Maccabi Petah Tikva

1912: First steps in blue and white

The club was founded in 1912 by a group of Jewish students from Petah Tikva, who were studying in the Ottoman city of Constantinople (many of them would later serve in the Ottoman army during World War I), making it the second oldest Jewish football club in Israel after Maccabi Tel Aviv, which was formed in 1906.

1920s: Pre-independence

In 1921, after the death of founder member Avshalom Gissin during the 1921 Palestine riots, the club added his name to the club's name, and the club was named "Maccabi Avshalom Petah Tikva".

In 1927, the club moved to the Maccabi Petah Tikva Ground, where they would play until the 1970s.

1930s: First major title

In 1935 they won their first piece of silverware, beating Hakoah Tel Aviv 1–0 in the cup final. In 1939 they reached the final again, but lost 2–1 to Hapoel Tel Aviv. The following year they won the Haaretz tournament.

1950s: Second major title and goals galore

The club was included in the new Israeli League in 1949, and finished fifth in the inaugural post-independence league table. In the next season (1951–52, there was no 1950–51 edition) they finished as runners-up to champions Maccabi Tel Aviv and also won the State Cup, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–0. In 1953–54 (1952–53 was also not played) they also finished second with Eliezer Spiegel finishing as the league's top goalscorer on 16 goals from 22 matches.

1960s: The dark times

After several seasons of mid-table finishes, Maccabi finished bottom of the table in 1962–63 (a season in which the club were deducted 3 points due to suspicions of bribery during a game with Maccabi Jaffa) and was due to be relegated to Liga Alef. However, the Israel Football Association decided to expand the league from 12 to 15 clubs and they were spared demotion. However, the club was relegated for the first time at the end of the 1965–66 season after finishing second from bottom.

After two seasons in Liga Alef (one of which;– 1966–68 Liga Leumit – lasted for two years) the club won the Liga Alef Super Cup and returned to the top division in 1968–69 as Liga Alef champions for the first time.

1970s: We will be back!

At the end of the 1970–71 season the club was relegated again after finishing second from bottom but made an immediate return as Liga Alef champions (1971–72) for the second time.

At the beginning of 1972–73 season, the IFA organized a third-tier stand-alone cup competition (considered below the league and the state cup) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. The cup was won by Maccabi Petah Tikva, who had beaten Maccabi Haifa 4–2 on penalties (1–1 a.e.t.) in the final.

In 1974–75 season, although Maccabi finished bottom, they were again reprieved from relegation due to league expansion. However, after a repeated performance in 1976–77 they did relegated for the third time. Following another immediate return to the top flight through a second-place promotion (1977–78), the club maintained several mid-table finishes and have remained in top division for 10 seasons.

1980s: Mediocrity at its finest

At the beginning of 1982–83 season the IFA established Lilian Cup, a season opening tournament for the top 4 clubs in Liga Leumit the year before, considered a third-tier League Cup tournament (in parallel to the Israel Super Cup, which was played at the end of the season, and the Toto Cup, which was played throughout the season, mostly on weekdays). Maccabi finished 1984–85 season in fourth place and gained a place in the 1985 Lilian Cup edition. The club reached the final, losing 3–1 (a.e.t.) to Beitar Jerusalem.

The club finished 1987–88 season at the bottom of the table and relegated for the fourth time. In 1989–90 and 1990–91 the club won the Toto Cup. After 3 seasons the club won the second-tier league championship for the third time (1990–91) and returned to the top division, remaining there for 21 seasons.

1990s: First steps in Europe

In 1991–92 season Maccabi finished seventh place, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup group for the first time (due to Hapoel Petah Tikva qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup). The club played in the Group stage with Czech side Slavia Prague, German top club Bayer Leverkusen, and the Israeli Maccabi Netanya. The whole stage was scheduled for July 1992 with Maccabi playing its first two matches in Petah Tikva Municipal Stadium, losing 1–3 against Slavia and winning 3–2 against Leverkusen. The next two games were against Netanya, Maccabi drew 0–0 in Netanya Stadium and 2–2 at home ground. At the following matches, Maccabi was defeated 0–3 by Slavia in Stadion Eden and drew 1–1 against Leverkusen in Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. However, the club finished only third place in the group with five points.

In 1994–95 season the club reached the top division's Toto Cup final for the first time, beating 2–1 Maccabi Tel Aviv in Ramat Gan Stadium.

In 1996–97 season Maccabi finished in fourth place, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup group stage for the second time. The whole stage was scheduled for June–July 1997, with Maccabi losing 1–3 to German side Köln in Ramat Gan and deafening the Austrian side Aarau 1–0 in Stadion Brügglifeld. The club also drew 0–0 twice, first against the Irish Cork City in Kiryat Eliezer Stadium and then against the Belgian giants Standard Liège in Stade Maurice Dufrasne. Eventually the club finished in second place in the group with five points and failed to advance to the semi-finals.

2000s: European glory nights

In 2000–01 season the club made a 3–2 (a.e.t) sensational win over Maccabi Haifa and reached the cup final for the first time in 49 years (fourth time overall), losing 3–0 to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The 2004–05 season marked the first time the club competed in UEFA Cup qualifiers after finishing third place of the league in the previous season. Maccabi began its way in the second qualifying round against Cyprus side AEK Larnaca, losing the first-leg 0–3 in GSP Stadium. Two weeks later, the club enjoyed a moment of European glory, winning the second leg 4–0 in Ramat Gan Stadium and advancing to the UEFA Cup first round after 4–3 on aggregate. However, the first-leg of the tie against Dutch side SC Heerenveen in Israel was canceled by UEFA due to a baggage handlers strike, and the club lost the second-leg 5–0 (also on aggregate) in Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Maccabi's most significant achievement of the decade came in the 2004–05 season when the club finished second in the league and reached the group stage of the 2005–06 UEFA Cup. In the second qualifying round the club defeated Macedonian side FK Baskimi 5–0 in Skopje stadium and 6–0 in Ramat Gan, advancing to the first round after 11–0 on aggregate.