Jose Mourinho claimed Avram Grant would make his life easier when the Israeli was made director of football at Stamford Bridge back in July.
Two months on, however, the 52-year-old Grant is holding the reins of the club with Mourinho and Chelsea having parted ways.
The exit of the self-proclaimed 'Special One' brings the curtain down on a successful era at the club, but Russian owner Roman Abramovich believes even better times are ahead.
He is looking to Grant to make sure Chelsea continue to prosper.
Grant moved to Chelsea in the summer from Premier League rivals Portsmouth, where he spent a year as the south-coast club`s technical director of football.
His arrival in west London as co-ordinator of long-term strategy was greeted with a muted response by a defiant Mourinho who insisted: "He (Grant) must not interfere with the power I have in relation to my job."
The pair later seemed to build up a good relationship as Grant helped develop the club`s structure and act as a go-between with the board.
"Avram makes my life easier," Mourinho said. "I am happy.
"He [Grant] wants to help people, he does not want to create problems for people."
Mourinho was not the first manager Grant tamed. He won the heart of an initially-dubious Redknapp when he took up the position of technical director at Fratton Park in June 2006.
Redknapp was quickly reassured that Grant had no intention of undermining him as Pompey manager and, while the exact nature of his role at Portsmouth was unclear, the Israeli attended training sessions and appeared in the dug-out on match day to offer his advice.
Indeed, Redknapp was glowing in his praise when Grant departed for Stamford Bridge.
"I've found [him] to be very knowledgeable, an absolute gentleman and a nice person to have at the club - he has got a good knowledge of the game and of foreign players," said Redknapp.
Grant came to England after a career in Israel where he had forged a reputation for getting the best out of limited resources.
It is no secret that Grant is one of Abramovich`s most trusted advisors having been introduced by agent Pini Zahavi three years ago, and it is believed that the Russian had a big part to play in his appointment at Portsmouth last season.
Grant has similar qualities to Mourinho, who made his name as a successful coach with Porto on a relatively shoestring budget and with no real playing career of which to speak.
Grant started coaching at the age of 19 having never played the game professionally. He won the youth championship with Hapoel Petach Tikva and was then appointed to coach the senior team, becoming the youngest ever manager in the Israeli top division.
In 1974 he became youth coach at Hapoel Petah Tikva at the young age of 19, and went on to win the youth championship a mere four years later.
It was no surprise in 1986 when he was appointed coach of the senior team at Hapoel, becoming the youngest ever manager in the Israeli top flight.
Five years later he moved from Hapoel to become head coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv, and after winning two league titles in four years, took the reigns at Hapoel Haifa.
A less successful stint, coupled with a disappointing second spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv, looked to have spelt the end for the Israeli boss.
But in 2000 he took over at Maccabi Haifa and instantly guided the club to two titles in two years and the honour of leading the first ever Israeli side into the UEFA Champions League.
His impressive domestic record soon alerted the Israeli FA to his obvious ability, and in 2002 he became the youngest ever manager of the Israel national side.
A disappointing Euro 2004 qualification campaign ensued, and after attracting even more controversy by travelling in secret to Tunisia to watch the African Nations Cup, many fans in his homeland were calling for his instant dismissal as Tunisia is considered an enemy country.
But Grant stayed in charge and almost led his country to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, finishing third in their qualifying group behind eventual finalists France and Switzerland.
With his head held high, he finally quit his role in November 2005 after the Israeli FA's reluctance to open new contract talks, and instead began his adventures in England.
"I'm fed up with this demon dance," said Grant at the time. "It's easy to criticise but not so easy to get results."
Grant has shown an in-depth knowledge of the game and an ability to work well with close colleagues and get the best out of his players.
His close friendship to Abramovich will surely help his cause during his time in the managerial hotseat at Stamford Bridge.
But whether he can deliver the immediate success that Chelsea demand both home and abroad at the highest level of the game remains to be seen.
The exit of the self-proclaimed 'Special One' brings the curtain down on a successful era at the club, but Russian owner Roman Abramovich believes even better times are ahead.
He is looking to Grant to make sure Chelsea continue to prosper.
Grant moved to Chelsea in the summer from Premier League rivals Portsmouth, where he spent a year as the south-coast club`s technical director of football.
His arrival in west London as co-ordinator of long-term strategy was greeted with a muted response by a defiant Mourinho who insisted: "He (Grant) must not interfere with the power I have in relation to my job."
The pair later seemed to build up a good relationship as Grant helped develop the club`s structure and act as a go-between with the board.
"Avram makes my life easier," Mourinho said. "I am happy.
"He [Grant] wants to help people, he does not want to create problems for people."
Mourinho was not the first manager Grant tamed. He won the heart of an initially-dubious Redknapp when he took up the position of technical director at Fratton Park in June 2006.
Redknapp was quickly reassured that Grant had no intention of undermining him as Pompey manager and, while the exact nature of his role at Portsmouth was unclear, the Israeli attended training sessions and appeared in the dug-out on match day to offer his advice.
Indeed, Redknapp was glowing in his praise when Grant departed for Stamford Bridge.
"I've found [him] to be very knowledgeable, an absolute gentleman and a nice person to have at the club - he has got a good knowledge of the game and of foreign players," said Redknapp.
Grant came to England after a career in Israel where he had forged a reputation for getting the best out of limited resources.
It is no secret that Grant is one of Abramovich`s most trusted advisors having been introduced by agent Pini Zahavi three years ago, and it is believed that the Russian had a big part to play in his appointment at Portsmouth last season.
Grant has similar qualities to Mourinho, who made his name as a successful coach with Porto on a relatively shoestring budget and with no real playing career of which to speak.
Grant started coaching at the age of 19 having never played the game professionally. He won the youth championship with Hapoel Petach Tikva and was then appointed to coach the senior team, becoming the youngest ever manager in the Israeli top division.
In 1974 he became youth coach at Hapoel Petah Tikva at the young age of 19, and went on to win the youth championship a mere four years later.
It was no surprise in 1986 when he was appointed coach of the senior team at Hapoel, becoming the youngest ever manager in the Israeli top flight.
Five years later he moved from Hapoel to become head coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv, and after winning two league titles in four years, took the reigns at Hapoel Haifa.
A less successful stint, coupled with a disappointing second spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv, looked to have spelt the end for the Israeli boss.
But in 2000 he took over at Maccabi Haifa and instantly guided the club to two titles in two years and the honour of leading the first ever Israeli side into the UEFA Champions League.
His impressive domestic record soon alerted the Israeli FA to his obvious ability, and in 2002 he became the youngest ever manager of the Israel national side.
A disappointing Euro 2004 qualification campaign ensued, and after attracting even more controversy by travelling in secret to Tunisia to watch the African Nations Cup, many fans in his homeland were calling for his instant dismissal as Tunisia is considered an enemy country.
But Grant stayed in charge and almost led his country to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, finishing third in their qualifying group behind eventual finalists France and Switzerland.
With his head held high, he finally quit his role in November 2005 after the Israeli FA's reluctance to open new contract talks, and instead began his adventures in England.
"I'm fed up with this demon dance," said Grant at the time. "It's easy to criticise but not so easy to get results."
Grant has shown an in-depth knowledge of the game and an ability to work well with close colleagues and get the best out of his players.
His close friendship to Abramovich will surely help his cause during his time in the managerial hotseat at Stamford Bridge.
But whether he can deliver the immediate success that Chelsea demand both home and abroad at the highest level of the game remains to be seen.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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