2010–11 Israeli Premier League

A total of sixteen teams compete in the league, including fourteen sides from the 2009–10 season and two promoted teams from the 2009–10 Liga Leumit. Maccabi Ahi Nazareth and Hapoel Ra'anana were directly relegated to the 2010–11 Liga Leumit after finishing the 2009–10 season in the two bottom places. Two teams were directly promoted from the 2009–10 Liga Leumit. These were champions Ironi Kiryat Shmona and the runners-up Hapoel Ashkelon. '''''' The club played their home games at a neutral venue because their own ground did not meet Premier League requirements. '''''' The Petah Tikva Municipal Stadium was demolished. Hapoel and Maccabi Petah Tikva are hosting their home games in alternative stadia until the new Petah Tikva Stadium will be fully constructed. Both Hapoel and Maccabi chose to host its games in Ramat Gan Stadium. Managerial changes Foreign players ==Regular season==

Key numbers for pairing determination (number marks position after 30 games): Top playoff The points obtained during the regular season were halved (and rounded up) before the start of the playoff. Thus, Maccabi Haifa started with 35 points, Hapoel Tel Aviv with 33, Maccabi Tel Aviv with 25, Ironi Kiryat Shmona with 24, Bnei Yehuda with 24 and Maccabi Netanya started with 22. Table Results Middle playoff The points obtained during the regular season were halved (and rounded up) before the start of the playoff. Thus, Hapoel Haifa started with 22 points, Maccabi Petah Tikva with 21, Hapoel Acre with 21 and '''Hapoel Be'er Sheva started with 19'''. Table Results Bottom playoff The points obtained during the regular season were halved (and rounded up) before the start of the playoff. Thus, Beitar Jerusalem started with 19 points, Hapoel Petah Tikva with 17, F.C. Ashdod with 17, Hapoel Ashkelon with 13, Bnei Sakhnin with 13 and Hapoel Ramat Gan started with 4. Table Results ==Relegation playoff==

The 14th-placed team, Hapoel Petah Tikva faced the 3rd-placed Liga Leumit team Hapoel Kfar Saba. Hapoel Petah Tikva, the winner on aggregate earned a spot in the 2011–12 Israeli Premier League. The matches took place on 24 and 27 May 2011. ---- Hapoel Petah Tikva won 5–1 on aggregate. ==Top goalscorers==

Source: Israel Football Association ==Season statistics==

Scoring • First goal of the season: Mahmoud Abbas for Hapoel Ashkelon against Hapoel Petah Tikva, 37th minute (21 August 2010) • Widest winning margin: 5 goals – • Hapoel Tel Aviv 5–0 Hapoel Haifa (1 January 2011) • Hapoel Be'er Sheva 5–0 F.C. Ashdod (5 February 2011) • Most goals in a match: 7 goals – Hapoel Ashkelon 3–4 Hapoel Be'er Sheva (12 March 2011) • Most goals in a half: 5 goals – Hapoel Ramat Gan 3–2 Hapoel Acre, 0–0 at half-time (26 September 2010) • Most goals in a match by one player: 3 goals – • Wiyam Amashe for Ironi Kiryat Shmona against Hapoel Tel Aviv (25 September 2010) • Ohad Kadousi for Hapoel Petah Tikva against Maccabi Netanya (22 January 2011) • Dovev Gabay for Hapoel Be'er Sheva against F.C. Ashdod (5 February 2011) ==See also==