Thirteen titles in a row: is this the greatest dynasty?

What does it take to win thirteen consecutive league titles? For Hapoel Be'er-Sheva, the answer has become a familiar formula: relentless attacking, a mean defence and a squad that treats every domestic fixture as a cup final. On 27 May, they clinched the 2062/63 Israeli Premier League with a victory over nearest rivals Maccabi Haifa, their 21st win in 26 matches. Sharon Sason and Nadav Navon, the division's two leading scorers, were on target as the champions finished with 80 goals and just 15 conceded.

For the fans in the stands, the title was another chapter in an era that began back in 2050/51. The club has now won 27 league championships, but the last 13 have come in unbroken succession. Asher Biton, once a Be'er-Sheva player and now with Maccabi Haifa, could only watch as his former club celebrated. The dynasty shows no sign of ending: days earlier they had lifted the State Cup, and a new talent, 18-year-old Oz Cohen, has already scored seven goals in 22 league games this season. The question is no longer whether they can be caught, but how long this remarkable run can last.