AVRAM GRANT has accepted the “challenge” of becoming Zambia boss.
The former Chelsea and West Ham manager has signed a two-year deal with the African nation, who are ranked 88th in Fifa’s rankings.
He replaces caretaker Moses Sichone who took charge in September following the departure of former Croatia international Aljosa Asanovic.
Grant said: “I was looking for the right challenge and that’s why I chose Zambia.
“I came here because of the challenge and I hope when I leave here I will look around and say we did a good job and made a good foundation for the future.
“Zambia has the potential, we have set the targets of what we want to achieve.”
Grant led Ghana to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final before resigning after finishing fourth two years later.
The Israeli boss was once a regular face in English football after being named as the shock successor to Jose Mourinho after the Portuguese boss was sacked at Chelsea in 2007.
He would have been a Champions League winner had John Terry not slipped during a crucial penalty in the shootout against Manchester United in 2008.
Grant would also take crisis club Portsmouth to an FA Cup Final in 2010, before taking charge of West Ham and leading them to relegation a year later.
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The 67-year-old’s first senior job in management was all the way back in 1986, while his last job was in 2018 as interim boss of Indian football club NorthEast United FC, who were only founded in 2014.
Elsewhere, Poland boss Czeslaw Michniewicz will leave at the end of the month following their last-16 World Cup exit.
The Polish FA have decided not to extend the 52-year-old’s contract after 11 months in charge.
Poland drew 0-0 with Mexico, beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 and lost 2-0 to Argentina in their group games before being dumped out by France.
Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza added: “Michniewicz took over the team at a difficult moment.
“Despite these circumstances, he managed to earn qualification to the World Cup and also kept the team’s place in the Nations League elite.
“He also led the national team to the first World Cup knockout stage in 36 years. For this, Michniewicz deserves thanks.”
Poland appointed the ex-Legia Warsaw boss after parting ways in January with Portuguese Paulo Sousa, who asked to be relieved of his duties in December 2021.
