Reports suggest that Frank Lampard is open to returning to Chelsea as a caretaker manager. The club has started its search for a new manager after sacking Graham Potter on Sunday and is keen to speak to several candidates before the end of the week. Julian Nagelsmann, who was sacked by Bayern Munich during the international break, has already held talks with Chelsea’s hierarchy and remains under consideration. Chelsea is also speaking to former Spain and Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique, who travelled to London for further discussions on Wednesday.
Lampard, meanwhile, is out of work after he was sacked by Everton in January but was sat in the director’s box at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening to watch Chelsea’s goalless draw with Liverpool. According to The Times, Chelsea is considering appointing Lampard on an interim basis until the end of the season, and the 44-year-old is said to be ‘open’ to coming back to Stamford Bridge in a temporary position until the end of the season.
Lampard was initially appointed as Chelsea manager in the summer of 2019 and guided the team to a top-four finish and to the FA Cup final in his first season in charge. But after a promising start to the next campaign, Lampard was sacked after a run of four defeats in eight league games in January 2021.
In an interview with High Performance podcast when reflecting on his final months as Chelsea boss, Lampard said, “At the end of my time at Chelsea, I lost communication with important people above me that I should have tried to keep more. That was one of my reflections on it because then that void becomes an issue. It certainly wasn’t just my fault because I think that should be a two-way responsibility because you need to feel support. Like you’re saying, how do you get that long-term vision? Well, you’d better be supported back when it is a bit tough because that’s the reality of football.”
Chelsea is known for its revolving door of managers, and Lampard’s potential return as a caretaker manager could be seen as a stop-gap measure until a more permanent appointment is made. However, Lampard’s previous experience with the club and his understanding of the team’s culture could make him a strong candidate for the role.
The decision to appoint Lampard as a caretaker manager would also give the club time to assess its options and make a more informed decision about its next permanent manager. The club’s recent form has been inconsistent, and it is currently sitting in seventh place in the Premier League table, six points behind fourth-placed West Ham United.
Chelsea’s next game is against Everton on Monday, and it remains to be seen whether Lampard will be in the dugout for that match. However, if he does return to Stamford Bridge, it will be interesting to see whether he can replicate the success he had in his first season in charge and guide the team to a top-four finish and potentially even silverware.