Maccabi Haifa Owner Yaakov Shahar Puts Club Up for Sale for $100 Million

By בן גולדפריינד

Translated & summarized from N12 by baba

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Yaakov Shahar, owner of Maccabi Haifa for 35 years, has officially put the Israeli football club up for sale for around $100 million. He has hired investment bank Raine Group to find a buyer for his 100% stake. Potential buyers include a consortium of a Jewish billionaire and high-tech entrepreneurs. Shahar seeks a buyer who will ensure the club's future continuity after leading it to numerous domestic and European successes.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Yaakov Shahar is selling his 100% stake in Maccabi Haifa for approximately $100 million.
An international investment bank, Raine Group, has been hired to find a buyer for the club.
A potential buyer group includes a Jewish billionaire and high-tech entrepreneurs.
Individual investors in the minority group would need to invest $5 to $10 million.
Shahar seeks a buyer who will ensure the club's future continuity.
Shahar owned the club for 35 years, leading it to 11 championships and 4 cups.

Maccabi Haifa Owner Yaakov Shahar Puts Club Up for Sale for $100 Million — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Yaakov Shahar, the owner of Israeli football club Maccabi Haifa for the past 35 years, has officially put the club up for sale for approximately $100 million. Shahar has hired an international investment bank, Raine Group, to help find a buyer for his 100% stake in the team. The club confirmed the report, which was first published by Calcalist.

Raine Group, which specializes in sports industry deals, has begun contacting potential buyers. One possibility being explored is a purchasing group that would include a Jewish billionaire holding 51% of the shares, alongside a group of high-tech individuals and Maccabi Haifa fans acquiring the remaining 49%. Individual investors in the minority group would be required to invest between $5 million and $10 million.

The high-tech group is operating under the "GreenTech" forum, which unites entrepreneurs and businessmen who are Maccabi Haifa fans. Tom Livne, co-founder of the company Verbit, which at its peak was valued at $2 billion, is leading this initiative. Other potential investors mentioned include Ofer Ben-Nun, co-founder of Argus and Talon, Talach Slobodkin, Shimon Elkabetz, Ziv Paz, Tamir Bar Ilan, Ami Sircus, and Guy Nitzan. Hotelier David Fattal and businessman Udi Angel may also be involved, though it was emphasized that not all forum members are expected to participate.

Shahar, 85, made the decision to sell in coordination with his sons. He views Maccabi Haifa as a "life's work" and intends to sell only to a buyer who will ensure future continuity. During his ownership, Shahar led the club to 11 league championships, 4 cups, and three appearances in the Champions League group stage, developing stars like Eyal Berkovic, Haim Revivo, and Yossi Benayoun.