By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A 90-year connection between the Federman family and Maccabi Tel Aviv has officially come to an end following the completion of their share sale.
In a statement posted via social media on Wednesday, Danny Federman reflected on a basketball dynasty that evolved from a pre-state sporting endeavor into an enduring family legacy.
“Today marks the end of a 90-year family legacy, a legacy that was for us far more than just ownership of a club. It was a way of life,” he explained.
The journey began in the 1930s with his grandfather, Yitzhak Federman, and continued through his father, David Federman, who spearheaded the club’s transition into private ownership.
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היום מגיעה לסיומה מורשת משפחתית שנמשכה 90 שנה, מורשת שהייתה עבורנו הרבה יותר מבעלות על מועדון. היא הייתה דרך חיים.
דרך שהחלה עם סבנו, יצחק פדרמן ז”ל, שהיה קפטן מכבי תל אביב עוד בשנות ה-30 של המאה הקודמת, לפני קום המדינה. באותן שנים הכיר גם את סבתנו, נוגה ז”ל, אותה אימן…
— Danny Federman (@DannyFederman) July 15, 2026
The family recently attempted to steer the EuroLeague powerhouse into a new era by introducing an ambitious strategic proposal. Backed by a group of Israeli and American investors, the plan aimed to ensure that the Tel Aviv outfit continues to be a ‘leading, influential, and trailblazing club that proudly represents not only itself but also Israeli sports on the international stage’. However, the Recanati family chose to exercise their right of refusal, which triggered the buyout of all shares held by the Federman family’s firm, Pednko Sport, and halted the new investment initiative.
Despite the corporate separation, Danny Federman emphasized that the family’s deep-rooted connection to the organization survives any transaction. Expressing hope that the future leadership will continue propelling the club to new achievements, he looked back on their decades of emotional investment.
He concluded that for his family, Maccabi was never just shares or ownership. “It was and always will be part of the family, the heart and soul,” he wrote.
While the financial holdings have formally changed hands, he maintained that ‘one can transfer ownership of shares, but one cannot transfer ownership of a legacy’.
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