Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan

Lore & Background

Maccabi Ramat Gan was formed in 1931 and has been in the top league since 1968. In 1972, it lost the cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv 108–99, with Belgium-born Kamil Dirks scoring a still-unbroken cup final record of 43 points. The club finished second in the league in 1971–72, 1972–73, and 1982–83. It first competed in European competition in the 1972–73 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup, notably defeating Sinudyne Bologna 114–94 with coach Samuel Jacobson and stars Larry Gordon and Bob Griffin. Doron Jamchi, the all-time leading scorer of the Israeli Premier League, began his career at the club in 1978 and left in 1985. In 1987–88, the club lost another cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv, 107–85. In December 1989, Ramat Gan won the Israeli Basketball League Cup by defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv 83–80, with Milton Wagner scoring 30 points. In 1995, under pressure from the city mayor, Maccabi Ramat Gan merged with Beitar Ramat Gan to become Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan. The club finished second in the league in 2001–02. It dropped to Liga Leumit after the 2009–10 season and returned to the first league at the end of 2022–2023, led by former captain and coach Shmulik Brener. In 2023–24, the team finished third and qualified for the Basketball Champions League for the 2024–25 season.

Reader's Guide

Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan holds a significant place in Israeli basketball history as a persistent contender and a club that developed legendary players. Its early success in the 1970s, including a cup final record by Kamil Dirks and a European Cup victory over Sinudyne Bologna, established its reputation. The club served as the launching pad for Doron Jamchi, the all-time leading scorer in Israeli Premier League history. Despite multiple runner-up finishes and a period in the second division, the club demonstrated resilience by returning to the top flight in 2023 and immediately achieving a third-place finish, earning a spot in the Basketball Champions League. The merger with Beitar Ramat Gan in 1996–97 reflects the influence of local governance on club identity. The team's requirement to field at least one Israeli player at all times and limit foreigners to five on the game sheet underscores its role in developing domestic talent.

Did You Know?

• Kamil Dirks scored 43 points in the 1972 cup final, a record that remains unbroken.
• Doron Jamchi, the club's all-time leading scorer, is also the all-time leading scorer in Israeli Premier League history.
• The club merged with Beitar Ramat Gan in 1995 due to pressure from the city mayor.
• After a 13-year absence, the club returned to the first league at the end of the 2022–2023 season.