Former Maccabi Tel Aviv Captain Offered Chairmanship of Hapoel Tel Aviv

Ofer Yanai, owner of Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball club, has offered former Maccabi Tel Aviv captain Gur Shalev the position of club chairman, replacing Oren Hasson. This offer carries significant emotional and historical weight, as it invites Shalev to continue the legacy of his late brother, Uri Shalev, who managed the club from its reestablishment in 2007 until his untimely passing. The club is currently awaiting Gur Shalev's official response to the proposal.

The move is part of a broader management overhaul led by Yanai, aiming to align the club's substantial budget with its identity and red heritage. Gur Shalev, who has recently worked as a basketball commentator and previously held senior management roles in the sports sector, is highly respected within Israeli sports circles. Should he accept, Shalev will assume a prominent leadership role in Israeli basketball, stepping into the position once held by his late brother.

This development also coincides with joint efforts by Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv to bring the EuroLeague back to Israel, highlighting a period of significant activity and ambition within Israeli basketball.