Frank Lampard seeks redemption as Coventry City manager

Frank Lampard is looking to reclaim his credibility and restore his image as a manager as he returns to the challenging environment of the Championship, now taking the helm at Coventry City.

Lampard's most recent experience was 18 months ago when he departed from Chelsea following a disappointing second stint as interim manager. His return as a club legend turned out to be unfortunate, as he managed just one victory and suffered eight losses in 11 matches.

At 46, he is making a comeback with Coventry City, in what feels like a crucial turning point for him. His past experiences at Derby County, Chelsea, and Everton have been a mixed bag, and his return to Stamford Bridge only brought up more doubts about his capabilities.

Lampard will need to address these questions after being sought out by Coventry owner Doug King. He'll also have to demonstrate that he can effectively step into the shoes of the popular Mark Robins, who led the Sky Blues to the brink of the Premier League, only to fall short against Luton Town in the 2023 play-off final at Wembley.

The Robins had an amazing journey in last season's FA Cup, reaching the semifinals before falling just short of the final. They lost to Manchester United in a dramatic penalty shootout after mounting an incredible comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the semifinals.

This indicates that the pressure is intense for both Lampard and King, the individual responsible for bringing him on board. King faced significant backlash from some Coventry fans for terminating Robins' contract.

King has a lot of confidence in Lampard, and the feeling is mutual. The owner of Coventry expressed, "Frank gained valuable experience in the Championship and understands what it takes to succeed in this league."

"His time at Chelsea and Everton has given him valuable insights that will be beneficial for our skilled team. He understands what it takes to achieve success at the highest level, which is the goal we, as a club, are striving for."

In addition to Robins' departure, King has made significant changes to the club's leadership since taking charge. Chief Executive Dave Boddy stepped down in January after seven years in the role, and Chief Commercial Officer Tynan Scope followed suit in September.

Lampard's joining brings a feeling of new beginnings at Coventry.

A closer look at Lampard's time as a manager reveals that he has valuable insights to share, as he is one of the standout players of his era. Similar to his fellow English stars Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, he has faced doubts from critics who feel that he has been hired more for his fame than for his actual successes.

Frank Lampard's coaching career began at Derby County, where he led the team to the Championship play-off final in 2019, though they were defeated by Aston Villa.

He was subsequently drawn back to Chelsea, where he had achieved iconic status as the club's all-time leading scorer, netting 211 goals in 648 games. During his time there, he collected 11 significant trophies, including three Premier League championships and the Champions League title in 2012.

In his debut season as Chelsea's manager, Frank Lampard faced a challenge due to a FIFA transfer ban related to violations concerning the recruitment of young players. On top of that, the team had lost their star player, Eden Hazard, who moved to Real Madrid. Despite these setbacks, he successfully led Chelsea back into the Champions League and reached the FA Cup Final, although they were defeated by Arsenal.

Lampard's dedication to playing enjoyable football and his legendary status were appreciated by fans; however, a streak of five losses in eight Premier League matches led to his dismissal by Chelsea's owner at the time, Roman Abramovich, in January 2021.

Many people felt that Lampard's firing was unfair, but he understood the expectations for Chelsea managers during the unyielding tenure of the Russian owner. Having experienced these standards himself as a player, he was well aware of them.

When Thomas Tuchel took over as the new manager of England and quickly went on to win the Champions League a few months later, it became a point of criticism for Lampard.

However, he accomplished a lot during his time at Stamford Bridge, finishing with 44 victories out of 84 matches, which gives him an impressive win rate of 52.4%.

Lampard returned to the scene at Everton a year later, taking over from Rafael Benitez, who had been dismissed. Any evaluation of his tenure at Goodison Park needs to consider the turbulent environment of the club, which was still dealing with the fallout from owner Farhad Moshiri's contentious choice to hire Benitez, a former Liverpool manager.

Lampard quickly became a favorite among fans, embracing the club's culture and actively connecting with the supporters.

His transparent method played a crucial role in mending some of the scars left by the post-Benitez era at Everton. When he joined the team, he helped secure their place in the Premier League during a thrilling match at Goodison Park, where they rallied from a two-goal deficit to triumph over Crystal Palace.

Although there were initial hopes for the upcoming season, Everton once again fell into a downward spiral, leading to Lampard's dismissal after spending less than a year with the team, which was positioned second from last in the Premier League.

Lampard might now consider his temporary return to Chelsea as more of an emotional decision than a logical one. He ultimately faced a defeat despite being in a situation where it seemed he had nothing at stake.

Similar to Rooney's approach at Plymouth Argyle, Lampard has demonstrated that he's not discouraged by negative experiences. Instead, he's determined to show his critics that he can succeed as a manager.

He has likely considered his next significant decision very thoughtfully. He recognizes the opportunities that await him at Coventry but understands that he can't risk making another mistake.

Lampard has shown humility and a realistic approach by going back to the league where he began his coaching journey. He is now starting a personal comeback, fully aware that he cannot afford to fail.

He will be aware, based on his past experiences with Derby County, that escaping this division is extremely challenging.

The goal will be to enhance a skilled team that has not been performing well, resulting in their current position of 17th in the Championship, just two points above the relegation zone.

King is confident that Lampard can get even more out of the players he takes over. The team has demonstrated their capability by defeating Middlesbrough 3-0 and making a remarkable comeback against Luton Town, winning 3-2 after being down 2-0. They've also managed to secure draws against Sunderland and Sheffield United, both of whom are competing for promotion.

Lampard previously collaborated with Coventry forward Ellis Simms during his time at Everton, and he knows that Simms can be a powerful player in the Championship. While the young striker has had difficulty maintaining consistent performances, Lampard is optimistic about helping the 23-year-old reach his full potential.

He has demonstrated a commitment to nurturing and promoting young players at his former teams, so he is likely to pay close attention to Norman Bassette, 20, especially after his goal against Sheffield United.

Brandon Thomas-Asante's transfer from West Brom last summer hasn't quite met expectations so far. Frank Lampard will be relying on Thomas-Asante and US international Haji Wright to bring more offensive power to the team.

Lampard might also have to focus on improving Coventry's defense, which has been quite lenient since they came back to the Championship. In the 204 matches since their return to the league in the 2020-21 season, Coventry has netted 261 goals but let in 251, managing to keep a clean sheet 59 times.

Coventry is currently 10 points away from the playoff spots, which means this season might just focus on stabilizing the team with the players they have available.

However, Lampard is extremely driven, and his reputation in the sport could appeal to players who might not have been interested in the club previously.

Lampard, with the support of King after agreeing to a two-and-a-half year contract and accompanied by his reliable assistant team of Joe Edwards and Chris Jones, will have flexibility in January since Coventry has no players on loan at the moment.

The responsibility has now fallen on Lampard to produce results.