Shaaraim and Marmorek in Liga Gimel: Who is the senior team in Rehovot now
After years of urban rivalry, the two legendary clubs will continue to exist in Liga Gimel, while the united team, Ironi Rehovot, will play in Liga Alef and represent the city at the new stadium.
A historic moment in Israeli football: as first revealed on ynet, Maccabi Shaaraim and Hapoel Marmorek signed an agreement this Monday to merge. Under the deal, a new team named Ironi Rehovot will be established to play in the upcoming season in Liga Alef, effectively taking the place of Hapoel Marmorek in the league.
Ironi Rehovot will host its matches at the new city stadium, with Beni Ben Zaken appointed as the professional director. This is a significant move for both clubs, which boast a long history and a loyal fan base. Despite the merger, Maccabi Shaaraim and Hapoel Marmorek will not disappear. Both legendary clubs will continue to exist independently and will play under their own names in Liga Gimel at the synthetic pitch in Weizgal. However, as part of the agreement, it was determined that both veteran teams in Liga Gimel will not be eligible for promotion to higher leagues. This means the competitive path to higher divisions will from now on pass exclusively through Ironi Rehovot.
