Frank Lampard is making his comeback to the Premier League with Coventry City, with his team set to take on Arsenal in the opening match of the campaign on Friday evening.
The veteran footballer spent two decades competing at the highest level of English football, launching his professional career at West Ham United when he was just a young player in 1995. It was during his 13-year stint at Stamford Bridge that Lampard truly established himself as a Premier League great, emerging as one of the most potent attacking midfielders the competition has ever seen.
Throughout his 648 appearances, the Chelsea icon found the net 211 times and provided 152 assists. These remarkable figures secured Lampard’s place in Premier League folklore, with the midfielder holding the record for the most goals scored in the league by a midfielder.
Despite his stellar playing career with the Blues, Lampard’s two separate managerial periods at the club encountered considerably more difficulties. Here, football.london examines Lampard’s upcoming return to Stamford Bridge, the circumstances surrounding his dismissal, and whether a permanent comeback could materialise.
Why Lampard lost his position
Lampard arrived at Chelsea as manager in July 2019, becoming the first English manager to lead the club in over two decades. The former England international initially had to work under transfer restrictions, which prompted him to give chances to several promising young players, including Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount.
Lampard maintained he would have backed youth regardless, yet this approach proved successful as the west London club secured fourth place in his debut season as manager. The team also reached the FA Cup final that term, going down 2-1 to Arsenal.
His second season in charge started positively, with the Blues briefly sitting at the summit of the table following a 3-1 victory over Leeds United in December. They additionally finished top of their Champions League group.
However, fortunes shifted during the Christmas period. Under Lampard, the team managed just two victories in eight matches, causing them to slip to ninth position in the standings.
Facing mounting pressure, Lampard was relieved of his duties on January 25, 2021, with the club citing that performances and outcomes had fallen short of expectations, leaving the side in mid-table with no clear trajectory for improvement.
Lampard’s time at Chelsea became increasingly turbulent toward the conclusion
The former England international expressed his frustration at not being afforded additional time in the managerial role. In remarks to the League Managers Association, Lampard stated that he was aware of the obstacles ahead when accepting the position during a turbulent period for the club. He expressed pride in the accomplishments achieved and in the academy graduates who had breakthrough seasons in the first team, describing them as the club’s future. He also voiced disappointment at not being given the opportunity to progress the team further that campaign.
Lampard came back to Chelsea two years afterwards, this occasion as interim manager following the dismissal of Graham Potter. Unfortunately, this second spell proved no more successful than his initial tenure.
Lampard failed to rescue the campaign, managing just a single victory across his 11 matches in charge. Chelsea ultimately ended the season in 12th place, a mere 10 points above the bottom three, accumulating their lowest points total since the Premier League era with just 44.
Possible Chelsea comeback
Should circumstances remain unchanged, Lampard would not revisit his former home until at least March. Coventry are scheduled to welcome Chelsea to the CBS Arena on Boxing Day, with the Sky Blues then visiting Stamford Bridge on March 3, 2027.
Nevertheless, there was a period when supporters entertained hopes that Lampard might abandon Coventry and embark on a third managerial stint at Chelsea. This speculation arose earlier this year after Enzo Maresca suddenly stepped down, with Liam Rosenior assuming control.
His tenure proved catastrophic, with Chelsea experiencing their worst league form since 1912 under his guidance. Rosenior was dismissed and uncertainty lingered over who would next occupy the manager’s position at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard was mentioned as a potential candidate for another comeback by certain quarters, though he gave no indication that he would depart the Sky Blues, especially given their strong position in the Championship at the time.
Speaking in April, he commented that he had already experienced that situation and preferred not to speculate too extensively about managerial roles due to behind-the-scenes complexities, believing such commentary would be inappropriate. He acknowledged that Chelsea were going through a difficult phase, suggesting they still had opportunities to salvage something from the season through the FA Cup and their league position. He emphasised that Chelsea’s affairs were their own concern, noting that while the club represented a significant part of his life, presently their situation was separate from his current responsibilities.
When asked to address any worried Coventry supporters, Lampard responded that he hoped fans could simply appreciate what had been accomplished throughout the campaign, recognising that in football management many factors remain beyond one’s control and one can only focus on their work. He mentioned having to address rumours but believed everyone should instead savour their current standing.
Xabi Alonso was appointed as Chelsea’s manager in July. The Spanish coach signed a four-year contract and is preparing the Blues for the upcoming season.