Frank Lampard returns to Chelsea on an interim basis

Chelsea has confirmed the return of club legend and ex-coach Frank Lampard, who will lead the team till the end of the season after the sack of Graham Potter.

Graham Potter failed to improve Chelsea after joining earlier this season from Brighton and replacing Thomas Tuchel, who is now in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

Chelsea lost 2-0 to Aston Villa last weekend and was sacked less than two days later as the club went into actively searching for a permanent manager; Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique were both named as possible replacements on a long-term basis, but neither worked out.

Lampard will now continue till the end of the season, giving the club time to extensively find a permanent manager. It is Lampard’s second stint as Chelsea’s coach after his first time between 2019 and 2021.

He led the club to fourth place and ended in the final of the FA Cup in his first season despite a transfer embargo, but the next season didn’t see Chelsea improve as he was sacked by previous owner Roman Abrahamovic.

He joined Everton as a manager in 2022 but was relieved of his duties just a year after. The 44-year-old looked beyond securing a permanent role but rather wants to do the best he can without getting ahead of himself.

“I want to do the best possible role I can, and after that, we will see what happens. I am not getting anywhere ahead of myself. It won’t be my decision, so again; I don’t want to jump forward to that. I understand I will get asked that question a lot. I have my eyes wide open. The important thing for me is to park that and focus on the job in hand.” Lampard said.

Lampard’s first game in charge will be a trip to Molineux stadium on Saturday after.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu