Ex-Chelsea boss Avram Grant poised to be named new Ghana coach

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Ex-Chelsea boss Avram Grant poised to be named new Ghana coach

By Kent Mensah
Nov 7, 2014 15:46:00

The 59-year-old Israeli has agreed in principle to become the next Black Stars boss but must first negotiate a financial package

The Ghana Football Association has settled on former Chelsea manager Avram Grant as the next Black Stars coach.

According to the west African nation's football governing body, the Israeli will succeed Kwesi Appiah if he can reach a financial agreement.

Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi said at a press conference Friday that the former Maccabi Tel Aviv and West Ham United manager stood out among the final candidates - a shortlist which included Michel Pont, Juan Ignacio Jimenez, Patrick Kluivert and Marco Tardelli.

However, Nyantakyi said that if Grant - who is scheduled to be unveiled next week - fails to agree on the financial terms, Juan Jimenez will be the next coach of the four-time African champions.

"Our preference is Avram Grant and Jimenez is our second choice. We have not reached agreement with him yet but we're left with some small details which will be sorted out soon," Nyantakyi said.

After an interview in October, the FA said Grant impressed them with his plans for the African side coupled with his strong record. He is expected in Ghana in a few days' time to finalise the deal.

Grant, who is the technical director of BEC Tero Sasana, will in the interim keep acting coach Maxwell Konadu as his deputy, Goal understands.

Ghana parted ways with Appiah on September 12 after playing two 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He failed to lead the Black Stars to go beyond the group stages of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil amidst a player revolt which led to the expulsion of two midfielders – Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng - from the camp.