Avi Gabay on Taking Over Maccabi Ramat Gan and Building for the Future
Avi Gabay, the new owner of Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan, discusses increasing the team's budget, renovating Zisman Arena, and his vision for Israeli basketball.
After seven successful years under Chen Schneiderman, Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan entered a new chapter in April by handing the reins to businessman and construction engineer Avi Gabay. Since taking over as owner and chairman, the 55-year-old has not wasted time: he increased the budget by approximately 4 million shekels, led a comprehensive renovation of the Zisman Arena, united the men's and women's teams under one roof, and is already planning the next major step: building a 5,000-seat arena to return the club to the European stage.
Days after Schneiderman announced his departure, Gabay discusses the challenges of building a team almost from scratch, his future ambitions, and addresses the criticism regarding his son Elay's presence on the roster. Elay, who played for the youth national teams, was the one who introduced his father to basketball and helped him understand the sport in depth. At the time, Gabay never imagined he would one day buy his own team. "Elay was at the academy in Cleveland, returned from there this year, and is currently playing in Ramat Gan," he says. "I got into this by chance. I met Zvika Sherf's equivalent, Pini Gershon [the club's sporting director], and he suggested I take over the team, which was facing financial difficulties. At first, I refused. The second time the subject came up, I said yes."
Unlike real estate, where investments yield measurable returns, Israeli sports are often a financial black hole. "There is no return in sports. You only bring a lot of money from home. Beyond the financial aspect, it consumes you. This club is great and glorious, with more than 2,000 children, lots of youth, schools, and plenty of activity. This is an 80-year-old club, an icon. In hindsight, I didn't understand what I was getting into," Gabay admits.
Overcoming Challenges and Youth Development
Gabay was born and raised in the Jaffa D neighborhood, in a family of five siblings. His parents arrived from Morocco as part of Youth Aliyah and settled in Kibbutz HaOgen. In the neighborhood, he acquired the resilience and skills that later helped him succeed. He was educated in the Maccabi Tza'ir youth movement, graduated high school, and enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade, eventually serving as an officer and being discharged at the rank of major. Afterwards, he studied civil engineering in England for three years before returning to Israel to establish his own real estate company.
Despite his background, Gabay firmly rejects the narrative of ethnic discrimination in Israel. "I not only don't believe in discrimination, but anyone who brings it up commits a great sin," he states decisively. "Those who raise this issue are usually high-ranking military officers or someone with a salary of 40,000 shekels. I got to where I am through hard work and determination. Discrimination is a fiction, I never felt it. It's a huge nonsense that needs to be erased from our lexicon, and I say this as a Moroccan."
Addressing Criticism and Future Goals
Addressing criticism regarding his son Elay playing on the team, Gabay notes: "He is a talented player in his own right, having finished the Cleveland Academy with an average of 23 points. There is an understanding in the club that he is my son, and it ends there. To all the critics I want to say: in the games so far, my son has participated in only two, playing three minutes in each. If this is called buying a team for your son, I don't know." Gabay adds that he hopes to see the club consistently in the top six in Israel, while emphasizing the importance of a balanced budget and professional management.
