BBC Sportfootball

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 11:54 GMT, Sunday, 30 November 2008

Grant eyes Premier League return

Avram Grant
Grant said he was "very proud" of his achievements at Chelsea

Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant has told the BBC he would love to return to coaching in the Premier League.

The Israeli, who replaced Jose Mourinho as boss in September 2007, lost his job despite taking the team to last season's Champions League final.

"I love the involvement from inside, development, problems, solutions - of course I miss it," he said.

"I hope I'll be back. After so many years it's good to see football from the side but I hope soon I'll be back."

Grant told Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme that he had received offers to return to coaching, but nothing that had caught his eye.

"Yes (I've had offers), more than a few, but for the moment not something I like," he said.

"When you're in the game so long, you want a challenge, to take the team and develop to a higher place, this is what I like to do.

"I loved the Premier League before I came to England, the best atmosphere in the world is here, but anything with a challenge is good for me."

He also said he was "very proud" of what he had done in his time at Chelsea and chose to remember his achievements rather than the nature of his departure.

"In any aspect of football - results, atmosphere, the image of the team - in every aspect I left the team much better than I received it," he said.

"Everyone remembers Chelsea with two titles (won under predecessor Jose Mourinho) but when I took them, they were on the way down.

606: DEBATE

"I took them in September which is not easy to do in the middle of a season without preparation.

"I'm not a man who looks at the past too much, I have so many good memories.

"When I got the job everyone put question marks by my name, but we developed, won some games, had success, got to the Champions League final and were 10cm from winning it, and from many points behind we were nearly (Premier League) champions.

"I can focus on bad moments or good ones, but there are so many good ones so I don't want to remember the decision."

Print Sponsor


see also
Grant sacked as Chelsea manager
24 May 08 |  Chelsea
Terry 'haunted' by penalty miss
25 May 08 |  Chelsea
Grant's Chelsea tenure in photos
24 May 08 |  Chelsea
Grant deserves sympathy
24 May 08 |  Chelsea
Chelsea and Drogba set for talks
24 May 08 |  Chelsea
Grant can hold his head high
22 May 08 |  Europe
Grant gracious after title blow
11 May 08 |  Premier League
How the title was won
12 May 08 |  Premier League


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

FROM OTHER SPORT SITES
Evening Standard Scolari's got to get one over Wenger to prove he's the real deal - 52 hrs ago
Daily Express Scolari shrugs Drogba aside - 26 Nov 2008