So who is Avram Grant?

LAST FRIDAY, Avram Grant welcomed some friends who had come to watch Israel’s Euro 2008 qualifier against England to Chelsea’s newly-built training ground at Cobham.

He led them up to the second floor and to his fairly small corner office overlooking the training pitches. He was happy with his new role and comfortable with life in London: seven days on, Grant’s position, if not his office, has changed. This afternoon, he can expect an intense grilling as to his credentials when he faces the press as Chelsea’s new coach.

His first game in charge will be at Old Trafford, the ground where José Mourinho first came to the attention of an English audience with a victorious run along the touchline when Porto knocked Manchester United out of Europe.