2012–13 Israeli Premier League
The 2012–13 Israeli Premier League was the fourteenth season since its introduction in 1999 and the 71st season of top-tier football in Israel. It began on 25 August 2012 and ended on 20 May 2013. Ironi Kiryat Shmona were the defending champions, having won their first Premier League title last season.
Maccabi Tel Aviv secured the title with a 2–0 win against Ironi Ramat HaSharon on 22 April 2012. This was their 19th Israeli league title, this win gave Maccabi Tel Aviv a 13-point advantage over the second-place team Maccabi Haifa with four more rounds to go.
Structural changes
There were three structural changes:- Only fourteen teams competed in this season, reducing from sixteen teams.
- The top playoff were contested by six teams which were played against each other twice, and the bottom playoff was contested by eight teams which were played against each other once.
- There were two relegated teams, and two promoted team from Liga Leumit.
Teams
Hapoel Petah Tikva, Hapoel Rishon LeZion, and Maccabi Petah Tikva were relegated to the 2012–13 Liga Leumit after finishing the 2011–12 season in the bottom three places.
Maccabi Petah Tikva were relegated after 21 straight seasons, Hapoel Petah Tikva after four years consecutively and Hapoel Rishon LeZion after just one year on the top division.
Hapoel Ramat Gan were promoted to the 2012–13 Israeli Premier League after beating Hapoel Bnei Lod in the 2011–12 Liga Leumit promotion playoff. They last played in the top division in the 2010–11 Season.
Stadia and locations
| Club | Home City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Beitar Jerusalem | Jerusalem | Teddy Stadium | |
| Bnei Sakhnin | Sakhnin | Doha Stadium | |
| Bnei Yehuda | Tel Aviv | Bloomfield Stadium | |
| F.C. Ashdod | Ashdod | Yud-Alef Stadium | |
| Hapoel Acre | Acre | Acre Municipal Stadium | |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | Be'er Sheva | Vasermil Stadium | |
| Hapoel Haifa | Haifa | Kiryat Eliezer Stadium | |
| Hapoel Ramat Gan | Ramat Gan | Ramat Gan Stadium | |
| Hapoel Tel Aviv | Tel Aviv | Bloomfield Stadium | |
| Ironi Kiryat Shmona | Kiryat Shmona | Kiryat Shmona Stadium | |
| Ironi Ramat HaSharon | Ramat HaSharon | Grundman Stadium | |
| Maccabi Haifa | Haifa | Kiryat Eliezer Stadium | |
| Maccabi Netanya | Netanya | Netanya Stadium | |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv | Tel Aviv | Bloomfield Stadium |
A: The club plays its home games at a neutral venue because their own ground does not meet Premier League requirements.
B: While Netanya Stadium was under construction. Maccabi Netanya hosted their home games in Ramat Gan Stadium until 6 October 2012.
Personnel and sponsorship
| Team | President | Manager | Captain | Kitmaker | Shirt sponsor |
| Beitar Jerusalem |  |  | | Diadora | Eldan |
| Bnei Sakhnin | | | | Lotto | Bank Leumi |
| Bnei Yehuda | | | | Puma | Strauss |
| F.C. Ashdod | | | | Nike | Sektor Town |
| Hapoel Acre | | | | Nike | Shahaf Security |
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | | | | Kappa | Mobli, Dell |
| Hapoel Haifa | | | | Diadora | Hatama Security |
| Hapoel Ramat Gan | | | | Puma | Avi Sofer |
| Hapoel Tel Aviv | | | | Kappa | Bonnie Hatichon, Shlomo Sixt |
| Ironi Kiryat Shmona | | | | Lotto | Ituran |
| Ironi Ramat HaSharon | | | | Lotto | — |
| Maccabi Haifa | | | | Nike | Honda, Herbalife |
| Maccabi Netanya | | | | Diadora | Burgus Burger Bar |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv |  |  | | Under Armour | Nivea |
Managerial changes
Arik Benado was acted as caretaker manager for eight days until his appointment as manager on 25 November 2012.Regular season
Table
Results
Playoffs
Key numbers for pairing determination :Top Playoff
Table
Results
Bottom Playoff
Table
Results
Season statistics
Top scorers
Source:Hat-tricks
- 4 Player scored 4 goals
Scoring
- First goal of the season: Murad Abu Anza for F.C. Ashdod against Ironi Ramat HaSharon, 8th minute
- Widest winning margin: 6 goals – Maccabi Haifa 6–0 Ironi Ramat HaSharon
- Most goals scored by a losing team: 3 goals
- *Ironi Ramat HaSharon 3–4 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- *Maccabi Netanya 3–4 Ironi Kiryat Shmona
- *Maccabi Netanya 3–5 Bnei Yehuda
- Most goals in a match by one player: 4 goals
- * Dino Ndlovu for Maccabi Haifa against Ironi Ramat HaSharon
- * Shimon Abuhatzira for Ironi Kiryat Shmona against Hapoel Tel Aviv
Discipline
- First yellow card of the season: Bojan Marković for Hapoel Be'er Sheva against Bnei Sakhnin, 9th minute
- Most yellow cards by a player: 13 – Kobi Moyal
- First red card of the season: Dia Saba for Hapoel Be'er Sheva against Bnei Sakhnin, 89th minute
- Most red cards by a player: 2 –
- * Mohammed Zbidat
- * Elad Gabai
Clean sheets
- Most clean sheets: 17
- * Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Fewest clean sheets: 4
- * Hapoel Ramat Gan