Hapoel Haifa Owner Slams Gal Erel Over Lawsuit
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Hapoel Haifa is reportedly angered by a lawsuit filed by former player and coach Gal Erel seeking nearly NIS 500,000 for unpaid pensions and social security. The club's owner, Yoav Katz, is credited by the team with rescuing Erel's career and promoting him through the coaching ranks. Erel's lawsuit joins similar claims from other former club players. His coaching tenure at the club ended in January 2026 after a series of negative results.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Haifa is furious with former player and coach Gal Erel over a lawsuit for nearly NIS 500,000.
- The club claims owner Yoav Katz saved Erel's career and promoted him without prior coaching experience.
- Erel's lawsuit concerns alleged unpaid pensions and social security payments.
- Similar lawsuits have been filed by former players Eden Ben Basat and Gili Vermouth.
- Erel's coaching tenure at Hapoel Haifa ended in January 2026 after poor results.
Hapoel Haifa is reportedly furious with former player and coach Gal Erel following his lawsuit against the club for nearly half a million shekels. The club's owner, Yoav Katz, is said to have been instrumental in saving Erel's career when he was ostracized at Hapoel Acre in the National League. Katz reportedly signed Erel at the start of a cup season without the knowledge of then-coach Nir Klinger, later promoting him to assistant coach and then giving him the senior team reins despite no prior head coaching experience.
The lawsuit filed by Erel concerns alleged unpaid pensions and social security payments from his time as both a player and coach. This legal action follows similar claims by other former players, including Eden Ben Basat and Gili Vermouth.
Erel, who rose through Hapoel Haifa's youth ranks and captained the team, had two stints as a player from 2008-2013 and 2017-2023. During his playing career, he was part of squads that won the Toto Cup in 2013, the State Cup, and the Champions of Champions Cup in 2018. After retiring in the summer of 2023, he joined the professional staff as an assistant to coach Roni Levy, and was appointed head coach in June 2025. His tenure ended in January 2026 when he was fired after a string of poor results, including a loss to Bnei Reina.
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