Maccabi Akhi Nazareth F.C.

Maccabi Akhi Nazareth
Full nameMaccabi Akhi Nazareth Football Club
Nickname(s)The Green Nazarenes, Akhaa', Nazareth, The Greens from Nazareth
Founded1967 (1967)
GroundIlut Stadium, Ilut
Capacity4,932
ChairmanAvudia Yusuf
ManagerMahran Lala
2023–24Liga Alef North, 6th of 16

Maccabi Akhi Nazareth Football Club (Hebrew: מועדון כדורגל מכבי אחי נצרת, romanizedMo'adon Kaduregel Makabi Aḥi Natzrat; Arabic: نادي كرة القدم مكابي اخاء الناصرة, romanizedNādī Kurat al-Qadam Makābī ’Aḫā’ an-Nāṣira) is an Israeli football club based in Nazareth. The club is currently in the and plays at the Ilut Stadium in Ilut on the outskirts of the city.

History

The club was formed in 1968, and played in Liga Gimel until 1975. In 1998 they were promoted to Liga Artzit (then the second tier), finishing eighth in the league. In 1999–2000 and 2000–01 they finished one place above the relegation zone.

The 2002–03 season saw the club claim the Liga Leumit title, despite being deducted three points for playing an ineligible player, under the leadership of Azmi Nassar. They were promoted to the Israeli Premier League for the first time in their history. Fellow Israeli Arab club Bnei Sakhnin were also promoted, marking the first time two Arab clubs had been in the top division.

However, in their first season in the top division, the club finished bottom and were relegated back to Liga Leumit. The following season they were relegated again (due to a two-point deduction), and dropped back into the third division. In 2005–06 they finished as Liga Artzit runners-up, to make an immediate return to Liga Leumit, where they have remained since.

In 2008–09, the club was promoted to the Israeli Premier League. After one of the worst seasons in the Israeli Premier League the club finished in the last spot of the league, In the last match she lost to Hapoel Ramat Gan 0–7 and were directly relegated to Liga Leumit for the 2010–11 season.

In the 2014–15 Israel State Cup, the club reached the Semi-finals for the first time in their history, after eliminating Maccabi Netanya, FC Ashdod, and Hapoel Kfar Saba. However, in the Semi-finals, they were beaten 0–3 by the eventual cup winners, Maccabi Tel Aviv in Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem.

Current squad

As of 24 November 2024.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ISR Omar Salem
2 DF  ISR Mohammed Jaber
4 DF  ISR Bashar Udeh
5 DF  ISR Khaled Heib
6 MF  ISR Habib Jaber
7 FW  ISR Moamen Salah
8 MF  ISR Amjad Sliman
9 FW  ISR Alaa Baker
10 MF  ISR Saleh Hamoud
11 MF  ISR Obeda Khattab
15 MF  ISR Karem Megamesa
17 MF  ISR Tamir Gharayeb
18 FW  ISR Mohammed Taha
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF  ISR Weaam Mahamoud
20 MF  ISR Sfouan Hilo
21 DF  ISR Adham Abu Nasser
22 GK  ISR Roee Rabinovich
70 MF  ISR Mohammed Nasser
77 DF  ISR Mohammed Habiballah
99 MF  ISR Weeam Aboud
GK  ISR Ahmed Afifi
DF  ISR Montaser Abu Shanab
MF  ISR Mohammed Nasser
MF  ISR Yazen Abu Lil
MF  ISR Yazen Knaana

Past managers

Honours