Maccabi Akhi Nazareth F.C.

Maccabi Ahi Nazareth

File:Akhi Nazareth New Logo By Anan.png
Full name	Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Football Club מועדון כדורגל מכבי אחי נצרת
Nickname(s)	Nazaret
Founded	1967
Ground	Ilut Stadium, Ilut, Nazareth
Capacity	4,932
Chairman	Abo Ayash
Manager	John Gregory
League	Israeli Premier League
2008-09	Liga Leumit, 6th (promoted)
Home colours Away colours

Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Football Club (Hebrew: מועדון כדורגל מכבי אחי נצרת, Moadon Kaduregel Maccabi Ahi Natzrat) is an Israeli football club. They are currently in the Israeli Premier League and play at the Ilut Stadium in Ilut on the outskirts of Nazareth.

History

The club was formed in 1967, 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 Premie 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.

Current squad

As of July 2009. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	RUS	Ruslan Nigmatullin
22	GK	ISR	Gil Ofek
3	DF	ISR	Ismail Amar
4	DF	ISR	Mor Dahan
5	DF	ISR	Yakir Shina
8	MF	ISR	Amjad Soliman
9	FW	ISR	Tomer Hemed
10	FW	COD	Tcham N'Toya
11	FW	CMR	Yves Djida
12	MF	NGA	Michael Tukura
14	MF	ISR	Shlomi Hanuka

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
15	FW	ISR	Muhammed Amriya
17	DF	ISR	Majed Younes
18	MF	ISR	Hani Shahin
20	MF	ISR	Adham Hadiya
23	MF	ISR	Saleh Abu Ayash
25	DF	TOG	Eric Akoto
26	MF	ISR	Guy Dayan
77	DF	ISR	Mark Gorman
88	MF	ISR	Luhav Kiyal
99	MF	ISR	Yaniv Luzon
66	FW	ISR	Shlomi Edri

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Tayseer AboHamad (to Maccabi Om Alfahem)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Tamer Bamsha (to Maccabi Kafr Kanna F.C.)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Imad Wahdani (to Maccabi Kafr Kanna F.C.)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Aleran Hodida (to Hapoel Nazareth Illit)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Moayad Lekhana (to Maccabi Kfar Qaree' Irroni)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Haim Silvas (to Ahva Arraba F.C.)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Samer Sarhan (to Maccabi Kafr Kanna F.C.)

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Mohamed Allosh (to Ahva Arraba F.C.)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Aleran Auhayon (to Maccabi Kfar Qaree' Irroni)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Hamze Drawshe (to Maccabi Ahi Iksal)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Yahouda Zno (to Hapoel Nazareth Illit)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Firas Laham (to Beitar Nes Tubruk F.C.)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Alaa Sayegh (to Maccabi Tamra)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Ashraf Sulaiman (to Irroni Saeed Om Alfahm)
—	{{{pos}}}	ISR	Louay Abd Alkader (to Ma'adon Zae're Beer AlMaksor)

Notable former and present players

Haim Silvas Barakat Wahab Najwan Ghraieb Yakir Shina Gustavo Boccoli Laryea Kingston Carlos Gavlous Anderson West Ruslan Nigmatullin Maeir Cohen Maaran Lala Abed Titi Vabretsio Pinto Eric Akoto Rajid Baransi Serge Ayeli Assi Tubi Dimitry Ulianov Yaniv Abargil Past managers Azmi Nassar Yehoshua Feigenbaum Lufa Kadosh External links Official website Template:He icon