Beitar Tel Aviv F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Beitar Tel Aviv


fullname = Beitar Tel Aviv Football Club מועדון כדורגל בית"ר תל אביב
founded = 1934
dissolved = 2000
ground = Bloomfield Stadium, Jaffa
capacity =
chairman =
manager =
league =
season = 1999-00
position = Liga Artzit, 2nd
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Beitar Tel Aviv Football Club (Hebrew: מועדון כדורגל בית"ר תל אביב) was an Israeli football club based at Bloomfield, Jaffa. In 2000 it merged with Shimshon Tel Aviv to create Beitar/Shimshon Tel Aviv.

History

The club were founded as a youth team, but soon began to compete in adult leagues. Their first real success came in 1940, when they won the Cup final, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-1 in the final. Two years later, they won the cup again, recording the highest ever score in the final, when they beat Maccabi Haifa 12-1.

The club appeared again in the 1947 final, but the match was abanonded when the score was 3-2 to Maccabi Tel Aviv, and was eventually awarded as a 3-0 win to Maccabi.

Beitar Tel Aviv were founder members of the Israeli League in 1949, finishing 6th out of 13 in the 1949-50 season. Despite finishing second from bottom in 1953-54, the club avoided relegation as the top division was expanded to 14 teams. The following season they finished 5th, with Nisim Elmaliah the division's top scorer with 30 goals. Despite only finishing 7th out of 12 in 1955-56, Beitar had both the division's top scorers; Avraham Levi and Michael Michaelov with 16 goals each.

In 1960-61, the club finished bottom of the division, and were relegated to Liga Alef. They remained in the second tier until 1964, when they were promoted as champions. After finishing one place above relegation in 1964/5, Beitar were demoted again after finishing bottom a year later. However, they bounced back in 1969 as Liga Alef champions.

The club reached the State Cup final for the fourth time in 1977, but were beaten 1-0 by Maccabi Tel Aviv.

After several years in mid-table, the early 1980s saw the club develop a yo-yo pattern. Relegated in 1980, the club were promoted in 1981, before being relegated immediately, but then bouncing back up in 1983. Two years later the club were relegated again, before bouncing back immediately yet again.

The 1988-89 season was the club's best yet in the top flight, finishing 4th, and was bettered two years later, when a third-place finish was achieved.

The 1992-93 season saw another relegation and another immediate return in 1993/4. The relegation in 1995-96 was their final appearance in the top flight. At the end of the 1998-99 season they were relegated to the third division. At the end of the 1999-2000 season the club merged with fellow Liga Artzit Tel Aviv side Shimshon Tel Aviv.

Notable former players

* Yaniv Abarjil
* Nissim Cohen
* flagicon|ISR Alois Hess
* Giora Spiegel
* Mordechai Spiegler
* Armando Dely Valdés

Honours

*Liga Alef
**Champions 1968-89
* State Cup
**Winners 1940, 1942

Records

*Most league goals in a season: 30, Nissim Elmaliakh, Liga Leumit 1954-55