Former Premier League legend Frank Lampard has been linked with the managerial position at Bristol City.
ITV West Country journalist Ross Arnott has stated that the Chelsea hero is “now one of the top favourites to get the Bristol City job.”
Lampard has been out of management since leaving Chelsea at the end of last season, where he took caretaker charge after the dismissal of Graham Potter. He has been linked with a host of jobs, but it now appears he is the standout favourite to take charge of the West Country club.
The Bristol job would be the first time he has managed in the Championship since leaving Derby County in 2019. Lampard was appointed the Rams’ manager on 31st May 2018, his first managerial role since retirement.
Championship Experience
In his first season in charge of the East Midlands club, Lampard guided the club to a sixth place finish and a play-off final. They defeated Leeds United in a memorable semi-final, before losing out on a place back in the top flight to Aston Villa, with a 2-1 defeat at Wembley Stadium.
The former England international went on to manage Chelsea, where in his first season managed a fourth placed finish, despite a transfer embargo. The Blues parted company with Lampard after a poor run of two wins in eight league matches, with him leaving the club in January 2021.
Despite his short reign in charge of the club, he was praised for integrating young players in to the first team squad, including Reece James and Billy Gilmour. Their 7-1 EFL Cup victory against Grimsby Town in September 2019 included 10 academy graduates during the game.
He returned to management a year later, being announced as Everton manager in late January 2022, replacing Rafael Benitez. The Toffees were 16th placed, four points above the relegation zone due to a run of poor results.
Lampard guided the club to Premier League safety, but the club were embroiled once again in a relegation battle in his second season in charge, and after a run of one win in 11 games, he was dismissed after a 2-0 defeat against West Ham.
Writer’s View
Frank Lampard hasn’t had the greatest of managerial careers to date, but his biggest successes has come when he’s been able to integrate youngsters, and allowing them to flourish in an attacking style of play. His time at Derby County and first season at Chelsea, shows he has a proven track record to get the most out of young talent, and under a restrictive budget.
He helped the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Billy Gilmour break through the ranks at Chelsea, and they’ve all had gone on to be part of big clubs across Europe, and playing regular European and international football. Bristol City have a host of young talent already at the club and with Lampard’s links, would be able to bring more youngsters through loan deals. He could be the perfect fit for them and go one step further than he did with Derby County, and help them to the Premier League.
