Former Derby County Boss Emerges As Front Runner For Top Vacancy Overseas

It seems much longer but it was a little over four years ago that Frank Lampard was manager of Derby County. A lot has happened to the former Chelsea great since then, including two spells at the club where his playing days made him one of the best players in England.

Now, he is said to be on the shortlist drawn up by Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC. The MLS team have recently let head coach Christian Lattanzio go, just a few short weeks after the season in North America concluded.

With the MLS season running through the summertime, their preseason will begin in January. Therefore a quick appointment will be needed. It is believed the list of candidates for the vacant post has as many as five names, with the former Rams boss featuring heavily, as reported by World SoccerTalk

Lampard had a successful stint at Derby. His initial 3-year contract was cut short when Chelsea came calling, but this was until after he had taken the Rams to a Wembley playoff final, which they lost 2-1 to Aston Villa. He also famously had an ongoing feud with Leeds United boss Marco Bielsa, after the Argentinian admitted that he had been spying on Lampard’s training sessions.

It was perhaps destiny that he would manage Chelsea, but it would’ve been interesting to see how far he could’ve taken Derby. His time back in West London though was not the greatest, where trophies are expected each season, and the axe falls quickly if they do not arrive back at Stamford Bridge. An even poorer spell at Everton where the Toffees were almost relegated, was backed up by a dismal second spell at the Bridge where he only won one game in 11.

Writer’s View

Frank Lampard maybe bit off more than he could swallow when he took the dream job at Chelsea. Derby County was perfect for cutting his managerial teeth, and in hindsight, he may regret leaving when he did. A move to the MLS may well be the best chance of coming back into full-time management, as not only can he rebuild his reputation, but it will be away from the pressures of English football.