“I don’t think I would change a thing,” said Beitar Jerusalem captain Yarden Shua after the curtain came down on the 2025/26 Israeli soccer season, one that ultimately ended with Hapoel Beersheba atop the table, three points clear of Beitar after a gripping title race that stretched from the opening weeks until the very end.
The Southern Reds were the better team over the course of the campaign and delivered results in the moments that mattered most. Ran Kozuk’s side took eight out of a possible 12 points in four meetings with Beitar, winning once at Turner Stadium and once at Teddy Stadium during the regular season before drawing both championship playoff clashes. Each time Beitar climbed into first place, Beersheba responded with the composure and consistency of a champion to reclaim control of the race.
There were certainly other matches that haunted Beitar along the way, including a pair of draws against relegated Ashdod, a home draw with Hapoel Haifa, and a damaging 3-0 loss at Maccabi Haifa late in the season. But the reality was simple: if you want to be champions, you have to beat the champions, and Beitar managed only two points against Beersheba all year.
The championship playoffs became a sprint after the ceasefire in the Iran war allowed the league to resume at full speed, with teams playing every three or four days for over a month. In the end, it was survival of the fittest, and Beersheba proved to be exactly that. Kozuk’s club had the depth, experience, and quality needed to withstand the pressure of a title chase, especially after narrowly missing out last season.
The southern side also possessed arguably the league’s most valuable player in Kings Kangwa, whose knack for producing decisive moments repeatedly tilted matches in Beersheba’s favor. Whether it was Igor Zlatanovic leading the line or Javon East coming off the bench to change a match, Beersheba had options few teams in Israel could match. Players such as Ofir Davidzada, Roi Levy, and goalkeeper Ofir Marciano provided critical depth and experience whenever called upon.
That depth ultimately separated the clubs. Beitar had key contributors throughout the campaign, but injuries and a thinner bench eventually took their toll. Roie Elimelech admirably stepped in for the injured Nana Antwi during the title race, while Dor Hugi delivered several huge performances, including a dramatic win in Petah Tikva earlier in the season. However, when midfielder Adi Yona went down injured, Beitar clearly lost an important piece of its puzzle.
Beitar leaps forward under coach Itzhaki, director Cohen
Despite falling short, Beitar’s season represented a massive step forward for the club under head coach Barak Itzhaki and sporting director Almog Cohen. Together, the pair transformed into a legitimate contender and restored belief among supporters that the club could once again compete at the top of Israeli football.
Itzhaki deserves enormous credit for building a side that not only challenged for the title but played an exciting brand of football throughout the year. Cohen’s work in assembling the squad was equally impressive, particularly with the additions made during the season. Luka Gadrani arrived in late September to strengthen the back line, while Boris Enow, Gonzalez, and Antwi all became key contributors on both ends of the pitch.
At the center of Beitar’s resurgence were Shua and Omer Atzili, whose creativity and leadership carried the club into a title race that few expected at the start of the campaign. The fact that Beitar remained in contention until the final stretch after years away from the summit represented a major achievement in itself.
Now attention turns to the future, and both clubs could see significant changes over the summer. Kozuk and Itzhaki are expected to receive improved contracts after outstanding seasons, but roster turnover appears inevitable. Kangwa is likely to attract strong interest abroad, while Shua could also depart should the right offer arrive from Europe.
Beersheba hopes to welcome back Dan Bitton after his heart issue interrupted his season, though uncertainty naturally remains whenever such health concerns are involved. Beitar, meanwhile, may part ways with several veterans and foreign players, including Dor Micha, Grigori Morozov, Ailson Tavares, Hugi, and potentially either Gil Cohen or Ori Dahan. Gonzalez may also move on, meaning the club will likely need to bring in new foreign reinforcements before next season begins.
Neither side can afford to stand still. Beersheba will need to evolve to defend its crown, while Beitar must continue to strengthen if it hopes to take the final step from contender to champion.
Next season expected to be even more competitive
And next season’s race could become even more competitive. Hapoel Tel Aviv made major strides after earning promotion from the Leumit League, while neither Maccabi Tel Aviv nor Maccabi Haifa is expected to endure another disappointing campaign. Instead of a two-team battle, Israeli football could soon have five legitimate title contenders.
That competitiveness has already fueled unprecedented fan interest across the country. Attendance figures surged this season, with packed stadiums becoming the norm week after week. The quality of play, combined with dramatic title and relegation races, created one of the most compelling seasons Israeli football has seen in years.
For Beitar, planning for next season has already begun. With the title now out of reach, the club has shifted its focus toward building a deeper and more balanced squad while also preparing for European qualification matches in either the Europa League or Conference League, depending on the outcome of the State Cup final between Beersheba and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Although Beitar still has one league match remaining against Hapoel Tel Aviv, Itzhaki intends to use the opportunity to evaluate players whose futures remain uncertain. Yet even after a season that exceeded expectations, the coach made clear that improvement remains essential.
While Itzhaki admitted he could not identify one specific thing he would have changed this year, he emphasized that growth must always continue regardless of results. Even if Beitar had won the title, he said, the club would still need to improve.
Itzhaki explained that after every training session and every match, he challenged himself to become better, adding that his relationship with Cohen has been central to the club’s progress. The two constantly push one another, creating what the coach described as a healthy environment that benefits the entire system.
Beitar can certainly take pride in what it accomplished, just as Beersheba did last season when it narrowly missed out on the title. But now the Jerusalem club must respond the way Beersheba did – by using the disappointment as motivation to take the next step.
It was a season filled with drama, tension, highs, and lows, one that showcased the growing strength of Israeli football. But before the curtain fully closes, Beersheba still has one final objective: completing the double by defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv in Tuesday’s State Cup final before heading into a short summer break ahead of training camp, which begins again in just a month.
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