Ofer Yannay Steps Back as Hapoel Tel Aviv Adjusts Ownership
Ownership shake-up and new club leadership
Hapoel Tel Aviv has announced a change in the ownership structure of the company that controls the majority stake in the club. Under the new setup, Ofer Yannay will reduce his role and stake, while three partners—Gili Raanan, Micky Malka and Alan Howard—will each take a larger share and greater influence in club decisions.
Day-to-day management will be handled by club chairman Stav Shaham, who will act on behalf of all shareholders. The revised distribution of the club’s shares now sees Yannay holding roughly a third of the club, supporters retaining a meaningful minority stake, and the three new partners each owning an equal portion of the remaining shares. The move is aimed at sharing responsibility and strengthening the club’s leadership team.
Yannay said his commitments as CEO of his energy company limit the time he can devote to daily club matters, so stepping back will allow a full-time chairman to oversee operations while the shareholders stay involved in strategic choices.
Shaham emphasized his role as a unifying figure, saying he will manage the club for all owners and work to keep Hapoel close to its fans and community while pursuing strong sporting results.
Roster changes and season outlook
This summer the team went through a light rebuild, mostly focused on replacing those who left and filling specific roster needs for coach Dimitris Itoudis. Several players from last season moved on, while a number of new faces arrived to bolster the squad.
Notable departures include Chris Jones, Yam Madar, Johnathan Motley, Collin Malcolm, Kessler Edwards and Levi Randolph. Incoming players include Zach LeDay, Jacob Toppin, Tomas Satoransky, Amir Coffey, Khadeen Carrington, Eugene German and Frederic Bourdillon. Tamir Blatt was also signed from a city rival, but reports suggest he may not be in the coach’s immediate plans and that the club could look at loan options for him ahead of the coming campaign.
Overall the club looks to balance continuity with targeted additions. With a new ownership dynamic and Shaham handling daily operations, Hapoel are hoping for stability off the court that translates to better performance on it, while keeping a strong connection to their supporters.
