- Lampard was announced as the new Coventry manager on Thursday afternoon
- The former midfielder spoke of his determination to succeed after other struggles
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Frank Lampard is determined to silence those who believe he lacks the ingredients to become an elite manager after taking charge of Coventry.
The former Chelsea and England midfielder has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Championship club, where he will have the title ‘head coach’.
In his first role, Lampard took Derby to the Championship play-off final and led Chelsea to fourth place the following season, despite significant transfer restrictions. His following stints at Everton and Chelsea – a second time – were more difficult but they did not diminish the 46-year-old’s hunger.
‘I like to prove people wrong as I did in my playing career, and it’s a drive for me,’ said Lampard. ‘People talk about the stress of the job but I enjoy the challenge. I don’t want to sit at home. I want to work and I am ambitious to get better.
‘We have to live in a world of spotlight but if you don’t want that don’t sign up for it. If you’re not brave enough to take that then don’t worry. Be an ex-player who decides to do something else.
‘It’s much easier to sit at home, work in the media, play golf. My only answer to people who question my record is “Give me a chance to work”. I’ve done some good work at the clubs I’ve been at.
‘I know British managers are a talking point at the moment. They should be given a chance and sometimes they have even more stringent opinions against them, certainly for ex-players.
‘But I don’t want to hang on that as it’s not important. The important thing is to work on my idea and I hope my style will help the team and bring points.’
Lampard’s last job was a short-term stint at Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2022-23 season, when he took the team to the end of the campaign following the departure of Graham Potter.
Though he has been offered positions overseas, Lampard rejected them and is now charged with leading Coventry – who have spent heavily – back to the top flight. He succeeds Mark Robins, who earned his place in history by leading the Sky Blues from League Two to the brink of the Premier League in seven and a half years.
He added: ‘My last job at Chelsea was a bit of babysitting from me, in terms of tiding over for seven weeks. It wasn’t a coaching job. It was about holding the baby while a transition was happening.
‘I learned that if you don’t get the environment right then it’s very difficult to succeed. Now the environment is changing there and you can see the results of that on the pitch.’
Coventry owner Doug King added: ‘Frank is putting himself back in the arena and that’s brave. He is ready.’
