<div class="sh"> Chelsea name Grant as new manager </div> <font size="2"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="203" align="right"> <tbody><tr><td> Mourinho was opposed to Grant's appointment in the summer </td></tr> </tbody></table></font> <font size="2">Chelsea have confirmed that Avram Grant has replaced Jose Mourinho as the new manager at Stamford Bridge. </font></p> <font size="2">The Israeli, who was the club's director of football, will take charge alongside Steve Clarke. </font></p> <font size="2">"The club is delighted that in Avram we have an experienced man who can come in at a difficult time," said the club. </font></p> <font size="2">BBC Sport revealed the news on Thursday morning as Mourinho said an emotional farewell to players at the club's training ground in Cobham, Surrey. </font></p> <font size="2"> </font></p><font size="2"> </font> <font size="2">Mourinho was then seen driving away shortly before the statement confirmed his successor. </font></p> <font size="2">The statement added: "In Steve we have a Chelsea man and he will be a crucial part of the management team going forward. Avram and Steve have our full confidence and support." </font></p> <font size="2"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" align="right"> <tbody><tr> <td width="5"></td> <td class="sibStdQuote"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </font></p> <font size="2">Grant and Clark took their first training session on Thursday and they were joined by club owner Roman Abramovich at Cobham. </font></p> <font size="2">Chelsea revealed the session was "sharp, with the players in buoyant mood, despite the disappointment of Tuesday's Champions League draw with Rosenborg." </font></p> <font size="2">The statement added: "Grant and Clarke, who have been appointed by the club's board, led a training session which included Wayne Bridge, back on the road to recovery." </font></p> <font size="2">Grant, 52, is due to be unveiled at a news conference on Friday and it is understood that his appointment is for the foreseeable future. </font></p> <font size="2">But former Chelsea player Pat Nevin believes it will only be a short-term option. </font></p> <font size="2">"It's an absolute certainty to be a short-term measure because they can't get the man they want," he told BBC 5Live. </font></p> <font size="2">"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. </font></p> <font size="2">"Avram Grant is going to be as welcome as Camilla at Diana's memorial. </font></p> <font size="2">"This guy is not well-loved at Chelsea. He is not going to last." </font></p> <font size="2">Grant is a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and his summer arrival at the club came after opposition from Mourinho. </font></p> <font size="2"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="3" height="12" align="right"> <tbody><tr> <td class="sib606"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </font></p> <font size="2">The Portuguese told Grant not to interfere with team affairs but the Israeli's position was strengthened with a seat on the board.</font></p> <font size="2">Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric, who worked with Grant at Portsmouth where he was a technical director, said he faced a huge task at Chelsea.</font></p> <font size="2">"I don't think there are too many people who can step into Jose's shoes, but if people chose Avam, he deserves a chance to see what he can demonstrate," Mandaric told BBC 5Live. </font></p> <font size="2">"He's a very good man, deals properly with the people and knows football, so given the chance, you never know." </font></p> <font size="2">Another former Chelsea player Gavin Peacock agreed with Nevin and said Grant would need to work hard to maintain team morale. </font></p> <font size="2">"If you're bringing in someone like Guus Hiddink, then you're bringing in someone of great repute, as for Grant, I don't know," he told BBC 5Live. </font></p> <font size="2">"I think the heart of the team will be affected by Mourinho's departure. It will be very difficult to get the team spirit that Mourinho managed to manufacture very quickly at Chelsea." </font></p> <font size="2">Before his arrival at Portsmouth, Grant guided Israel to the brink of World Cup qualification in 2006, having also coached Israeli sides Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Maccabi Haifa. </font></p> <font size="2">Avi Cohen, the chairman of the Israeli Professional Football Association and friend of Grant, backed the move, although he too said it came as a surprise. </font></p> <font size="2">"Avram Grant is very successful in Israel. He won the championship with several teams and he knows football," he said. </font></p> <font size="2">"Even so it is a shock that he was chosen. He had said that he had a very good position at Chelsea. He is a very good friend of Abramovich and he believes in him. </font></p> <font size="2">"I'm not sure that he won't be successful more than anyone else. If he has the ability he can be successful." </font></p>
Looks like he was the Israeli national team coach from 2002 to 2006. (previous to that coached israeli teams like maccabli tel aviv, haifa etc)</p> I'm hoping he uses Ballack and Shevchenko more. (unlike mourinho, who I never liked how he did the lineups)</p> </p>
Macabia Hafia and Israel arn't good enough for chelsea in my opinion it is a bit of a step down. I think the club will destroy itself from the inside out
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (man_u_barmy_army)</div><div class='quotemain'>Macabia Hafia and Israel arn't good enough for chelsea in my opinion it is a bit of a step down. I think the club will destroy itself from the inside out</div> </p> You hope or You think? </p> </p>
