Frank Lampard is back for his second spell as manager of Chelsea.
He is the third manager this season to take charge of Chelsea, who started 2022/23 under Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel led Chelsea to a Champions League win in 2021 but was sacked last September primarily due to (it is thought) personality differences with Todd Boehly, who then hired Graham Potter.
As far as coaches go, Potter was one of the hottest properties in English football at the time but won just 12 of his 31 games as Chelsea boss and was let go this week after a 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Lampard, Chelsea’s record goalscorer and winner of the Champions League plus three Premier League titles, returns on an interim basis. He last managed Everton up till January of this year. His last stint as Chelsea manager lasted 18 months from 2019 to January 2021.
Social media was mixed in the reaction to his return to the dugout with some fans happy to have him back at the club.
He couldn't stop smiling through the press conference. He truly loves Chelsea ?? pic.twitter.com/0Z2HfqUqBC
— TLV (@TheLampardView) April 6, 2023
“Would you even be a Chelsea fan if you didn’t love Frankie?” wrote one Reddit user.
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Others were not so keen. Some were even confused.
Sacked Lampard for Tuchel, saw Tuchel win a UCL, sacked Tuchel for Potter & sacked Potter for Lampard 7 months later after he almost relegated Everton pic.twitter.com/AJhtCey3Io
— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) April 5, 2023
I’m really struggling with this Frank Lampard thing. I think it’s absolutely crazy. I love the bloke of course, but this just doesn’t sit well with me at all. And I’m really surprised at all these fans who think it’s ok. And that the atmosphere will be great again. ??♂️?
— Chris Bunting (@Chris__Bunting) April 6, 2023
Lampard’s trademark interview quirk was referenced by many users.
“Yeah, apparently they used to call Graham “Hogwarts” behind his back, shame he didn’t have the magic touch eh? But no, seriously, being sacked is horrible. Hopefully he’s getting on ok.” pic.twitter.com/IQizehixmz
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) April 6, 2023
unfinished business pic.twitter.com/NuoWg3f8Bm
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) April 6, 2023
Incredibly, one user saw this coming.
Written in the stars pic.twitter.com/mvTxigBD1T
— Paul Gibbins (@paulgibbins) April 6, 2023
With games against Arsenal, Man City, Man United, Newcastle, Brighton, Brentford and Real Madrid in the Champions League to come it is clear Lampard will be straight in at the deep end.
| Club | Sky Bet |
| Manchester City | 2/1 |
| Bayern Munich | 9/2 |
| Arsenal | 11/2 |
| Real Madrid | 11/2 |
| PSG | 11/1 |
| Barcelona | 16/1 |
| Inter Milan | 20/1 |
| Atletico Madrid | 22/1 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 33/1 |
| Napoli | 33/1 |
| Real Sociedad | 50/1 |
| RB Leipzig | 66/1 |
You have to be 18+ to gamble. All odds within this article are accurate at the time of writing (12:30, 25/01/2024). GambleAware.
One player who will be pleased to see his return is Mason Mount, who found opportunities limited under previous manager Potter. Lampard was full of compliments for the player who he worked twice with before (as boss of Derby and then at Chelsea).
“Mason Mount has always been a fantastic player for me,” he told reporters.
“It’s with absolute pleasure that I’ve watched him and others that I coached in that period – like Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and others – to have gone and been huge players either here or elsewhere.
“I know he’s had a few slight injury problems as I understand it. The important thing for me will be to talk to him and find out where he’s at but I know what I get from Mason. So I just want to see him perform on the pitch and we have a good relationship so we’ll talk a lot. I think he’s a huge player for Chelsea and has been during his time here.”
Mount was always one of the first names on the team sheet previously.
Most minutes played under Frank Lampard at Chelsea. ⏱ pic.twitter.com/B6RCnd78lE
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 6, 2023
One thing is sure, though, given Chelsea’s recruitment under Todd Boehly. Frank Lampard will not be short of new faces to meet on his first day
Frank Lampard on his first day back at Chelsea pic.twitter.com/yFRAh3sbAj
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 6, 2023