West Ham United are delighted to confirm the appointment of Avram Grant as manager on a four-year contract, subject to being granted a work permit.
Grant will join the club fresh from leading Portsmouth to the FA Cup final and has a wealth of domestic, European and international experience. His most notable achievement in the game was to take Chelsea to the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League final, where only a missed penalty in the shoot-out denied him the trophy.
Ahead of being officially unveiled later this month, Grant said: "I am proud and honoured to be the manager of West Ham. It will be an exciting challenge and I am ready to do my best.
"This is a fantastic club with great fans and a history that is respected around the world. I am already looking forward to getting to work with my players in July and preparing for the new season."
He has been welcomed to the club by the chairmen, with all looking forward to a busy summer and 2010/11 season ahead - the "beginning of a new era at West Ham United".
David Sullivan said: "I am delighted to welcome Avram to West Ham and am confident he will prove a success. We have taken our time over this appointment and are certain we have got the right man.
"We are all looking forward to next season with new players coming in and Avram's arrival is just the latest reason for real optimism."
David Gold said: "I have to say that having met Avram and spent some time with him that we have got our man. He is a perfect fit.
"We needed experience and stability. He is a footballing man and quite frankly his reputation speaks for itself. He has a great sense of humour and I am sure the players will relate to him and the fans will warm to him."
Keep an eye on whufc.com for exclusive reaction, including a special supporters' Q & A with the new manager to be shown on WHUTV soon. Send in your questions to [email protected] with your name and where you are from and we will pick a selection to put to Avram Grant in a filmed interview. Then, log on to WHUTV to see whether your question has been answered.
Avram Grant factfile
Born: 4 May 1955
Nationality: Israeli
Place of birth: Petah Tikva, Israel
Coaching career: Hapoel Petah Tikva, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, Israel, Chelsea, Portsmouth