busybeeburns Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 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 on 13 December 2007 signed 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. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7418774.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Rose Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 Most unshocking news ever... My money is on Frank Rijkaard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 Very Silly decison... Ambrovich might as well do the job himself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Rose Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 Doesn't he do that already? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 I wonder how good he is at football manager... ! Bet he has won loads of leauges... I dont think he undertands yet real life managment is not so easy. What baffles me is that when Jose left Cheski, nobody would have expected them to challange Man Utd till the final day of the season, no one would have expeted them to get to the final of the Champs Leauge... he really should have won the manager of the year competion as if you count the amount of points he gained for cheski since he took over he would have beaten UTD to the title I am sure of it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Rose Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 Maybe Grant and Sven can swap places :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart Posted May 24, 2008 Share Posted May 24, 2008 Oh yea they need to sort out that saga.. Maybee is that is what is happening roman has always been a fan of Sven ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixed Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Jose for Chelsea. Again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Rose Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Jose for Inter Milan He would go to AC Milan, but he wants champion league football next season :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayzo Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 It was obviously coming but it still sucks. Look at where he got them. Silly decision. They lost the Premier League by 2 points and lost the champions league on a penalty. Its not like they were miles behind. Things take time, you can't expect miracles when he hasn't been there that long, but he pretty much did them miracles considering where they ended up at the end of this season. Ditching him this early is a mistake. I felt for him at the end of the Champions League, you knew what was going to happen to him, and the look on his face confirmed that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 He was sacked before he even got the job............................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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