Acclaim at last for Avram Grant

Avram Grant isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. A relatively unknown quantity before shooting to fame as manager of Chelsea in September 2007, Grant‘s lethargic demeanour was never likely to win over the home fans after The Special One. But since that infamous rain-soaked night in Moscow, where Chelsea so nearly broke their Champions League duck, the former Israeli national team coach has gone on to prove that he is more than just a miserable face.

Since departing Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2008, Avram Grant has spent every breathing moment of his existence trying to convince anyone and everyone that he was a success at Chelsea. Having steadied the ship after an uncharacteristically poor start to the season under Jose Mourinho, Grant led the side to a second place finish in the league and within inches of winning the Champions League. Love him or hate time, the fact of the matter is Avram Grant achieved something the likes of Ranieri, Mourinho, Scolari and Hiddink weren’t able to do.

Despite his relative success during his short spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, Roman Abramovich sacked Grant after John Terry‘s missed penalty and turned to World Cup winner Luis Felipe Scolari. We all know how that tale ends. Grant never received the credit he deserved while at Stamford Bridge and that’s partly down to the fact that most fans and pundits felt that Chelsea were on auto-pilot during his reign and nothing had really changed from the Mourinho regime.

A year-and-a-half after leaving Chelsea, Avram Grant resurfaced at Portsmouth; a club in dire financial difficulties, with a lightweight squad, and very much the antithesis of Chelsea. And it is at Fratton Park where Grant has performed perhaps his greatest accomplishment – guiding Pompey to the FA Cup Final.

Facing his former employers at Wembley next month will add extra spice to the tie but Portsmouth will need more than the beacon of revenge if they’re going to get one over Chelsea – top versus bottom in the Premiership, Pompey haven’t beaten the Blues in the Cup in 81 years. But if there’s anyone who can pull off this kind of miracle, it’s Avram Grant. Hell, he’s a great cup manager… Maybe he should have been going to the World Cup?

Avram Grant waves to his adoring fans