Franchising at Arcaffe, a fintech company and a future film: The new life of Shimon Gershon
16 years after retiring, the former star talks about the transition from the football pitch to the business world. Today he is a franchisee of two successful Arcaffe branches, was a partner in hotel businesses that he sold for a profit of about 11 million shekels, and recently founded the fintech company "Araviyot Yashir" ("Direct Guarantees") with a large investment: "When I left football I didn't have too much knowledge in the financial world, but I had my character."
Shimon Gershon retired from football 16 years ago. Since then, he has been active in business: he is a franchisee of two successful Arcaffe branches, was a partner in hotel and real estate ventures, and has now founded the fintech company "Araviyot Yashir," which allows apartment renters to issue a guarantee to the landlord without a cash deposit through an online process.
Even during his career, he stood out as a player of a different breed: articulate, calculated, and relatively private. Gershon is considered one of the biggest stars of Israeli football, having played for Hapoel Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem, and the Israel national team. Immediately after retiring, he entered business as a franchisee of two Arcaffe branches in Tel Aviv. The branch in Ramat HaHayal is considered one of the most successful in Israel in terms of sales turnover.
Transitioning from sports to business
Many players retire at 30 after making significant money, only to be left with nothing shortly after. "For every player, retiring from football is a life crisis. It is a point where you separate from a world that is your entire identity. You feel like you are on a raft in a stormy sea. Okay, you made money, but now you have to use it to generate income that will maintain your standard of living," Gershon notes.
"It depends on who advises you. You need to examine proposals, consult with people who understand the field, and see what suits you. I also made many decisions along this path; some were good, some less successful. When I left the world of football, I didn't have much financial knowledge, but I had my character as an entrepreneur, and I brought good people into every deal I entered."
The new generation and "Araviyot Yashir"
Gershon points out that young football players today are much more financially savvy than his generation. "We were crazy about buying an apartment. The current generation wants to stay liquid so their money can generate returns."
Gershon currently invests most of his time in "Araviyot Yashir," which he founded with an investment of about 12 million shekels. The platform addresses the issue of rental guarantees. "A renter who needs a three-month deposit can receive a guarantee through us without damaging their credit line. The total cost for the renter is 6.5% of the guarantee amount, allowing them to keep their money available. The landlord receives a guarantee that is just as secure as a bank guarantee," he explains.
Family and creative plans
Gershon, 48, is married to actress Meli Levi, and the couple has three children. "Meli is involved in the decisions I make, and she believes in the company. We are involved in each other's fields," he says.
Beyond business, Gershon revealed that he has finished writing a script for his first feature film. "It is a comedy that, God willing, my wife Meli will also act in. We have submitted the script to the Film Fund and hope to receive a development budget."
