 After several lower-mid table finishes, Maccabi were relegated at the end of the 1986–87 season in which they finished 14th.Maccabi narrowly missed out a return to the top division, on goal difference, in 1989–90, when they finished third, level on points with second-placed Hapoel Tel Aviv.In the following season they were promoted, but were relegated at the end of the 1991–92 season, having finished second bottom.