Hapoel Haifa's Budget Revealed: Owner Yoav Katz's Investments Detailed
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Hapoel Haifa's 2025/26 budget reveals a total of approximately 33 million shekels, with owner Yoav Katz investing over 10 million shekels. Player salaries reached 15.146 million shekels, while income from player sales was 2.65 million shekels, including a record one million euro transfer. Match revenue decreased by 774,000 shekels due to playoff performance and fewer away tickets sold. Katz has owned the club since 2004, taking over after the previous owner's death.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Haifa's 2025/26 budget is approximately 33 million shekels, with potential for increases.
- Owner Yoav Katz invested over 10 million shekels, about a third of the club's budget.
- Player salaries totaled 15.146 million shekels, and coaching staff received 2.53 million shekels.
- The club earned 2.65 million shekels from player sales, including a record 1 million euro transfer.
- Match revenue dropped by 774,000 shekels to 3.99 million shekels.
- Yoav Katz has owned the club since 2004, taking over after Robby Shapira's death.
The financial budget for the Israeli football club Hapoel Haifa for the 2025/26 season has been disclosed, offering insight into the team's economic standing. In the past season, the club's overall budget was 32.5 million shekels, encompassing all operations including the youth academy. The current season's budget is projected to exceed the previous one, starting at approximately 33 million shekels gross, with potential increases in January if squad changes are made. Owner Yoav Katz has maintained a consistent investment, contributing over 10 million shekels this season, representing nearly a third of the club's total budget. This investment is consistent with the 2023/24 season, though it represents a decrease of 1.8 million shekels compared to the previous year's owner contribution.
Player salaries and payments amounted to about 15.146 million shekels, while coaching staff salaries totaled approximately 2.53 million shekels. Hapoel Haifa generated around 2.65 million shekels from player sales and loans. The club's most significant sale occurred in the 2025/26 season when player Noam Ben Harush was transferred to Maccabi Tel Aviv for a record fee of approximately one million euros. Revenue from ticket sales and direct match income saw a decline of about 774,000 shekels in the 2025/26 season, totaling approximately 3.99 million shekels compared to 4.77 million shekels the prior season. This decrease is partly attributed to the team playing in the lower playoff group last season and the upper playoff group the season before, resulting in fewer away tickets sold.
Yoav Katz, an Israeli-American businessman, has owned Hapoel Haifa since 2004. He acquired the club for free following financial difficulties and liquidation proceedings after the suicide of the previous owner, Robby Shapira. Over two decades, Katz has become a central figure, guiding the team through numerous seasons in the top league and participating in professional and organizational decisions.
