Avram Grant will lead Portsmouth out at Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final and then fly to Auschwitz to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day as the troubles at Fratton Park are put into stark perspective.
The 54-year-old Israeli will take part in the 'March Of The Living' in honour of those who died during World War II.
Grant's father Meir fled his native Poland as a 13-year-old in 1941 for the far north of Russia, where he lost his parents and five siblings after they froze or starved to death in the harsh conditions.
The Portsmouth manager first learned the story at 15, when he heard his father screaming in his sleep.
But the fortitude shown by Meir - whose name in Hebrew means 'giving light' - during those dark days has remained with Grant as he tackles the most difficult period of his managerial career.
"My father was a survivor of the Holocaust," said Grant, whose father passed away three months ago, aged 82.
"He buried his father and mother, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and he was the most optimistic guy I ever met.
"I miss my father a lot, he came to many games.
"I always remember, but to come to this day is very special. I have sport on one side and this on the other.
"Everybody needs to learn from my father. Even though he suffered so much, he looked always at optimism and never hated anybody, even the people who did what they did.
"I learnt from my father that first you always have to be strong with yourself, which has helped me because life is not always black and white.
"He said it is better to be foolishly optimistic than right and pessimistic."
Grant's father Meir fled his native Poland as a 13-year-old in 1941 for the far north of Russia, where he lost his parents and five siblings after they froze or starved to death in the harsh conditions.
The Portsmouth manager first learned the story at 15, when he heard his father screaming in his sleep.
But the fortitude shown by Meir - whose name in Hebrew means 'giving light' - during those dark days has remained with Grant as he tackles the most difficult period of his managerial career.
"My father was a survivor of the Holocaust," said Grant, whose father passed away three months ago, aged 82.
"He buried his father and mother, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and he was the most optimistic guy I ever met.
"I miss my father a lot, he came to many games.
"I always remember, but to come to this day is very special. I have sport on one side and this on the other.
"Everybody needs to learn from my father. Even though he suffered so much, he looked always at optimism and never hated anybody, even the people who did what they did.
"I learnt from my father that first you always have to be strong with yourself, which has helped me because life is not always black and white.
"He said it is better to be foolishly optimistic than right and pessimistic."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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