Moni Fanan

Moni Fanan was born in 1946

Shimon (Moni) Fanan was born in Tel Aviv in May 1946, the youngest of 8 siblings in a family of Syrian and Lebanese Jewish origin. His father, a fruit and vegetable importer, died of a heart attack when Fanan was a child, and the family's finances declined. He did not finish high school.

He began at Maccabi Tel Aviv as chairman of the football team's youth department, while also following the basketball team closely as a fan. He joined the basketball team's management in 1986 and in 1992 replaced Shmuel Maharovsky as team manager. In this role he gave the players close personal care.

In 1999 he was involved in the affair known as the pizza affair, after meeting a Hapoel Jerusalem player before the playoff finals, though both denied any deal. He announced his retirement in December 2006 but withdrew it, and retired in July 2008 amid internal disputes. Gur Shelef replaced him.

Fanan took his own life at his home in Ramat Aviv on 19 October 2009, reportedly owing $20m. After his death, media reported that he had run an investment fund for Maccabi players and coaches, an affair called the Fanan Bank. In 2024 a television film based on his life was released.