The BBC is reporting that a spokesman for the UK Premier League soccer team Chelsea said reports of Israeli coach Avram Grant returning to the team are false.

Several newspapers have reported that Chelsea is considering hiring Grant in an advisory role to new coach Rafael Benitez. Benitez, former manager at Liverpool, was recently hired after Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich dismissed coach Roberto Di Matteo; and has come under fire for the team’s recent poor showing.

Grant, a personal friend of Abramovich, coached Chelsea in 2007 and 2008 and despite success was fired after the team’s second-place finish in the Champions League.

Grant is from Petah Tikvah and managed Israel’s national team from 2002 until 2005. He was most recently with the team Partizan Belgrade.