Eran Zahavi opens a new business: Samsung Israel CEO enters the picture
From the national padel league "EZ7 padel tour" to the prestigious tournament in Savyon: a few months after announcing his retirement, the legendary striker is shifting gears in the world of business and sports. All the details on the new venture, the planned tournament, and the meeting with the Samsung CEO.
Eran Zahavi, one of the greatest Israeli footballers of all time and considered one of the most successful and determined athletes in the country, announced his retirement from active play in January 2026 at the age of 38.
It is now clear that he is continuing to expand his footprint in the world of business and sports, building on the foundation he laid during his glorious football career. He is launching a new sports initiative: a national padel league called "EZ7 padel tour," alongside a new padel complex under his ownership.
The tournament is set to travel between different courts across the country, gathering the local sports community around it. The project has already gained significant momentum on social media with the launch of the league's official Instagram page and the distribution of branded PR kits—including padel rackets, hats, and related gear—to industry stars and key figures.
As befits the determined character of the former football star, Zahavi is working hard and has made the world of padel a central part of his life, releasing numerous teasers and promos ahead of the business launch.
As part of promoting the venture, Zahavi visited a tournament at the "A Padel" complex in Savyon, owned by his friend, former tennis player Andy Ram, to observe, play, and learn from the experience.
The tournament was held to mark the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy Z foldable series (including the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8), with Samsung Israel hosting a festive padel tournament on-site under Ram's management.
The event brought together top business leaders and senior figures in Israel, providing the former footballer with great inspiration for his new business venture—a pursuit he approaches with his characteristic drive for success.
Participants included Samsung Israel CEO Ryan Choi and senior company officials, alongside Shalom Michaelshvili, Eliran Atar, Barak Bakhar, Ran Ben Shimon, Alex Shatilov, and Ofir Haim, who competed in an exhibition tournament alongside Samsung customers. The winning pair received a Galaxy Z Fold8 device.
This new sports venture joins Zahavi's extensive business portfolio, which includes a wide range of investments in various fields.
Among his notable steps in the real estate sector, he holds a stake in the employment area in Mazkeret Batya, where he and his partner, Avi Arbiv, purchased an additional 10 dunams of land to expand the "ELEVEN CENTER" commercial and office project. Alongside these, Zahavi also invests in technology companies such as PlaySight, establishing his status as an active and calculated entrepreneur in the Israeli business landscape.
