After weeks of rumors and other manager candidates dropping like flies, Chelsea finally announced club legend Frank Lampard as the next Blues boss.
Lampard inked a three-year deal with his former club and is ecstatic to return to Stamford Bridge.
“I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea as head coach,” Lampard said. “Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared. However, my sole focus is on the job in hand and preparing for the season ahead. I am here to work hard, bring further success to the club and I cannot wait to get started.”
HE’S HOME!
Frank Lampard is the new Chelsea head coach!
#WelcomeHomeFrank— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 4, 2019
The Englishman played for over 20 years but will forever be remembered as a Blue.
Lampard won three Premier League titles and was also part of one of the most astounding runs in Champions League history as the team was champion of Europe in 2012.
That year Lampard led the team with 16 goals in all competitions.
Chelsea will pay an undisclosed to fee to Derby County for Lampard, where he matched the club’s previous year’s sixth-place finish with a near identical record shorted by just a point.
Lampard is coming off one season with Derby and was notorious for playing younger players.
Over to you, boss! #WelcomeHomeFrank pic.twitter.com/vPGpCUSsMX
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 4, 2019
Chelsea fans can rejoice now in hopes they might see their young, fan favorites in their lifetime.
Most notably last season, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chelsea’s 18-yeard-old wonder kid had trouble making in onto the field under former boss Maurizio Sarri. Fans were frustrated, and with the team in dives during the season, it was hard to argue against giving CHO a shot.
He was called up to the English senior team and found the field there, but he still only registered 10 appearances in the EPL on the season before injuring his Achilles.
Now with a main core of Christian Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi (both being under 21), Lampard will have plenty of young talent already on the team as he likely will not be able to add any more with Chelsea’s transfer ban.
Lampard comes in during an odd time for Chelsea and will become the ninth Blues’ manager in eight seasons. He also is the first English manager in over 10 years.
Lampard will have his hands full with the transfer ban, the club losing its best player and competition in the EPL becoming more intense.
But with Chelsea returning to the Champions League, he might have received the golden ticket at just the right time.
