Grant given marching orders by Chelsea

Chelsea FC have dismissed manager Avram Grant just three days after they were defeated by Manchester United FC on penalties in the final of the UEFA Champions League.

Cup setbacks
The Israeli manager led his side to the final of UEFA's premier club competition for the first time in their history and the final of the English League Cup after taking over from José Mourinho in September. But defeat in those two finals by United and Tottenham Hotspur FC respectively, coupled with their failure to wrestle the Premier League title back from Sir Alex Ferguson's side prompted the club to seek a change.

Contract terminated
A statement from the club read: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated today. 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."

Four-year deal
Grant, who initially joined the club as technical director in July 2007, had made an impressive start to his managerial reign alongside new assistant coach Henk ten Cate at Stamford Bridge and the club rewarded him with a four-year contract in December. But the pressure started to mount on the 53-year-old when they lost 2-1 to Tottenham in the Wembley showpiece and unceremoniously exited the FA Cup at the hands of lowly second-tier side Barnsley FC.

Liverpool scalp
Nevertheless, the former Israel national team coach hauled his side back into the English title race and Chelsea went into the final match of the season behind United on goal difference only for the champions to hold their nerve to retain their crown with a victory at Wigan Athletic FC. However, unlike all his predecessors, he led the London side to the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow with a last-four success against a Liverpool FC side who had disposed of them in both 2005 and 2007 at the semi-final stage. Chelsea will play in that competition again next season after finishing second in the Premier League but Grant will not now be there to lead them.