Avram Grant
Photo: Reuters
Grant takes over at Chelsea
Top English team name Avram Grant as their new manager, replacing Jose Mourinho
Avram Grant, the former Israel national soccer team coach, was appointed Thursday to take over at English premiership club Chelsea.
The move follows Chelsea manager's Jose Mourinho's surprise resignation on Wednesday.
"The club is delighted in Avram we have an experienced man who can come in at a difficult time," said a club statement. The 52-year-old manager is a friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and his summer arrival at the club came after opposition from Mourinho.
Grant guided Israel to the brink of World Cup qualification in 2006, having also coached Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa.
The appointment has been met with general surprise and former Chelsea player Pat Nevin thinks it will only be a short-term option.
"It's an absolute certainty to be a short-term measure because they can't get the man they want," he told the BBC. "And the man I'm sure they want is (Russia manager) Guus Hiddink. He's not going to be available until Russia are out of the competition at the Euros in 2008.
"If Avram Grant takes over the job in the meantime, and the Chelsea fans know that he was brought in and upset Jose, Avram Grant is going to be as welcome as Camilla at Diana's memorial.
"This guy is not well-loved at Chelsea. He is not going to last."
