Soccer: Grant in Israel for UEFA Pro licence classes

He may have one of the hottest jobs in European sport, but on Monday morning Chelsea manager went back to school.

By JEREMY LAST
He may have one of the hottest jobs in European sport, with a budget of millions of British pounds, but on Monday morning Chelsea manager Avraham Grant went back to school. The former Maccabi Tel Aviv and Israel national team coach joined around a dozen current Israeli coaches at the Ramat Gan offices of the Israel Football Association for a day of classes, in order to gain his UEFA PRO licence. Grant's classmates included Betar Jerusalem coach Itzhak Schum, Bnei Yehuda Coach Eli Cohen, and Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Nir Levin. When Grant was first appointed as Chelsea manager after Jose Mounrinho quit the position back in September, his lack of UEFA certification became a significant talking point. So while the group was seen joking around before the classes began, Grant appeared to be approaching the situation in a serious manner. "First of all I am happy to be here and see all my Israeli colleagues," he told reporters. "This is an obligation that UEFA has imposed on Israel. We are Europeans and I understand we have to do this so I will do it. There are always new things to learn." Grant, 52, will return to Israel later this month to complete the second session of classes. The course, which was run by Amnon Raz, chairman of the Israel Coaches Association, included lectures on UEFA regulations, team tactics, African soccer and media coverage of European soccer. Each of the participants were due to be given homework assignments to complete over the next few weeks, which will include giving presentations to the rest of the class. Grant had arrived in Israel over the weekend following Chelsea's 1-1 English Premier League draw with Portsmouth, and attended Sunday's Federation Cup tennis matches at Ramat Hasharon.