Despite never playing professionally, Avram Grant has a developed a reputation for tactically astute football, enhancing players' careers and bringing trophies to the clubs he has managed. He began his coaching career with the youth team at Hapoel Petach-Tikva FC, going on to become head coach at the club. He led the small Israeli side to second place in the league in 1990/91 before moving to Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC.

The club had been in decline for some time but Grant bucked the trend, bringing the league title back to Tel-Aviv in 1992 and 1995. He returned to the club in 1996, having spent a season with Hapoel Haifa FC, but did not manage to repeat the success of his first spell. However, Grant rediscovered his touch as coach at Maccabi Haifa FC, winning back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002.

Those achievements earned him a shot as coach of the Israeli national team. The country became one of the most resilient forces in European football. They were unbeaten in the qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, narrowly missing out on a first trip to the finals since 1970, but despite that showing Grant quit his position. The Russian-speaking coach became friends with Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and, after a spell as technical director at Portsmouth FC, joined the London club as director of football in July 2007. He moved into the manager's chair following the departure of José Mourinho in September and signed a four-year contract that December.