The world of football is witnessing a renaissance of sorts, and Frank Lampard is right at the forefront of it. After a rocky start to his coaching career, the former Everton and Chelsea manager, who also happens to be Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer, is breaking records at Coventry and seems to be on the ascent. But what led to this opportunity for the former English international at a club that was on the cusp of reaching the FA Cup final less than a year ago? It all began when Coventry took on Manchester United at Wembley, with a place in the final hanging in the balance. The match, which was decided by a nail-biting penalty shootout, ended in controversy due to a marginal offside call against Haji Wright.
Since then, however, the club’s fortunes have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Under the guidance of Mark Robins, who had been at the helm for seven years and was responsible for two promotions and the historic FA Cup run, the team won only seven games in 14 matches, found themselves level on points with Plymouth Argyle, who were staring at relegation, and ultimately led to Robins’ dismissal on November 7. With the coaching position vacant, Frank Lampard was the chosen one, and he made a memorable first impression during his presentation, jokingly remarking, “I’m going to sign João Félix,” which left the press room in stitches.
On the field, though, the initial results were far from impressive. In the first few weeks, there were some signs of improvement, but Coventry’s position in the league table remained stagnant, moving from 17th to 16th between the 14th and 26th game weeks. However, something clicked, and the team’s performance began to soar. Over the next 10 game weeks, Lampard’s side, which includes former Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, won nine matches, a feat that had not been achieved in over 70 years, with only one defeat against league leaders Leeds. Notably, only two of those victories had a margin of more than one goal, with the team securing 2-0 wins against Swansea and Blackburn. In three of the remaining seven matches, the winning goals were scored after the 90-minute mark, showcasing the team’s grit and determination.
This remarkable turnaround has earned Coventry 27 points out of a possible 30, propelling them to fifth place and putting them in a strong position to secure a playoff spot for promotion. For Lampard, this represents a new lease on life, having gone from being a highly touted young coach to facing disappointment and potentially being written off. He has been given a chance to reboot his career, and he’s making the most of it. The question on everyone’s lips now is: can he sustain this momentum and guide Coventry to the promised land of the Premier League?
A Bittersweet stint at Chelsea
Lampard’s journey as a coach began at Chelsea, where he was appointed to succeed Maurizio Sarri in 2019. This marked a homecoming of sorts for the Chelsea legend, who had previously led Derby County to the playoff final. However, his return was met with a harsh reality check, as Chelsea suffered a humiliating 0-4 defeat at the hands of Manchester United on the opening day of the Premier League season, followed by a shootout loss in the European Super Cup final. Despite these setbacks, Lampard managed to steady the ship, ensuring Chelsea’s qualification for the Champions League and giving players like Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham a chance to shine.
The problems began to surface in the following season, though. By the 18th game week, Chelsea found themselves in 10th place, and despite a win in the FA Cup against Luton, Lampard was eventually sacked. His successor, Thomas Tuchel, went on to reorganize the team and led them to a historic Champions League victory against Manchester City at the Estádio do Dragão. Lampard, on the other hand, moved to Everton, where he managed to avoid relegation in 2022 but was shown the door the following year. He made a brief return to Chelsea as an interim manager, tasked with steadying a ship that was on the verge of sinking, but it was clear that his time at the club was limited.
Fast-forward to the present, and Lampard has been given a genuine opportunity to rebuild his coaching career, rather than simply trying to keep a team afloat until the end of the season. He’s putting his ideas into practice, and the results are speaking for themselves. As Coventry continues to soar, there are already whispers about Lampard’s potential future, with some tipping him as a target for Scottish club Rangers next season. For now, though, he’s focused on the task at hand, and if he can maintain this level of performance, the sky’s the limit for both him and Coventry.