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Avram Grant
Avram Grant was appointed Director of Football at Chelsea in July 2007 at the request of the club's owner, Roman Abramovich. It marked the high point of a remarkable rise to prominence in world football for the 51-year-old Israeli, who had not worked outside his home country until 2006.
After a club coaching career in Israel that saw him secure success with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, Grant was appointed coach of the national side. His tenure proved divisive with his supporters praising his ultimately unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the 2006 World Cup while detractors claimed his side threw away the chance to make the finals.
Grant's entry in European football was secured by his friendship with Pini Zahavi, the so-called 'super agent' who has worked on a consultancy basis for many of Europe's top sides. Zahavi has a particularly strong relationship with the new Russian investors in football and following Alex Gaydamak's takeover at Portsmouth he recommended Grant to Pompey who appointed him Technical Director in June 2006. Given Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp's disdain for interference in football matters it was seen as testament to Grant's methods that he and Redknapp had an excellent working relationship.
While Grant was at Portsmouth however, Zahavi was lobbying hard for his friend and countryman with Europe's elite. He introduced Grant to Roman Abramovich and the two talked at length about football. Impressed by Grant and keen to check Jose Mourinho's power at Chelsea, Abramovich offered Grant the position of Director of Football at Chelsea in June 2007.
It was another attempt by Abramovich to split responsibility for footballing matters between several individuals and it further infuriated Mourinho, already nonplussed by the appointment of Frank Arnesen as Director of Youth Development and Scouting. Tellingly, the press release announcing Grant's arrival at Stamford Bridge referred to Mourinho as 'first team coach'.
Grant was handed a great deal of power at Chelsea, reporting to the board and operating effectively as the chief operating officer of football affairs. Based on his time at Portsmouth it is unlikely that Grant personally upset Mourinho but with the club already split between the owner and the manager following the signing of Andriy Shevchenko, the appointment of another Abramovich loyalist further frustrated Jose.
Grant's personality is diametrically opposed to Mourinho's; perhaps that is why Chelsea have chosen him to take over at this point in time. In contrast to Jose's love of interviews dotted with theatrical flourishes, fearsome criticism of those he disagrees with and a cult of personality that has clearly been integral to his success, Grant is said to be quiet, thoughtful and distinctly reticent in his dealings with the media. That will have to change in his new role (whether it is as a caretaker or on a full time basis) but those who know Grant talk of an intelligent, astute individual more in the mould of Arsene Wenger than Jose Mourinho. Whether his experience and knowledge has prepared him for his sudden rise to prominence at Chelsea remains to be seen.