The professional football coaching career of Avram Grant began in 1972 at the age of 18, when he took charge of the youth squad for his home-town club, Hapoel Petah Tikva. Born in Petah Tikva on 6 February 1955, Grant has since built an extensive management portfolio spanning teams across Israel, Europe, Asia, and India.
Early Success in Israeli Football
Grant spent 14 years within the Hapoel Petah Tikva organization before his promotion to first team coach in 1986. Under his guidance, the club secured two Toto Cup victories in 1990 and 1991. He later moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv, winning the league title in his inaugural season there with a significant points advantage over his rivals. By 1994, he secured an Israeli Cup victory, followed by a league championship in 1995. His tenure at Maccabi Haifa between 2000 and 2002 yielded two Israeli Premier League titles and a Toto Cup, although a clerical error regarding an ineligible player saw the club disqualified from the UEFA Champions League.
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In 2002, Grant assumed the role of head coach for the Israel national team. During his tenure, the squad finished third in their UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying group. During the 2006 World Cup qualification cycle, the team remained undefeated with four wins and six draws, yet failed to progress to the finals. Moving to England in 2006, Grant served as technical director for Portsmouth before joining Chelsea in 2007. Following the departure of José Mourinho, Grant managed Chelsea through the Champions League and League Cup finals before his contract concluded in 2008.
Global Coaching Tenure
Grant returned to Portsmouth as director of football in October 2009, subsequently serving as manager until the club's relegation. A brief spell at West Ham United ended in 2011 after a similar relegation result. His later career included stints with Partizan Belgrade, a technical director role at BEC Tero Sasana, and a tenure as head coach of the Ghana national team from 2014 until his resignation in 2017. In January 2018, he joined the Indian Super League club NorthEast United as a technical advisor.
Fast facts
- Born: 6 February 1955, Petah Tikva, Israel
- Citizenship: Israel and Poland
- First coaching role: Hapoel Petah Tikva youth team, 1972
- Chelsea manager tenure: 2007–2008
- Ghana national team head coach: 2014–2017
- Polish passport obtained: 13 June 2016
- Religion: Orthodox Judaism
Questions readers ask
Did Avram Grant win any league titles in Israel?
Yes, he won multiple Israeli league championships with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa.
Which national teams has Grant managed?
He managed the Israel national team from 2002 to 2006 and the Ghana national team from 2014 to 2017.
