2008–09 Israeli Premier League

Twelve teams took part in the 2008-09 Israeli Premier League season, including ten teams from the 2007-08 season, as well as two teams which were promoted from the 2007-08 Liga Leumit. Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan were promoted as champions of the 2007-08 Liga Leumit. Hapoel Petah Tikva were promoted as runners up. They both returned to the top flight after an absence of one season. Hapoel Kfar Saba and Maccabi Herzliya were relegated after finishing in the bottom two places in the 2007-08 season. Stadiums and Locations Managerial changes Foreign players ==League table==

Positions by round ==Results==

The schedule consisted of three rounds. During first two rounds, each team played each other once home and away for a total of 22 matches. The pairings of the third round were then set according to the standings after first two rounds, giving every team a third game against each opponent for a total of 33 games per team. First and second round Third round Key numbers for pairing determination (number marks position after 22 games): ==Relegation playoff==

Hakoah Ramat Gan, as the 11th-placed team, faced the 6th-placed Liga Leumit team Maccabi Ahi Nazareth in a two-legged playoff. Hakoah Ramat Gan lost both games and were relegated to Liga Leumit. {{football box ---- {{football box ==Season statistics==

Scoring • First goal of the season: Yossi Shivhon for Maccabi Tel Aviv against Bnei Yehuda, 5th minute (30 August 2008) • Last goal of the season: Lior Rafaelov for Maccabi Haifa against Beitar Jerusalem, 58th minute (1 June 2009) • First own goal of the season: Nir Davidovich (Maccabi Haifa) for F.C. Ashdod, 57th minute (30 August 2008) • Fastest goal in a match: 39 seconds – Thembinkosi Fanteni for Maccabi Haifa against Maccabi Tel Aviv (27 October 2008) • Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+5 minutes – Barak Badash for Hakoah Ramat Gan against Bnei Yehuda (13 September 2008) • Widest winning margin: 4 goals: • Hapoel Tel Aviv 4–0 Beitar Jerusalem (9 February 2009) • Beitar Jerusalem 4–0 Hakoah Ramat Gan (4 April 2009) • Most goals in a match: 6 goals: • Hakoah Ramat Gan 2–4 Beitar Jerusalem (20 September 2008) • F.C. Ashdod 4–2 Bnei Sakhnin (8 November 2008) • F.C. Ashdod 3–3 Maccabi Netanya (20 December 2008) Discipline • First yellow card of the season: Tamir Kahlon for Bnei Yehuda against Maccabi Tel Aviv, 6th minute (30 August 2008) • Most red cards in a match: 4 red cards – F.C. Ashdod against Ironi Kiryat Shmona (13 September 2008) • Most cards in a match: 15 cards (12 yellow and 3 red) – Beitar Jerusalem against Maccabi Haifa (28 September 2008) ==Top scorers==