BySimon Griver, Simon Griver
Henk ten Cate is the latest high profile name to have been approached by the Israel FA to succeed Dror Kashtan as national team manager.
The former Ajax boss, who was Avram Grant’s assistant at Chelsea, was recommended to the Israel FA by the Portsmouth manager.
The Dutchman has told friends that he is seriously considering the Israel job but is not prepared to sign a contract until he has resolved his compensation dispute with Panathinaikos who sacked him in December.
We understand that Juande Ramos, the former manager of Spurs and Real Madrid, has turned down the post. The Spaniard, who was sacked by CSKA Moscow late last year, said that he had been approached by both Israel and Morocco but prefers to remain in club football.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear what disciplinary and legal action will be taken against Kashtan after he confessed to smuggling excessive amounts of duty free alcohol and tobacco in December.
He was questioned last week by customs and excise officials about systematic smuggling of duty free products over a number years, both on private visits abroad and trips with the national team.
Kashtan denied the systematic smuggling but admitted bringing in more than the legal amount of alcohol when he returned to Israel from Moscow in December. He said: “It was a genuine misunderstanding. I was not aware of the legal limit and paid the difference as soon as it was brought to my attention.”