Two months after his appointment — Oren Hasson fired, Hapoel Tel Aviv appointed a new chairman

Only two months after being appointed chairman of Hapoel Tel Aviv, Oren Hasson was fired from his position. Today, Monday, the Reds announced the appointment of a new chairman — Stav Shaham.

"Shaham will take on the role on a fully voluntary basis, out of a deep commitment to the club and a desire to help lead Hapoel Tel Aviv during a significant period for its future. One of the main tasks he set for himself is to work on renewing the connection between the club and the fans, with the understanding that the community and the audience are the essence of Hapoel Tel Aviv's existence," said the club's statement, which did not mention why Hasson was let go.

As recalled, in the last two months, a deep rift was recorded between Hasson and CEO Tzahi Reichenstein. The reason, according to sources in the club, is disagreements over the way the team is managed. It all started with Hasson's entry into the position. Already then, sources in Hapoel wondered how Hasson and Reichenstein would get along, when both are supposed to deal with overlapping areas, which could lead to power struggles. According to them, this is exactly what happened. At the end of the day: Reichenstein stayed, Hasson left.

Shaham, a Hapoel Tel Aviv fan since childhood and a well-known figure among the Red crowd, has been accompanying the basketball club in recent years as a board member and sponsor. In the past, he was one of the parties that mobilized and acted in an attempt to help the football club during the liquidation period, and today the RTMI company he owns also serves as the main sponsor of the football club and the women's basketball team of the Hapoel Ussishkin association. Beyond the deep connection to Hapoel, Shaham brings with him extensive management and business experience. He is the owner of the RTMI and Segment companies and in the past served as the owner of the Hapoel Petah Tikva football club.

Hapoel Tel Aviv also stated: "In the coming weeks, additional steps and changes are expected in the structure and activity of the club, as part of a process aimed at strengthening the connection to the audience and allowing the club to focus on the challenges facing it in the country and in Europe".

Shaham himself said:

"Hapoel Tel Aviv is much more than a sports club for me. I have been a Hapoel fan since childhood, so when I was called to the flag, there was no question for me whether to answer. I accept the position on a voluntary basis and with a great sense of responsibility to the club and the huge community around it".

"The club has been in a process of very significant growth and change in recent years. When undergoing change on such a scale, naturally frictions also arise, and sometimes things break along the way. There are things that need to be fixed, and we do not intend to ignore them. At the same time, there are things that need to be preserved, and the professional path the club has taken in recent years is exceptional in world basketball".

"I believe that Hapoel Tel Aviv should be a successful club that is connected to its two most important anchors — sporting achievements on one hand, and its community and fans on the other. These are not conflicting goals, on the contrary — these goals depend on each other. I will work to reconnect the club to all the fans and to everyone who holds Hapoel Tel Aviv dear, and at the same time not compromise for a moment on our professional ambitions. A team was built here to compete at the highest levels and our goals this season are clear: to fight for all possible titles — the national championship, the State Cup and the Euroleague, and equally to keep the community as an inseparable part of the club".