The 2003–04 Israeli Premier League season was held between 13 September 2003 and 22 May 2004, continuing a continuation of the top division football competition that started in 1931 and continues to the present day (as at 2025). In the 2003-04 season there were two Israeli Arab clubs in the top division for the first time; being Maccabi Ahi Nazareth and Bnei Sakhnin.
Maccabi Haifa won the title, whilst Nazareth and Maccabi Netanya were relegated. Bnei Sakhnin (who qualified for Europe by winning the State Cup) became the first Arab club to spend more than a single season in the top flight.
Teams and Locations
Twelve teams took part in the 2003–04 Israeli Premier League season, including ten teams from the 2002-03 season, as well as two teams which were promoted from the 2002-03 Liga Leumit.
Maccabi Ahi Nazareth were promoted as champions of the 2002-03 Liga Leumit. Bnei Sakhnin were promoted as runners up. Both made their debut in the top flight.
Hapoel Kfar Saba and Ironi Rishon LeZion were relegated after finishing in the bottom two places in the 2002-03 season.
Club Stadium Capacity Beitar Jerusalem Teddy Stadium 21,600 Bnei Yehuda Bloomfield Stadium 15,700Hapoel Tel AvivMaccabi Tel AvivMaccabi Haifa Kiryat Eliezer Stadium 14,002Bnei Sakhnin Hapoel Be'er Sheva Vasermil Stadium 13,000 F.C. Ashdod Yud-Alef Stadium 7,800 Maccabi Netanya Sar-Tov Stadium 7,500 Maccabi Petah Tikva Petah Tikva Municipal Stadium 6,800Hapoel Petah Tikva Maccabi Ahi Nazareth Beit She'an Municipal Stadium 3,000
The club played their home games at a neutral venue because their own ground did not meet Premier League requirements.
Beitar JerusalemBnei Yehuda Hapoel Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel AvivHapoel Be'er ShevaTeddy Stadium Bloomfield StadiumVasermil StadiumMaccabi Haifa Bnei SakhninMaccabi Petah TikvaHapoel Petah TikvaF.C. AshdodKiryat Eliezer Stadium Petah Tikva Municipal StadiumYud-Alef StadiumMaccabi NetanyaMaccabi Ahi NazarethSar-Tov StadiumBeit She'an Municipal Stadium
Final table
Results
First and second round
Third round
Top goal scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Shay HoltzmanF.C. Ashdod16 Ofir HaimHapoel Be'er Sheva163 Assi TubiMaccabi Ahi Nazareth13 Manor HassanHapoel Petah Tikva13 Omer GolanMaccabi Petah Tikva136 Tomislav ErcegHapoel Petah Tikva127 Mate BaturinaBnei Yehuda11 Ibezito OgbonnaHapoel Tel Aviv119 Lior AsulinBnei Sakhnin10 Gustavo BoccoliMaccabi Ahi Nazareth10
See also 2003–04 Toto Cup Al
References