Exactly a year ago to the day, following Portsmouth’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea at Wembley, manager Avram Grant had everybody’s sympathy. The world’s unluckiest manager! A cup genius who finished bottom of the Premier League table only because of the off the field troubles at Fratton Park. A man who was second only to Harry Redknapp in the eyes of the Pompey faithful had managed them for the last time. Portsmouth were down, their future was in great uncertainty, but they went down with their heads held high. The former Israel boss went out with reputation stronger than ever. One year on, and now boss of West Ham United who have lost their top flight status with a game still to play after a six year stint in the top flight. Has his bubble finally burst?
Grant spent most of his career in his native Israel. Having managed the likes of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Hafia among others, he finally got his chance with the national team after the 2002 world cup. Despite finishing the group undefeated, Grant and Israel missed out on qualification after they finished 3rd behind France and Switzerland. The then 51 year old did not sign a new deal with his current employers and then his career took a sudden change in direction in a way he probably may never have imagined.
Right after the world cup, Avram Grant was appointed as director of football at Portsmouth Football Club, overseeing manager Harry Redknapp’s activity. Just a year later he took up the same position at two time league winners Chelsea, who’s owner was his then friend Roman Abramovich. With superstar manager Jose Mourinho in change, Grant’s appointment in his position was questioned by fans and media alike. Speculation of Mourinho’s relationship with Abramovich and the club was hot on the press, and in September of 2007 he resigned as manager, leading to Avram Grant taking over.
From not being able to qualify for the world cup with his national team to being manager of one of Europe’s biggest club in just two years. Grant was expected to deliver what Mourinho couldn’t – attacking football, returning Andriey Shevchenko to his best and the UEFA Champions League trophy. Despite being disliked by most of the Chelsea fans, Grant and Chelsea finished just two points behind eventual champions Manchester United in the league. They also got to the Champions League final, where they were one slipped penalty kick away from winning the title. John Terry’s miss cost Avram Grant his job, and Chelsea three years of his salary.
But what people didn’t was the amazing squad that he inherited. Finishing second in the Premier League, Champions League and Carling Cup is a brilliant season for any team, but most other managers would have won at least one of them. The league had two 4-4 draws in it, both of which were points lost from winning positions. The disciplined side of Jose Mourinho would never have conceded that many goals, or lost so many points from winning positions. Nor would they have lost to Barnsley in the FA Cup. And they would certainly have beaten some of the top 4 sides, which Grant failed to do.
Sympathy was high for the Israeli and after a year in the unemployment line, he took his old job as Director of Football at his old club Portsmouth and later replaced manager Paul Hart after a disastrous start to the season. The poor start was not just on the field but also off it as the club went through five different owners before finally becoming the first Premier League side to go into administration, and hence having 9 points docked. Despite that, Portsmouth made it to the FA Cup final beating Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspurs in the semi final on the same weekend when they were relegated. An impressive showing against Chelsea despite ending on the losing end, Grant was regarded as the most unfortunate manager in football.
In reality despite Portsmouth no longer having the likes of Jermain Defoe, Lassana Diarra and Peter Crouch in their side, pompey were really poor in the league. Had they not being docked the points, they would have still finished bottom of the table. He was no Harry Redknapp in the way that he had managed the south coast team to premier league survival which had lesser quality that the one that the former Maccabi Tel Aviv manager had.
A quick return to the Premier League with West Ham United, Grant once again finished the season at the bottom of the table. This time, the sympathy was over. Poor results and performances from a team that had the likes of Scott Parker (who was nominated for PFA player of the year and won writer’s player of the year), Carlton Cole, Mathew Upson and January signings of Demba Ba, Robbie Keane and Wayne Bridge.
At Chelsea he could hide behind the fact that he didn’t have the support of the fans, at Portsmouth he could blame the off the field troubles. But following his miserable season with West Ham United, Grant has shown that he really is just the ‘Normal One’ (something he said when he took over from the Special One at Stamford Bridge).
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