Full Breakdown
Yaakov Shahar Puts Maccabi Haifa Up for Sale at $100 Million
By Drooid · · How we work
Sale Announcement: Owner Seeks Full Exit
Yaakov Shahar, the 84-year-old proprietor who has controlled Maccabi Haifa for 35 years, is looking to sell the entire club for a reported asking price of $100 million. The club confirmed that Shahar and his partners, the heirs of Israel Kaz, have hired the international investment bank Raine Group to find a buyer. Raine operates in eight global cities and specializes in technology, media, telecommunications and sports transactions.
Background and Recent Attempts
Six months earlier, negotiations to sell a 50 % stake to a consortium of American investors collapsed after disagreements, despite an earlier valuation of $80 million for that half-share. After that failure, Shahar renewed his efforts, this time aiming for a single-transaction sale of the whole club. The decision was made in consultation with his sons.
Potential Ownership Structure
Sources describe two primary models:
- Lead investor – a Jewish billionaire, likened to Len Blavatnik, would acquire a 51 % controlling stake. Blavatnik has said he was not approached.
- Minority group – a collective of high-tech entrepreneurs would purchase the remaining 49 %, each expected to invest between $5 million and $10 million.
The minority investors are organized through the “Greentech” forum, a network of technology figures who are fans of the club. The forum’s initiative is led by Tom Livne, co-founder of Verbit (peak valuation $2 billion) and CEO of Iron Dome Acquisition, a Nasdaq-listed firm that raised $157 million in May.
Potential participants mentioned include:
- Ofer Ben-Noon – co-founder of Argus and Talon (combined sale > $1 billion)
- Tal Slobodkin – managing partner at VC firm StageOne
- Shimon Elkabetz – founder of weather-forecasting startup Tomorrow
- Ziv Paz – co-founder of payments platform Melio
- Tamar Bar-Ilan – founder of cybersecurity firm Cyera
- Ami Serkis – founder of sports app Score365 (sold for $200 million)
- Guy Nitzan – founder of Israeli company Re-Cap (personalized sports recaps)
- David Fattal – hotelier, and Udi Angel – shipping magnate, may also join.
Key Figures Involved
- Yaakov Shahar – Owner for 35 years, calls the club his “life’s work.”
- Raine Group – Hired to run the sale; senior partners are Joe Ravitch and Jeff Sine.
- David Chizik – Businessman with close ties to Shahar and Raine’s founders, identified as a key liaison.
- Tom Livne – Entrepreneur leading the Greentech consortium.
Data and Club Achievements
- Asking price: $100 million for 100 % of the club.
- Domestic success: 11 Israeli Premier League titles, 4 State Cups.
- European record: Qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage three times.
- Player development: Produced talent such as Eyal Berkovic, Haim Revivo, and Yossi Benayoun.
Official Statements & Responses
The club’s official communication confirmed that Shahar has engaged Raine Group and reiterated the proposed ownership model, emphasizing that any buyer must “guarantee future continuity.” Shahar is reported to have said he will not sell the club “to just anyone,” reflecting his desire to preserve the institution.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Owner’s age: Sources list Shahar as 84 or 85.
- Prior deal timeline: Details of the collapsed American-investor negotiation remain unspecified.
What’s Next
Raine Group has begun contacting prospective buyers, and the sale process is ongoing. No specific deadline or scheduled announcement date has been reported.
