Frank Lampard return decision hints that Todd Boehly has already picked Chelsea’s next manager
The co-owners of Chelsea, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, appear to have allotted ample time to choose the club’s next permanent manager. Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique were the two frontrunners to take over immediately, but Chelsea appears to have opted for club legend Frank Lampard.
Since his dismissal from Everton at the beginning of the year, Lampard, who won three Premier League titles with Chelsea before returning as manager in 2019, has been unemployed in football.
Two years prior, in the same month, Lampard was released by Chelsea following a disappointing season in which the club finished in the middle of the table.
However, he is now expected to return to west London for the final few months of the 2022/23 campaign.
Despite not being in the top half of the Premier League, the Blues remain in the Champions League and will face Real Madrid in a difficult quarterfinal on Wednesday, March 12.
Even though Lampard was present for Tuesday’s draw against Liverpool, the news that he was close to being brought in on a temporary basis was, to say the least, unexpected.
After traveling to London for discussions about the position at Stamford Bridge, it appeared as if Luis Enrique had taken a significant step toward becoming Chelsea’s next manager.
Since leaving his position as Spain’s manager following the World Cup, the former Barcelona manager has been out of management.
The 52-year-old is rumored to be eager to become a manager once again, which makes Chelsea’s decision to select Lampard for the remainder of the season somewhat puzzling, but it may also indicate the club’s favorite candidate.
Enrique is currently available, but if Chelsea wanted to appoint Julian Nagelsmann before the end of the current season, they would face two significant obstacles.
First, the German coach is expected to undergo a period of reflection following his shocking dismissal from Bayern Munich, and any club wishing to hire him would have to compensate the German giants.
Lampard’s appointment until the end of the current season gives Chelsea at least a familiar face in charge.
Given how the last 24 hours have transpired, following Enrique’s meeting in London, Chelsea may have hinted that Nagelsmann is the preferred candidate over Enrique.
Frank Lampard return decision hints that Todd Boehly has already picked Chelsea’s next manager
