Coventry City experiences an emotional resurrection after many depths. At the center of the event: a prominent trainer that they actually didn’t want at all.
“Give me a chance”: The fans’ distrust was great when Frank Lampard took over the scepter at the traditional club Coventry City in November. The Chelsea legend had to justify himself before his work was possible.
Background: His coaching stations at Everton and Chelsea FC were only shaped by moderate success. In addition, predecessor Mark Robins enjoyed great reputation in the club environment, and his release caused many emotions.
Frank Lampard took over the head of the head coach from Coventry City
A few months later, there is not much to hear from these voices. Lampard led the Coventry City FC to the extended top group of the second -class championship. After six wins from the past seven league games, the Sky Blues took fifth place in the league.
Last weekend a convincing 3-0 win was achieved against the Sunderland table. Although it is probably unavoidable in fourth place with a lead of ten points, fifth or sixth place would also entitle the Playoffs to the Premier League. Right in the middle: Lampard.
Lampard’s coaching career stalled
The 46-year-old was one of the best and most dangerous defensive midfielder for years. At the latest after moving to Chelsea FC, his star opened, and coach Jose Mourinho was ennobled as the best player in the world.
After his career at the MLS, Lampard started his coaching career at second division Derby County, with whom he narrowly missed the promotion to the Premier League. The reward: The coaching office at the Chelsea heart club, where after 84 games should end in 18 months.
A year later, he joined Everton’s relegation candidate in 2022, in which it was only a poor point cut of 1.00 in 44 games. After dismissal in January 203, as an interim coach, he ended the season of Chelsea and started the first six games with six defeats.
Legendary an assessment of ex-colleague CESC Fabregas which after a bankruptcy in the derby against Arsenal told an olive comparison. “When I was small, I once had a coach who just thrown eleven olives on the table – without any tactics. That’s how I see Chelsea.”
Coventry 2017 still fourth -class
This was followed by an 18 -month break – and the beginning of a new chapter in Coventry. In the 17th place in the table, he took over the club, which had experienced its low point under predecessor Robins 2017 with the relegation into fourth class. But Robins, now a team manager in Stoke, led Coventry back to League two within three years.
The comeback story under Robins ended in 2024 when fifth and nine in previous years showed the trend further down. Club had long left service providers like today’s superstar Viktor Gyökeres. Lampard took over – and fully struck!
In 23 games he comes to a point cut of 1.96. And the ridicule over Lampard’s tactical concept is also a thing of the past at least for the moment of the past. After a victory against Plymouth Argyle, who was still trained by ex-national team colleague Wayne Rooney, the Daily Mirror raved about a “brilliant deception” in December. Coventry had led 4-0 after 45 minutes.
Lampard himself cannot be blinded by his success. “So far I have experienced the players here as very, very attentive, but we still have a few steps ahead of us,” he clarified in a podcast.
But the time of the olive comparisons should be a thing of the past.