Maccabi Sha'arayim and Hapoel Marmorek Merge to Form Ironi Rehovot in Liga Alef

In a historic development for Israeli football, Maccabi Sha'arayim and Hapoel Marmorek have signed a unification agreement to establish a new club named Ironi Rehovot. The new team will compete in the upcoming season in Liga Alef, taking over Hapoel Marmorek's place in the league. Ironi Rehovot will host its matches at the city's new stadium, with Benny Ben Zaken appointed as the professional manager.

Despite the merger, both original clubs will continue to exist independently and will compete under their traditional names in Liga Gimel. Their matches will be held at the Weissgal synthetic grass field in Rehovot. However, as part of the agreement, neither Maccabi Sha'arayim nor Hapoel Marmorek will be eligible for promotion beyond Liga Gimel, making Ironi Rehovot the sole competitive path for advancement to higher leagues from the city.

This move marks a significant step for both clubs, which have long histories and loyal fan bases in Rehovot, aiming to consolidate their strengths and compete at a higher level under the new unified banner.