Chelsea have sacked manager Avram Grant after just eight months in charge. The decision followed two days of talks between Grant, 53, and the club's chief executive Peter Kenyon. The Israeli coach's position had been subject to intense speculation after Chelsea finished runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League. Russia coach Guss Hiddink, fellow Dutchman Frank Rijkaard and Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson are among the early favourites to replace Grant. Chelsea said in a statement on their website that the search for a new coach would now begin and that the club will make no further comment. The statement said: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated today. 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." The futures of Chelsea assistants Steve Clarke and Henk Ten Cate are unclear and no official word has yet been given on their positions. Grant, a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, took over on 20 September 2007 after Jose Mourinho was sacked. Frank Rijkaard, Sven-Goran Eriksson and, most recently, Brian Laudrup and Roberto Mancini have all been linked with a possible move to Chelsea. Despite losing just two Premier League games while in charge, Grant attracted criticism from fans who claimed his team lacked style. He was also criticised for losing February's League Cup final against Tottenham. Grant joined Chelsea last summer from Portsmouth as director of football, a decision which apparently did not please Mourinho. Mourinho was later dismissed after their 1-1 draw with Rosenborg at Stamford Bridge in their opening Champions League game. Grant, who had never managed a club in England, was asked to take over and later given a four-year contract. Both Kenyon and chairman Bruce Buck paved the way for change by insisting that Chelsea's performance this season was simply "not good enough". Buck said: "We have very high expectations at Chelsea and a couple of second place finishes is just not good enough for us. "So although we never would have thought in September when Jose Mourinho left that we would be able to make it into a Champions League final as we did - and that is fantastic - Chelsea are here to win trophies. "So although it was an excellent season, we are still disappointed." A series of discussions finally resolved Grant's future and it is understood the Israeli said his farewells to the players on Friday - telling them it had been a 'privilege' to manage the team.
I think Avram Grant is good coach and the best of chelsea coach ever. Final of Champion League is his proved. No Doubt!!!
Yes we posted it here nearly an hour ago http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=212194&page=85
Not of that much interest to United fans - they should have been expecting it - bigger and better things at Chelsea should, theoretically speaking, see that they take the title next season.
It's going to be very tough call, New Manager New Coaches New Players All starting now That is not continuity, the new team will have a very tough job to do even as well as Grant did this season Top teams do not happen overnight in one season, it takes time, and consistency And Chelsea do not have time and patience Outlook for them .........hope ..........only
Man U will only improve their game, they've got the morale, and of course they wont' get too complacent
Yeah, "I was watching the Champions League final and my wife knocked into the tv and Drogba fell over." Rofl. Gotta love it
According to me, it was a good decision. At the finals of UEFA Champions League, Avram was just sitting and doing nothing. Why on earth did he played Anelka when he had Shevchenko on the other hand? I think Mourinho was way better than Avram. But thats just my opinion...
though i am Israeli, i don't like Grant, being a liverpool fan makes me dislike him even more. waht kind of message is the Chelsea mangement sending to their next coach and the entire club? this guy, took a limping team and managed to reach the league cup final, finished 2nd only because of goal difference and for the club's first time ever, reached the european champions league final and now they sack him?! i wish good luck to their next coach, coz he'll need it!
You could feel sorry for Avram Grant but as he got over $10m in severance... I don't think that it's possible to feel that sorry for him...