Country Israel Current champion Maccabi Haifa F.C. Confederation UEFA Levels on pyramid 1 (for youth leagues) | Level on pyramid 1 (for youth leagues) Number of teams 16 Date founded 1994 Domestic cup Israel Youth State Cup | |
Relegation to Israeli Noar Leumit League Current champions Maccabi Haifa F.C.
(2015–16) Most championships Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv (8 titles) Instances 2016–17 Israeli Noar Premier League | ||
The Israeli Noar Premier League (Hebrew: ליגת העל לנוער, Ligat Ha'al LeNoar, lit. Youth Super League) is the top division in the Israeli football league system for teenagers between the ages 18–20. From 1994 to 2011, it was called Israeli Noar Leumit League. The league is a continuation of the previous youth league system, established in 1941.
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History
A youth football league was established during the British mandate, in 1941, and was played for three seasons. The league resumed for the 1947–48 season, during which the state of Israel was established, and the league was partly finished afterwards.
Following the establishment of Israel, the league was reorganized, and was divided into regional divisions, with the champions of each division playing a championship play-off to determine the nationwide champions. In 1982, the IFA decided to form a nationwide division, at the top of the league system, called Liga Leumit (similar to the seniors' top division). In 1994, the IFA re-established the league as the Liga Illit (Hebrew: ליגה עילית, lit. Super League).
Number of foreigners
Teams are limited to two foreign players per team. Special circumstances such as Druze players from the Golan (no citizenship), such as Weaam Amasha. or cases such as that of Toto Tamuz, who did not had full Israeli citizenship, do not count against the foreign player limit.
Current Noar Premier League clubs (2015–16)
Champions
1 No playoff was played.