Avram Grant Sacked
Chelsea have terminated first team coach Avram Grant's contract with immediate effect...
The London club have announced that they took this decision after twodays of intense discussion, and the search is now on for a replacement.
A statement read that the decision was taken after twodays of intense discussion, with owner Roman Abramovich and the boardapparently losing patience after a season without success in thePremier League or Champions League.
Grant, 53, arrived atStamford Bridge in September of last year after José Mourinho'sdeparture. Having bossed the Israeli national side, as well as a hostof domestic teams, his experience was considerable, but lacked thetop-level edge that many fans in west London had grown to expect.What's more, a lack of official UEFA qualification put him in adifficult situation.
Nonetheless he was able to guide the Bluesboth to the CL final in Moscow and to second place in the PremierLeague, losing the former game on penalties and the latter competitionby a narrow margin.
However, it has been clear for some timethat a trophyless season, however close-fought, would not be tolerated,and thus Grants departure comes as no real surprise.
The Search Is On
The second part of Chelsea's official communiqué pertained to the need to find a replacement. It read:"We will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a newmanager for Chelsea and there will be no further comment until thatappointment is made."
The likes of Frank Rijkaard, formerBarcelona boss, have been linked with the vacant hotseat, but there arealso rumblings in the English tabloid press that José Mourinho could beset for a surprise (and highly unlikely) return.
Sun, 25th May 2008
Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated today (Saturday, May 24). This follows meetings over the last two days.
Everybody at Chelsea FC would like to thank Avram for his contribution since taking over as manager last September.
We will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager for Chelsea and there will be no further comment until that appointment is made.
