Lampard’s managerial journey began at Derby County, guiding them to the 2019 Championship play-off final, which they lost to Aston Villa.
He was then lured back to Chelsea, where he assumed legendary status as the club’s all-time record goalscorer with 211 goals in 648 appearances, winning 11 major trophies, including three Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2012.
In his first season as Chelsea manager, while operating under a FIFA transfer ban imposed for violating rules on recruiting young players and after losing their best player, Eden Hazard, to Real Madrid, Lampard took them back to the Champions League, also losing to Arsenal in the FA Cup final.
Lampard’s commitment to attractive football, as well as his iconic status, was welcomed, but a run of five defeats in eight Premier League games saw him sacked by then-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in January 2021.
Many considered Lampard’s dismissal harsh, but he knew the rules for Chelsea managers under the ruthless Russian. I had already lived with them for quite some time as a player.
When his replacement, incoming England manager Thomas Tuchel, won the Champions League within months, he was used as a stick to beat Lampard.
But he did a very good job at Stamford Bridge, coming out with 44 wins in 84 games, a respectable 52.4% win rate.
Lampard re-emerged at Everton 12 months later as successor to the sacked Rafael Benítez. Any assessment of his time at Goodison Park must be seen through the prism of that chaotic club, recovering from the heartbreak created by owner Farhad Moshiri’s controversial decision to appoint former Liverpool manager Benitez.
Lampard proved to be a very popular figure among fans, adhering to the club’s culture and interacting with supporters.
His open approach helped heal some of the wounds Everton suffered post-Benitez when he arrived, keeping them in the Premier League in their penultimate game on a dramatic night at Goodison Park as they came back from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace.
Despite initial promises the following season, Everton once again fell into decline and Lampard was sacked after less than 12 months with the team in second-to-last place in the Premier League.
Lampard can now consider his second interim spell at Chelsea as central leader. He ended up losing from a position where it seemed like he had nothing to lose.
