F.C. Ashdod (,
Moadon Sport Ashdod, lit.
Ashdod Sport Club) is an
Israeli football club, playing in the port city of
Ashdod. The unorthodox name of the team (no association, i.e. Hapoel, Maccabi, Beitar etc.) is the result of the union of two city rivals,
Hapoel Ashdod and
Maccabi Ironi Ashdod. Currently, the club is known for making do with relatively small budgets compares to that of the big Israel clubs and is known for having a large support from the city of
Ashdod that doesn't seem to result in attendance figures.
History
During the first years of the clubs inception, the kit colors were completely blue. When
Haim Revivo took a more prominent role in the club, the colors were changed to red and yellow (which was also noted by skeptics of being Revivo's colors during his time at
Galatasaray in
Turkey.) The decision was made that the kit should incorporate two of the previous clubs colors, Hapoel having been red and Maccabi yellow and blue.
The club was not immediately successful after the merger, and fan support was lacking. During the 2004-05 season, they reached their greatest achievement. A third place finish in the
Israeli Premier League and a birth in the
UEFA Cup. Not of any less importance, they reached the final of the
Toto Cup as well, only to go out on penalty kicks. Their first time in a continental competition was not a memorable one, as they went out to the
Slovenian league runners up.
Current squad
As of 25 March 2010
Notable former players
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