Frank Lampard is set to make a return as the caretaker manager of Chelsea until the end of the season. This comes after Graham Potter was sacked following Chelsea’s 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa. Lampard previously held the position from 2019 to 2021.
In his first season as manager, Lampard was brought in to replace Maurizio Sarri during a time when Chelsea was facing a transfer ban and the loss of star player Eden Hazard. Despite an opening day defeat at Old Trafford, the team slowly found their footing. A run of four defeats in five Premier League games from November to December left fans anxious, but the atmosphere picked up after two wins in North London over Tottenham and Arsenal during the Christmas period.
A 4-0 victory over Everton and former manager Carlo Ancelotti left fans feeling positive before the unprecedented Covid lockdown. Chelsea managed to limp into the top four once football restarted despite a devastating 3-0 away defeat at Sheffield United and a 5-3 loss at Anfield.
Lampard is due at Chelsea’s training base this morning ahead of his expected announcement as the Blues’ caretaker manager. The 44-year-old was Everton boss just three months ago before his sacking but is now due to return to the club where he is still a legend. Lampard appeared 648 times in the Blue shirt between 2001 and 2014 and is the club’s record goalscorer with 211 strikes. This includes 10 consecutive seasons of hitting double-figures in the league alone as he emerged as one of the most important players during the trophy-laden Roman Abramovich era.
Reports broke last night that the Chelsea legend could be set to return to the dugout in a caretaker role some 15 months after being sacked as head coach. The incredible turn of events comes days after the sacking of Graham Potter, who lasted just shy of eight months. Potter had replaced Thomas Tuchel, who won the Champions League only months after replacing Lampard. Amid all the managerial change, Chelsea have also spent around £600m in two transfer windows after Roman Abramovich left the club which was bought by Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital Group.
It has been a dizzying couple of years even by Chelsea’s standards. The team has experienced a lot of changes, but Lampard’s return could bring some stability to the club. Fans will be hoping that he can lead the team to success once again.