A.S. Jaffa

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AS Jaffa

Full name

Argon Sport Jaffa
ארגון ספורט יפו

Founded

1949 (as Maccabi Jaffa)
2000 (as AS Jaffa)

Ground

Gaon Stadium, Jaffa
(Capacity 4,000)

League

Liga Bet South A

2006-07

Liga Alef South, 13th (relegated)





Home colours





Away colours

Maccabi Jaffa crest

Argon Sport Jaffa (Hebrew: ארגון ספורט יפו‎) is an Israeli football club from Jaffa. The club was founded from the ashes of Maccabi Jaffa, who were disbanded in 2000. They currently play in Liga Alef South A.

[edit] History

After being founded as Maccabi Jaffa in 1949 by Bulgarian immigrants, the club was first promoted to Liga Leumit, then the top division, in 1954 after winning the promotion-relegation play-offs that year. In their first season in the top flight they finished third from bottom, and entered a relegation play-off, beating Hakoah Tel Aviv 4-1 over two legs to retain their place in the division.

Although the club finished bottom in 1956-57, they avoided relegation as Liga Leumit was enlarged to 12 teams, and reached the State Cup final, losing 2-1 to Hapoel Petah Tikva. After finishing 8th in 1958 and 5th in 1959, they had another scrape with relegation in 1959-60, only avoiding going down on goal difference after finishing second bottom. Two seasons later in 1961-62 they recorded their highest ever league position, finishing second behind champions Hapoel Petah Tikva. They finished third the following season, and then second again in 1963-64, with Israel Ashkenazi finishing that season as the division's leading scorer with 21 goals.

After a series of lower mid-table finishes, the club was relegated to the second tier in 1970 after finishing second bottom. However, they made an immediate return as Liga Alef champions. In 1977 the club qualified for the UEFA Intertoto Cup after finishing as runners-up. Another series of mid-table finishes was broken by a 3rd place in 1980-81 and relegation to Liga Artzit (the new second division) in 1986-87.

The club won the second division's Toto Cup in 1992 and 1993

The club returned to the top division in 1995, but finished bottom in 1995-96 and were relegated back to the second tier. Despite another promotion in 1998 with Ofir Haim finishing as Liga Artzit's leading scorer and the club winning the second division's Toto Cup for a third time, they were immediately relegated again with just 10 points from 30 matches, the lowest total in the three points for a win era.

In 1999 the club was relegated three divisions due to rule breaking. In 2000 the club was disbanded due to further transgressions related to players, and reformed as Argon Sport Jaffa (AS Jaffa). In 2007 the club was relegated to Liga Bet, the fifth tier.