Avram Grant was sacked as manager of Chelsea on Saturday after less than one season in charge and in the immediate aftermath of the club's heartbreaking Champions League final defeat.

Grant's future at the English Premier League giants has attracted fierce speculation almost from the time he inherited the Stamford Bridge reins from Jose Mourinho eight months ago.

And just three days after his side came off second best in a penalty shoot-out to Manchester United in the Champions League final in Moscow the 53-year-old Israeli's tenure is now at an end.

Names in the frame to succeed the Israeli include Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard, Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini and Russia's Dutch boss Guus Hiddink.

Despite the constant questioning of his position Grant, a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, had been credited with leading the club to their first ever Champions League final.

He also oversaw their late surge for the league title, taking United down to the final day of the season before they were forced to settle for second place.

The club announced the sacking in a statement on their official website.

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated today (Saturday)," the statement read.

"This follows meetings over the last two days. Everybody at Chelsea FC would like to thank Avram for his contribution since taking over as manager last September.

"We will now be concentrating all our efforts on identifying a new manager for Chelsea and there will be no further comment until that appointment is made."

The futures of Chelsea assistants Steve Clarke and Henk Ten Cate are unclear, but no official word has yet been given on their positions.

Reports in the British press suggest Grant may return to a job upstairs at Stamford Bridge as director of football, a post he held under Mourinho before he was plucked from relative obscurity to occupy one of the hottest seats in football.

Source: Yahoo Sports

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It is absolutely silly and unproductive to have a funeral for the word nigger when the actions continue.
We need to have a movement to resurrect brothers and sisters, not a funeral for niggers, cause niggers dont die
Project Roach - Nas (feat Last Poets)

...well...time will tell if this is good or bad.Personally,of the three choices,I'd love to have Guus Hiddink be our coach..if Guus Hiddink becomes our coach everybody else can forget the EPL title...
Pa

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....Perception Is Everything....

Pa

This is not football anymore. It has become like a playground for the big boys with money and the premier league should intervene before the league loses its value.

I can only suggest that we should have a transfer window for manager aswell.

r u serious....well dnt fink d guy picked d right people 2 play d penalty tho

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"To make it to the top, be focused, motivated,
determined and most of all, be yourself."

...Guus Hiddink would've whooped Manure so bad it'd not be funny...have U seen the way Russian teams have played under Dutch coaches?Like they're possessed! The little known Russian team that recently whipped Bayern Munich 5-1 was coached by a Dutchman......Abramovich has good relationships with these people...all his garra do is swipe his Mastercard and the deal is done...

Pa

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....Perception Is Everything....

Pa

Saw this one coming. Clever man. Better to be sacked and get a good pay-off than resign and get nothing.

He had to go anyway. He never commanded respect from most of his players and the media didn't make things easy for him either.

I tip Riijkaard as the next Chelsea boss.

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I found the greatest love of all in, J,D,D,& T

...its a rapidly evolving game .

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....Perception Is Everything....

Pa

Reports indicate that Chelsea were refused discussions with AC Milan coach,Ancelotti..

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..To the one who spoke and the galaxies leapt into existence....who can't be explained on a chalkboard but can be accessed through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.....whose word never returns to him void but accomplishes the purpose for which it is sent.....the one in whom I am complete.....the great I am...who was,who is and who is to come....
www.ifreke.blogspot.com