Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club is an Israeli professional football club from the city of Be'er Sheva that competes in the Israeli Premier League. Established in 1949, the club has been owned by businesswoman Alona Barkat since 2007. Playing their home matches at Turner Stadium since 2015, the club has achieved significant success throughout its history, winning five Premier League championships, four State Cups, and becoming the first Israeli team to participate in European competitions. Their traditional colors are red and white, and they are known by the nickname "the Camels."
History
Overview
General information about the club
Hapoel Be'er Sheva Football Club was established in 1949 when Zalman Caspi, a footballer at Hapoel Ramat Gan, set up a department to find young talents in the transit camps in the Be'er Sheva area. The club fields youth teams, a women's side, and operates a football academy. The home uniform colors are red and white, and the team has played at three different venues throughout its history, currently calling Turner Stadium home since the 2015-16 season.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2024-25 season, Be'er Sheva won both the State Cup, defeating Beitar Jerusalem 2-0 in the final at Bloomfield Stadium, and the Super Cup, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1. The club finished as runners-up in the Premier League for the 2024-25 season, continuing their competitive presence at the top level of Israeli football.
History
Early years
The team played its first match on 1 May 1950, winning 5-4 against Hapoel Mefalsim, with goals from Marcus Abergil, Henry Lev, and Baruch Cohen. After initial suspension in 1952 due to geographical distance concerns, the club was re-registered in 1954 in Liga Gimel. Under coach Yosef Azran in the 1955-56 season, they finished first in the Southern District of Liga Gimel and qualified for Liga Bet. The club achieved promotion to Liga Alef in 1959 under coach Jack Gibbons, winning the decisive game against Hapoel Netanya 2-1.
Successful period
The 1970s marked the beginning of Be'er Sheva's golden era. In the 1974-75 season, under 37-year-old coach Amazia Levkovich, the team won their first Liga Leumit championship. The squad was notably young, with only four players over 25, and featured attacking defenders in a style inspired by German football. They secured the title with a 1-0 victory over Maccabi Jaffa, with Efraim Zvi scoring the decisive goal. The following season, they successfully defended their title, winning their second consecutive championship in 1975-76.
Crisis and recovery
The late 1970s and 1980s brought challenges, with the club nearly becoming the first champion team to be relegated in 1976-77. Financial difficulties plagued the team in the 1990s and early 2000s, leading to relegation to Liga Artzit in 1998 after 27 consecutive years in the top flight. The team struggled in the second division until returning to the Premier League in 2001, though they were relegated again in 2005 due to financial problems.
Current period
The modern era began in July 2007 when businesswoman Alona Barkat purchased the team. Under her ownership, the club has experienced unprecedented success, winning three consecutive championships from 2015-16 to 2017-18. The team has also achieved notable European success, becoming the first Israeli club to progress beyond the group stage of a European competition during the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League campaign, where they defeated Inter Milan twice and reached the round of 32.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Hapoel Be'er Sheva has won the Premier League five times (1974-75, 1975-76, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18) and finished as runners-up four times. The club has claimed the State Cup four times (1996-97, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2024-25) and reached the final on four other occasions. They have won the Super Cup five times, including victories in 1975, 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2025. The club has also won the Toto Cup three times and the Lilian Cup once in 1988.
Continental and global competitions
Be'er Sheva holds the distinction of being the first Israeli team to participate in European competition, appearing in the 1976 UEFA Intertoto Cup alongside Beitar Jerusalem. They were also the first Israeli team to play in the UEFA Cup alongside Hapoel Tel Aviv in 1994-95. Their most successful European campaign came in 2016-17 when they reached the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League, becoming the first Israeli club to progress beyond the group stage of a European competition.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club's crest has evolved significantly since its establishment. The original symbol served until 1993, when management decided to incorporate the team's "Camel" nickname into a new design featuring a modified camel hump. From 1995 to 2016, the emblem featured a half soccer ball in the lower portion and a chimney symbolizing the municipal building in the upper half, along with the slogan "the pride of the Negev." The current logo, introduced in 2016, maintains the soccer ball and chimney elements while adding a star above the crest to represent the club's five championship titles.
Traditional home and away kits colors
The traditional home colors have been red and white since the club's inception, typically featuring red and white striped shirts. The team's third kit is blue, and at various points, black has been added to the color scheme. During the 1990s, the team occasionally wore non-traditional colors, including a purple outfit representing their main sponsor at the time. The club's most famous uniforms are the red and white striped shirts worn during their first and second championship seasons.
Traditional club anthem
The source material does not contain specific information about a traditional club anthem.
Traditional Rivals
Maccabi Be'er Sheva
The local derby against Maccabi Be'er Sheva has been a significant fixture since the early days, with the first derby ending in a 3-3 draw during friendly matches in the 1950s.
Beitar Be'er Sheva
Another local rival, Beitar Be'er Sheva, has competed with Hapoel throughout various divisions, including periods when both teams were in the second division.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Since its inception, Hapoel Be'er Sheva has worked with various sponsors including Solel Boneh in the 1980s, Kia, and Forum Club. As of 2020, the main sponsor is Mahsanei HaShuk, with secondary sponsors including Metropoline, Fattal Hotels, Kelme, and Eurotec group.
Nicknames
The club is commonly known as "the Camels," a nickname that became so associated with the team that it was incorporated into the club's crest design between 1993 and 1995. They are also referred to as "the pride of the Negev," reflecting their status as representatives of Israel's southern region.
Ownership and finances
Alona Barkat has owned the club since July 2007, purchasing it from Eli Zino. Under her ownership, the club has experienced significant investment in both the senior team and youth development programs. The club faced serious financial difficulties in the early 2000s, leading to player releases and relegation, but has since stabilized under Barkat's management.
Traditions and culture
The club's supporters are spread throughout the country and represent one of the largest fan bases in Israel. The UltraSouth organization, founded in 2014, serves as the main supporters' group, focusing on creating an atmosphere at matches while maintaining a policy of political neutrality. The organization has successfully raised funds for stadium improvements and coordinates fan activities through social media platforms.
Stadium
The club has played at three different venues throughout its history. Initially playing on a soil surface in the old city of Be'er Sheva, they moved to the municipal stadium in 1959. In 1988, the stadium underwent major renovations and was renamed Vasermil Stadium in honor of Arthur Vasermil, a Holocaust victim. Turner Stadium became the club's home in 2015, with the inaugural match against Maccabi Haifa attended by 16,126 spectators. The old Vasermil complex now serves primarily as training facilities for the youth department, featuring five training fields including one with FIFA-standard artificial turf.