Avram takes charge at Chelsea

In the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure at Chelsea, the club have moved swiftly to appoint a successor. Director of football Avram Grant and assistant manager Steve Clarke will now take charge of the first team. We analyse the relationship between Grant and Mourinho as the speculation that went on for over a year finally came true.

In the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure at Chelsea, the club have moved swiftly to appoint a successor. Director of football Avram Grant and assistant manager Steve Clarke will now take charge of the first team.

Grant's appointment is believed to be permanent, and somewhat of a surprise considering how quickly Chelsea moved to replace Mourinho.

A club statement read, "Chelsea can confirm that Avram Grant and Steve Clarke will be in charge of the first team from today (Thursday).

"The club is delighted that in Avram we have an experienced man who can come in immediately at this difficult time to help deliver our objectives.

"In Steve we have a Chelsea man and he will be a crucial part of the management team going forward. Avram and Steve have our full confidence and support."

The former Israel coach is very close to Roman Abramovich and is believed to have originally moved to Chelsea as Director of Football despite Jose Mourinho being against his arrival.

Jose Mourinho said his good byes to the Chelsea team at Chelsea's Cobham training ground on Thursday morning.

Avram Grant has managed Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Maccabi Haifa and Israel in his career, but had spent his first year in England as Portsmouth's director of Fooball, but his move to Chelsea saw him become the go-between and co-ordinator of long-term strategy, reporting to chief executive Peter Kenyon at Stamford Bridge.