Avram Grant, Former Chelsea Manager, Is New Coach Of Black Stars Of Ghana

Ghana on Friday said they had chosen former Chelsea and West Ham
manager Avram Grant to replace Kwesi Appiah who was sacked after the
Black Stars' World Cup debacle.

Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi said Grant was
the preferred candidate of five whose applications were considered.

Grant and Spanish coach Juan Ignacio Martinez were interviewed,
Nyantakyi said, adding: "But our preference is Avram Grant on the
details of the job requirements and expectations."

If he accepts the terms, Grant could be in charge in time for Ghana's
final Africa Cup of Nations' qualifiers away to Uganda on November 15
and at home to Togo on November 19.

Grant held a string of management positions in his native Israel,
including four years as coach of the national side.

He moved to English outfit Portsmouth as technical director in 2006
and then to Chelsea as director of football, taking over from Jose
Mourinho when he was sacked in September 2007.

But his time at Stamford Bridge was short-lived and his contract was
terminated at the end of the season, despite guiding the Blues to the
runners-up spot in the Champions League and Premier League.

Following a return to Portsmouth, he quit and joined West Ham in 2010
but was sacked after the Hammers were relegated.

He went on to manage Serbian side Partizan Belgrade and will come to
Ghana from Thai club BEC Tero Sasana in Bangkok, where he is currently
technical director.

Ghana have been without a coach since September 12, when Appiah was
sacked following a turbulent World Cup finals in which Ghana failed to
advance beyond the group stages.

Before the team's decisive group match against Portugal, which could
have seen them reach the knock-out stage, players demanded that over
$3 million in appearances fees be flown to them in cash.

The demand caused an uproar in Ghana, where a slowing economy and a
devaluing currency have sent prices rising across the country over the
past year.

The GFA then suspended striker Kevin-Prince Boateng for insulting
Appiah and midfielder Sulley Muntari for hitting a staff member.
--PM News