Mueez Ajao
– Chelsea have appointed Frank Lampard as interim head coach until the end of the season following Sunday’s dismissal of Graham Potter, the club announced on Thursday.
Frank Lampard returns as Caretaker Manager until the end of the season. 🤝
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 6, 2023
– Lampard took Chelsea training on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has returned to the club he managed until 2021 while the search for a long-term appointment continues with negotiations ongoing with a number of candidates to replace Potter.
– Chelsea’s all-time leading goal scorer with 211, Lampard has been out of work since leaving Everton in January. He previously took charge at Chelsea in June 2019 and led them to fourth in the Premier League and the FA Cup final where they were beaten by Arsenal. He was sacked the following season and replaced by Thomas Tuchel.
Also Read: Chelsea sack manager Potter after seven months in charge
– During his time as a player at Stamford Bridge, Lampard won the Premier League three times as well as the Champions League and Europa League. He also won the FA Cup four times and the League Cup twice.
– Sources told that five to seven individuals have been identified as candidates to replace Potter, who was sacked after less than seven months in charge following the 2-0 Premier League defeat against Aston Villa that saw Chelsea drop into the bottom half of the table.
– The club have made contact with Julian Nagelsmann, sacked last month by Bayern Munich, and Luis Enrique, who flew to London on Wednesday for what sources describe as positive talks over the position.
– Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was also thought to be under consideration, but as of Tuesday no contact had been made with the 51-year-old.
– The recruitment process is being led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, who informed Potter in face-to-face talks at the club’s Cobham training base that his contract would be terminated with unanimous backing of the board
– Sources have told that Nagelsmann would ideally like to wait until the summer to make a decision on his next role.
Understand Julian Nagelsmann remains keen on speaking to Chelsea over long term project in the next weeks 🔵 #CFC
Luis Enrique also keen on the job, both waiting for Chelsea next steps.
No talks with Pochettino yet.
🚨 Lampard appointment as caretaker, to be completed soon. pic.twitter.com/Haqch6d3wG
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 5, 2023
