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Frank Lampard has been announced as the new manager of Championship side Coventry City.
The former England international is returning to the dug-out for the first time since leaving Chelsea at the end of the 2022/23 season after a spell as interim manager.
Lampard takes over at Coventry following the sacking of Mark Robins, who had been in the job for nearly seven years and eight months, and was the longest-serving boss in the English Football League at the time of his departure.
Following the appointment on Thursday, Lampard said he was hopeful he could "create many more moments" at the club.
"I’m absolutely delighted to be here. It’s a club I have huge respect for in terms of its history and tradition," he told the club website. "I grew up in an era where Coventry City were very successful."
Lampard continued to say: "It’s a strange case of a moment of my debut many years ago, playing for West Ham at the time against Coventry, Gordon Strachan was on the pitch and sometimes it’s funny how things in life come back round.
"At this point that’s a moment and hopefully I can create many more moments at this club."
Coventry owner and executive chairman Doug King said: "I am delighted that Frank Lampard has agreed to join our club as head coach.
"Frank cut his teeth in the Championship and knows what is needed in this League to be successful.
"His experiences thereafter at Chelsea and Everton will ensure he brings to our talented squad clear understanding of exactly what is needed to succeed at the very top level that we as a club are striving to reach."
Coventry have been on the brink of success in recent seasons, having been beaten in the Championship play-off final on penalties by Luton in 2023.
They also suffered spot-kick heartbreak at Wembley in their FA Cup semi-final last season, fighting back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Manchester United.
The current campaign has not been so promising, with the club sitting 17th, two points above the relegation zone.
After retiring as a player in 2017, Lampard – who remains Chelsea’s all-time top scorer – turned his attention to coaching.
His first season in management took him to Derby County, who he led to the Championship play-off final in 2019 – only to lose 2-1 against Aston Villa at Wembley.
Lampard’s impressive start as a manager saw his old club come calling, and he returned to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s head coach at the start of the 2019/20 season.
A fourth-placed Premier League finish and an FA Cup final appearance, where they lost to Arsenal, gave Lampard a strong first season.
However, he was sacked in January 2021 after Chelsea won just two of their first eight league fixtures, and was replaced by current England boss Thomas Tuchel.
Lampard was out of work for a year, but then helped rescue Everton from top-flight relegation in 2022.
He only lasted 12 months at Goodison Park, with a poor start to the following season spelling the end of his time on Merseyside.
Graham Potter’s sacking at Stamford Bridge in 2023 saw Lampard back at Chelsea once more, this time in a caretaker position, but he achieved just one win in his 11 matches in charge.
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