Jose doomed a week ago
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Avram Grant began preparing to be installed as Jose Mourinho's successor at Chelsea a week ago, Sportsmail can reveal.
In a sensational twist to the tale of Mourinho's departure, Grant contacted the boss of Israel's coaching set-up at the end of last week and said: "I need a Pro Licence — and I need it in a hurry." Former Israel coach Grant — who claims that he did not knife the Portuguese in the back — was confirmed as Chelsea's new manager just 12 hours after Mourinho left the club.
Grant's elevation from director of football was rubber-stamped at a series of crisis meetings on Wednesday, but it has emerged that he had an idea well beforehand of what was about to unfold. Grant first made contact with Amnon Raz, Israel's equivalent of League Managers' Association chief John Barnwell, six months ago and asked about the procedure for a Pro Licence but decided against taking it any further.
There was a different tone about his latest call a week ago, according to informed Israel Federation sources, as he quizzed Raz about the quickest way of obtaining a certificate that is viewed as a necessity for managing in the Premier League. Former Israel skipper Avi Nimni added: "His appointment may have surprised many people, but not me. "I am in daily contact with Grant, and this move has been on the go for a long time. "You have to be beside Abramovich and Grant to understand the connection between them." Ex-Israel Under-18 coach Raz is due in London next week to discuss Grant's options and has also recruited Federation president Avi Luzon to try to hasten the qualification process.
Sportsmail understands Grant faxed details of his career to Luzon on Thursday and that the Federation chief will draft a letter, signed by himself and Raz, urging UEFA to treat the new Chelsea manager's case as a priority. Luzon said: "It is a great honour for Israeli football that a coach who came from our ranks has been given one of the top jobs, if not the top job, in football."
Grant was officially presented as the club's new manager yesterday and despite major misgivings among the first-team squad ahead of tomorrow's Premiership clash at Manchester United, he claims he can be a success. The Israeli, who is observing the strict rules of Yom Kippur and will not take the team for training today, said: "People asked who was Arsene Wenger when he first came to England, and look what he has done.
"No one had heard of Fabio Capello when he began training Milan's youth team, but look at his record. "It is not fair to compare me to Jose Mourinho. I respect everything he's done, I don't have a bad word to say against him. He was special, but I am normal." -
In possibly the most mental development in the whole Chelsea saga, Jamie Redknapp has apparently been approached to become Avram Grant's assistant to bring 'glamour and popularity'.
Roman Abramovich and Peter Kenyon have obviously been impressed by Redknapp's 'expert' opinions on Sky Sports, where he regularly comments that Frank Lampard (his cousin) is a "top, top player".
The Daily Mirror says that Redknapp is wanted for his 'pin-up' qualities as Grant is obviously not a big hit with the ladies. In other Chelsea-related tomfoolery, newspaper reports suggest that not only is Didier Drogba going to follow Mourinho out of the club, but so are the "devastated" Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Florent Malouda and Paulo Ferreira.
If they're not already thinking about leaving, they will be when they hear that Redknapp is on his way - except Lampard, who is, of course, a "top, top player".
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Jamie Redknapp, the previous Spurs player?
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Err... the previous Pool player and one of the original Liverpool Spice Boyz...Originally posted by glacer:Jamie Redknapp, the previous Spurs player? 
Anyone has any idea who were the other Pool Spice Boyz...
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Robbie Fowler!!!Originally posted by zocoss:Err... the previous Pool player and one of the original Liverpool Spice Boyz...
Anyone has any idea who were the other Pool Spice Boyz... -
Originally posted by zocoss:If they're not already thinking about leaving, they will be when they hear that Redknapp is on his way - except Lampard, who is, of course, a "top, top player".
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david james, steve mcmanamann, and can't rmb le.Originally posted by zocoss:Err... the previous Pool player and one of the original Liverpool Spice Boyz...
Anyone has any idea who were the other Pool Spice Boyz... -
i just have this sick feeling that grant backstabbed jose.
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and kenyon?Originally posted by stellazio:i just have this sick feeling that grant backstabbed jose. -
Originally posted by zocoss:Err... the previous Pool player and one of the original Liverpool Spice Boyz...
Anyone has any idea who were the other Pool Spice Boyz...
jason mcateer!Originally posted by stellazio:david james, steve mcmanamann, and can't rmb le. -
not jaime redknapp meh?Originally posted by monoslayer:jason mcateer! -
I totally agree.Originally posted by stellazio:i just have this sick feeling that grant backstabbed jose. 
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jaime redknapp, david james, macca, jason macteer.. forgot whether robbie fowler is part of them anot..Originally posted by stellazio:not jaime redknapp meh? -
stan collymore too.. the worst of the lot
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Hahaha... I still have memory of them wearing their cream Armani suits at Wembly.Originally posted by Cullen[10]:stan collymore too.. the worst of the lot
Here are the 5 original Spice Boyz...
Stan Collymore, Jamie Redknapp, Steve McManaman, David James and Robbie Fowler.
In their flashy suits they were kind of sexy and they possessed just the right blend between subtlety and swagger. They did the town with starlets and hit the road in the flashiest of cars.
But could they play? Well, to their credit, they knew how to move a ball around. But like all good things, the Spice Boys soon 'disbanded' and went their separate ways.
Robbie Fowler has just left Anfield again, Redknapp and McManaman are with TV stations. James is riding into the sunset at Portsmouth while Collymore aspires to be an actor. But one thing's certain: The Spice Boys are a closed book. -
they r redknapp, mcmanaman, fowler & mcateer..Originally posted by zocoss:Err... the previous Pool player and one of the original Liverpool Spice Boyz...
Anyone has any idea who were the other Pool Spice Boyz...