Hapoel Ashkelon have gone back to a familiar face to lead their dugout, appointing Ami Jerbi as head coach for the 2026/27 season, ONE reports.
The move takes Jerbi out of the club's front office, where he had most recently been serving as chief executive, and puts him back on the touchline at the reformed south-coast club he has represented in various roles down the years.
"I am excited and proud to get the opportunity to coach Hapoel Ashkelon, a club dear to my heart," Jerbi said, according to ONE. "I thank the management for their confidence and commit to doing my best daily with the professional staff and players to build a committed, fighting team that will represent the city, supporters and club symbol with honour."
Club management pointed to Jerbi's deep familiarity with Hapoel Ashkelon and his accumulated experience on the touchline as the reasons behind the appointment, ONE reported.
That coaching background includes stints as an assistant at Ashkelon itself under Yuval Neeim and Massai Dago during the club's top-flight years, as well as a spell as an assistant to Shlomi Dora at Liga Leumit level.
Jerbi has also managed in his own right, leading Ironi Ashdod to a league promotion as head coach before later taking over at Maccabi Netivot.
Hapoel Ironi Ashkelon itself is a young project: the club was re-established under its current name in May 2025 after a re-registration with the Israel Football Association, and has been building back up through the regional leagues from Liga Gimel. Home matches are played at the Sala Stadium in Ashkelon.
