Frank Lampard ‘closes in on a return to management’ with Championship side – as he ‘prepares to return to the dugout’ for the first time since Chelsea interim stint
- Lampard was in interim charge of Chelsea following the sacking of Graeme Potter in 2023
- He has managed three different teams but has yet to take charge of a club
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts!available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Frank Lampard is set to return to the dugout as manager of a Championship team, according to a report.
Lampard has been out of work since his interim spell at Chelsea at the end of the 2022/23 season, taking over from Graeme Potter until Mauricio Pochettino took charge.
It was his second spell with the Blues, with his first appointment in 2019 enjoying initial success until he was sacked by former owner Roman Abramovich in January 2021.
He has also had spells in charge of both Derby County and Everton since retiring from playing in 2017, with varying degrees of success at both clubs, but the former England star has struggled to establish himself.
Now he could do that, though The mirrorset for a return to the dugout with Championship side Coventry City, who brutally sacked long-serving manager Mark Robins last week.
Frank Lampard is close to a return to management with a Championship side, according to a report
The former midfielder has been out of work since taking over as interim boss at Chelsea in 2023
He could replace Mark Robins, who had been in charge at Coventry after seven years
Robins left the club 17th in the Championship on Wednesday evening after a 2-1 defeat to Derby County at home. They appointed assistant coach Rhys Carr on an interim basis in their search for Robins’ successor.
In 2022-23 he led them to the Championship play-off final, where they lost on penalties to Luton, and last season they were painfully knocked out of the FA Cup semi-finals by Manchester United on penalties.
Robins returned to the Sky Blues in March 2017 for a second spell in charge of the club at the bottom of League One and was unable to avoid relegation that season.
However, he led them to immediate promotion and in 2019–20 he steered them to the League One title. He was the Football League’s longest-serving manager.
Coventry have also been linked with the likes of Wycombe – who are top of League One – boss Matt Bloomfield, as well as Robbie Keane and current England interim chief Lee Carsley.
But Lampard is now the heavy favorite to take to the dugout at the CBS Arena, and could be in position for Coventry’s next match – at home to Sheffield United – after the international break.
He would be free to appoint for City as he is out of work – the same cannot be said for players like Bloomfield.
Coventry drew 1-1 with top-seeded Sunderland on Saturday in their first match of the post-Robins era, with Haji Wright and Jack Rudoni ensuring they came back from 2-0 down at the Stadium of Light.
Lampard, pictured with his wife Christine, has led on three sides but has struggled to find a solution
Coventry are 17th in the Championship and could appoint Lampard during the international break
Robins’ dismissal left many fans scratching their heads, with the general view being that he should have been given time to turn around their poor start to the season.
Coventry had collected seven points in five games since the last international break and had beaten Luton 3-2 and Middlesbrough 3-0 in consecutive games before their loss to Derby.
They almost knocked Tottenham out of the third round of the Carabao Cup in September before a late turnaround with goals from Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson knocked them out.