http://www.chelseafc.com/page/TheManagement/0,,10268~859906,00.html

PROFILES

Avram Grant


Avram Grant was originally appointed as director of football in July 2007
after he joined us from Portsmouth where he had held the same role. At the
age of 52, Avram then became first team coach when Jose Mourinho left in
September 2007. Steve Clarke remained as his assistant.


Before moving to Fratton Park, Avram managed the Israeli national side
that narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2006 World Cup after
finishing unbeaten in a difficult group stage, which included eventual
qualifiers France and Switzerland.


His coaching career began when he was appointed into the senior position
at Hapoel Petach Tikva. Avram led his home town club to an unexpected
second-place finish in the 1990/91 and as well as succeeding in two Toto
cup triumphs (the equivalent of the League) during his stay there.


His achievements did not go unnoticed and he was soon employed by Maccabi
Tel-Aviv where, in his first season, he won the Israeli championship with
a 13 point advantage over their nearest rivals. Avram was denied a famous
double however when the side lost in the final of the Israeli cup.


However the cup soon arrived in 1994 and was followed with another
championship in 1995 before he moved to rivals Hapoel Haifa for a short
but disappointing spell, finishing fourth in the Israeli championship.


In 1997, Avram returned to Tel-Aviv, capturing one more Toto Cup in 1999
before taking on the coach's role at Maccabi Haifa, in 2000.


It was there that Avram experienced his greatest successes in club
football to date, leading the club to two league championships in two
years, as well as the 2002 Toto Cup, consolation for defeat in the
national cup final the same year which denied Avram his treble.


His credentials are also highlighted by the emergence of talents such as
Yossi Benayoun and Aiyegbeni Yakubu during his stewardship, and the
success of the side he built in becoming the first Israeli team to reach
the group stages of the Champions League following his departure for the
national team role.


At the age of 46, Avram was the youngest man ever to manage Israel's
national team and went on to become the country's most successful manager
of all time with an overall record of 14 wins, 13 draws and 6 loses during
his 33 games in charge.


In 2006 Avram announced he would not be renewing his contract with Israel
and was soon appointed into his position alongside Harry Redknapp at
Portsmouth where he made until the call came to move to Stamford Bridge.