Both clubs have played in the top division of Israeli football both before and since independence in 1948, with the exception of the 1989–90 season, when Hapoel played in the second tier following relegation the previous season and with the exception of the 2017–18 season, when Hapoel played in the second tier following relegation the previous season. The first league encounter between the teams was played on 19 December 1931, and the points were shared with a result of 1–1.[10] Prior to the independence, the clubs have met 17 times in the league, out of which Hapoel won 9, Maccabi won 5 and 3 resulted in a draw.[11] Post 1948, Maccabi holds the lead with 48 league victories, opposite 46 Hapoel wins and 52 draws. Overall, since 1931, Hapoel has 55 league victories, Maccabi has 53 and 55 matches ended with a draw.

The two clubs met 8 times at the Israeli State Cup final, most recently at the 1994–95 Israel State Cup Final. The clubs also met in several other competitive tournaments, such as the Toto Cup and the Israel Super Cup.

The rivalry between the traditional background of the Hapoel and Maccabi sports associations led to the development of the rivalry between the clubs. The two clubs have different support bases; Hapoel are linked to the working-class, whilst Maccabi are considered a more middle class club.

Both clubs currently play at the Bloomfield Stadium. When Hapoel Tel Aviv are the home team in the derby gates 10–11, are reserved for fans of Maccabi. When Maccabi Tel Aviv are the home team, gates 4–5 are reserved for fans of Hapoel.

A 3 November 2014 match was cancelled after numerous fans ran onto the pitch and began fighting with players and other fans. Hapoel manager called it a "black day" for Israeli football.[12]

References
  1. "Israeli fan badly injured by firework at Tel Aviv derby". ABC News (Australia). 15 February 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  2. Allon Sinai, "Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bnei Yehuda draw at Bloomfield Stadium", The Jerusalem Post, 22 January 2007
  3. "Maccabi TA-Bnei Yehuda mini derby ends in draw", Haaretz, 22 January 2007
  4. Goldberg, Asher (5 March 2012). "The First Derby of Tel Aviv". Israeli Football Association. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  5. Davar, 24 February 1928, Historical Jewish Press
  6. Davar, 26 February 1928, Historical Jewish Press
  7. Do'ar HaYom, 28 February 1928, Historical Jewish Press
  8. Davar, 29 February 1928, Historical Jewish Press
  9. Davar, 4 March 1928, Historical Jewish Press
  10. "Defeat of visiting teams", The Palestine Bulletin, 20 December 1931, Historical Jewish Press
  11. "Whose Town Is It: The Numbers and Milestones of the Tel Aviv Derby" Globes, 16 December 2013
  12. "Tel Aviv soccer match stopped after on-field brawl". Yahoo News. Associated Press. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
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