Guy Pnini returned home to Maccabi Tel Aviv after playing five seasons with Hapoel Holon and signed a one-year contract, with an option for an additional season. The veteran forward, who played eight seasons in Yad Eliyahu and captained the team that won the 2014 EuroLeague title, returns to the club he grew up in.

“I am delighted to come back home, to where I grew and learned to play basketball,” said Guy Pnini to the club’s official website. “I am excited to once again wear the yellow-and-blue jersey and meet the fans whom I Iove so much in the arena. I missed them. I’m sure that this will be a very exciting season and I hope to see you soon.”

Maccabi’s head coach, Oded Katash, welcomed Pnini, “I am very happy that Guy joined the team and that he returned home. He has immense experience and there’s no need to expand upon his basketball IQ. He will help us both on and off the court. I trust him and I’m sure that our fans will be happy to see him wearing the yellow-and-blue jersey once again.”
“The boy is back home,” celebrated club chairman Shimon Mizrahi. “I want to send a warm hug to Guy on his return. As a player who went through all of Maccabi’s youth teams and later won 13 titles with the club, including the 2014 EuroLeague, 3 league championships, 8 Israeli cups and the Adriatic league and as a player who still plays on the Israel National Team, you can certainly say he is a remarkable player. A leader, a mentor and an example for perseverance, who has shown all of us that age is just a number. I am sure he will make his mark again with the team we are creating.”

The 38-year old, as mentioned, grew up in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s renowned youth system. He joined Ironi Raanana, later named Bnei HaSharon and went on to win to a pair of State Cups with Hapoel Jerusalem. He moved to Belgrade, spent time in Cyprus and in 2009 returned to Maccabi – this time with the senior team.

With Maccabi, Pnini achieved three Israeli championships and eight Israeli cups, won the Adriatic league and famously lifted the EuroLeague title in 2014 as the captain. In 2017 he left Maccabi for Holon, where he won a cup, a league title and the Balkan League.