Sport

Lampard has got a lot to prove.

The managerial career of Frank Lampard has been punctuated by privilege. Although the Championship has become a well known breeding ground for former English internationals turned coaches, even his start at Derby County was a case of his name and family going before him.

Harry Redknapp, a well known manager himself and Lampard’s uncle, admitted in 2020 that it was he who spoke to then Derby owner Mel Morris to recommend Chelsea’s record goalscorer when he was looking to take his first steps into management. Even if he was helped into the position, it felt like a good place for him to cut his teeth and find his way, like Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough.

But it didn’t work out that way. A year later, however, after reaching the playoff final with the Rams, losing to Aston Villa, he answered a call from Chelsea. In the midst of a transfer ban, he came in by virtue of his track record with youth players, which extended little beyond integrating Blues loanees Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori at Derby.

Though he deserved credit for that and giving them a platform, it was hard to escape the fact that he was given the Chelsea job by virtue of what he did as a player. There were some bright moments at Stamford Bridge, but ultimately he was sacked when Thomas Tuchel, a more experienced option, was available. Not six months after joining, Tuchel led Chelsea to the Champions League crown.

Then came Everton and a second interim spell at Chelsea. Again, it was hard to pinpoint why he was the right man to reinvigorate the Toffees in a relegation fight and although he steered them clear at the end of the 2021-22 season, he ultimately left the following year having failed to establish them as a stable Premier League side.

Lampard was a great footballer and has shown himself to be good in management at times, too. But he never earned the status he was given; he was arguably held up higher because of his media presence and relationship with pundits who perhaps neglected to criticise as much as they should. But he is now taking over at Coventry, which is effectively a fresh start and second chance at building legitimate stature as a manager.

Similarly to Derby, Coventry are a team with designs on the playoffs. But the pressure to deliver is minimal at the moment, given they are currently struggling in a relegation battle after a tough start to the campaign. Lampard will have time to put his stamp on things and develop his ideas; after jumping ship so early from Derby, he needs to do that. It is hard to blame him for going to Chelsea when he did, but he wasn’t ready to do so.

Lampard has already laid down the gauntlet to his new side, demanding energy from the start.

“The first task is get a win and get a good feeling,” added Lampard. “We’re at home and we’ll have the fans behind us and I’m always grateful for what the fans can bring you.

“But, for me, it always rests on the players to produce an energy and an urgency that the fans will relate to that. For me, that is always the first thing I demand.”

From Coventry’s perspective, Lampard could represent something of a coup. He has experience beyond their achievements, and a mentality that can take them far. But he also has a lot to prove; his career to date has been chaotic, and he needs time to find his feet again.

Perhaps this is a match made in heaven. But for the first time in his career, Lampard must work to convince everyone that he can succeed.