Ironi Rehovot Forms Unified Football Club for 2026/27 Season in Liga Alef South

Ironi Rehovot will establish a single football club for the 2026/27 season, starting in Liga Alef South, replacing Ironi Marmorek in the league structure. This historic move merges two legendary local teams, Maccabi Sha'arayim and Ironi Marmorek, under a three-year agreement that neither party can terminate early. After three years, the Rehovot municipality alone will decide whether to continue the project.

The new club will be managed by a dedicated private association, with a CEO responsible for appointing the senior team coach. Maccabi Sha'arayim and Ironi Marmorek will continue independently in Liga Gimel, while the veteran Maccabi Rehovot will oversee women's, youth, and girls' football activities. The senior team will train at the Science Park and play home games at the municipal stadium, while Sha'arayim will train at Weissgal synthetic turf.

Youth teams will compete under the Ironi Rehovot name, maintaining close ties with Marmorek, which the new club replaces in Liga Alef South. In case of disputes unresolved by the parties, the Rehovot municipal sports department manager, Benny Ben Zaken, will arbitrate. Revenues from player sales will belong to the senior team's managing body. All public communications will use the Ironi Rehovot brand, emphasizing youth and school football programs.

The club will operate on an approved budget including external funding sources. Should the team advance to higher leagues, the private association will cover increased costs and the registration expenses for youth teams beyond the first season's budget.