Maccabi Haifa football club, also known as the "Greens", was founded in 1913. The club won 12 times the Israeli Premier League Championship and 6 times the state cup finals.In 1992, the club became Israel's first club to be under private management, owned by Jacob Shachar. Since then, Maccabi Haifa has upgraded dramatically, created new managerial standards and became the most popular football club in Israel.In 2002-2003 season the club had qualified for the first time in Israel's history, to the UEFA Champions League. In 2009-2010 season the club had qualified for the second time in UEFA Champions League. The club had qualified twice to the group stage of the European League, and also reached the European Cup quarter-finals.Maccabi also operated a youth department that has over 1,000 participants registered with ages that range from 8 to 18. Almost each age group at the youth department keeps winning national titles every year while the best and brightest players are living the dream by finally integrating at the senior professional squad of Maccabi Haifa.