Grant signs new Chelsea deal

Dec 13, 2007 - 5:29 PM LONDON (Ticker) - Avram Grant has signed a four-year contract as Chelsea's manager and first-team coach.

The club made the announcement via its official website on Thursday afternoon.

The Israeli took over as Chelsea boss earlier this season in the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure and has gradually won the fans over with consistent performances and results in both the Premier League and European competition.

The 52-year-old Grant first came to England in 2006, when he was appointed technical director at Portsmouth.

Earlier this year, he took on a similar role as director of football at Stamford Bridge and was placed in charge of the first team alongside Steve Clarke when Mourinho sensationally parted company with the club.

Chelsea was fifth in the Premier League when Mourinho departed, two points behind leader Arsenal and having made a modest start to the Champions League with a 1-1 draw at home to Rosenborg.

Since then, the Blues' form has been impressive, comfortably earning them a place in the knockout stage of the Champions League and helping them climb to third in the domestic league, three points behind the Gunners.