It was always going to be interesting to see which way Frank Lampard would turn when his ill-advised, ill-fated second spell in interim charge of Chelsea came to a sorry end in May 2023. With his managerial reputation in tatters following his January sacking by Everton, would he throw himself at the next Premier League vacancy that cropped up, or would he take stock and aim to come back stronger? Two years on, he will be overjoyed that he pipped for the latter.
Having taken a much-needed 18-month break from coaching, Lampard wisely took the step back down to the Championship – where he had enjoyed a successful spell in charge of Derby County – in November 2024, returning to the dugout at Coventry City.
He was by no means a popular appointment at the CBS Arena, with the ownership accused of going for the flashy, big-name option when the club found itself in the kind of sticky situation that required experience and know-how. But in the 11 months since, Lampard has gone about demonstrating his pedigree at that level and restored his long-lost status as arguably one of the most exciting younger English coaches around.
With the October international break now upon us, Coventry sit at the summit of the Championship table; they have got there by playing an irresistible brand of attacking football that has blown their rivals out of the water in the opening weeks of the season, and suddenly they look like serious contenders for promotion after suffering play-off heartbreak last term.
After swallowing his pride, Lampard’s redemption arc could well lead him back into the promised land of the Premier League with his reputation rebuilt, and in charge of one of the most exciting teams in the country…