A dejected Derby County manager Frank Lampard after the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Final
A dejected Derby County manager Frank Lampard after the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Final
Armed with hope and expectation, Wembley Way was awash with black and white as Derby County fans dreamed of a return to the Premier League.
Then Rams boss had built an exciting team, but faced formidable opposition in Aston Villa, who were managed by Dean Smith.
It was Jack Grealish against and Tammy Abraham vs Fikayo Tomori in a final that certainly captured the imagination given the young talent on show.
But in the end, Smith's side came out on top, securing a 2-1 victory in front of a crowd of more than 85,000. It proved to be Lampard's final game in charge of the as he was granted talks with former club Chelsea, who would go on to appoint him as their manager.
Kelle Roos
After the defeat to Villa, Roos remained at Derby until last summer when Aberdeen took him north of the border. It ended an eight-year association with the Rams having joined the club in 2014 and he went on to establish himself as the Dons' number one.
He had a good start to life in Scotland but he left the club last year. He went on to play for Serie C Group A club Triestina but is back in England playing for Notts County.
Jayden Bogle
The full-back remained at Derby until September the following year after the heartbreaking loss to Villa and was sold to Sheffield United along with Max Lowe.
After featuring for United in the Premier League, he was sold to Leeds United where he impressed last term. The Whites finished the campaign as champions,
Richard Keogh
In the following September after Derby's appearance at Wembley, the defender's contract was terminated after he was injured in a car crash with then Derby team-mates Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett.
and his agent launched appeals against his sacking, but that was rejected by the EFL. But an employment tribunal ruled that he had been unfairly dismissed and was awarded £2.3m in compensation. Derby appealed against that decision, but it was rejected in May 2021. He moved to Ipswich Town after spells at MK Dons, Huddersfield and Blackpool. He ended up at Wycombe and then Forest Green before moving into coaching. Enjoyed a spell on Blackpool's coaching staff and is now assistant to Conor Hourihane at Barnsley.
Fikayo Tomori
Was named player of the season having proven hugely successful in his loan from Chelsea. Many expected him to go on and become a regular for the Blues' first team in the years that followed but it never materialised and he left for AC Milan on loan at the start of 2021.
Eventually, the Italian side paid £24m to sign him in June and has already amassed more than 100 appearances for the European giants.
Ashley Cole
Derby ended up being his last club and following his appearance in the play-off final he retired from playing in August 2019. The Champions League and Premier League winner's spell at Derby saw him play 12 games and score one goal before he moved into a coaching role at Pride Park under Lampard.
When Lampard left, he joined him at Chelsea as an academy coach. Has also had spells coaching England under-21s. He was again reunited with Lampard at Everton where he was on the backroom staff as first-team coach. But he left when Lampard departed. Is now on the coaching staff at the FA.
Mason Mount
Shot to prominence with his performances at Derby and had dreamed of taking them back to the Premier League but returned to Chelsea following a season-long loan. Mount made 44 appearance for the Rams in all competitions and scored 11 goals in the process. He was a big success and proved a foundation for him to go and become a regular fixture in Chelsea's starting 11.
Is now an England international and is regarded as one of the country's brightest attacking players. He has also won the Champions League as Derby proved a good education for the 23-year-old. He sealed a £55m move to Manchester United in the summer of 2023, but it has been a move that has so far not worked out.
Tom Huddlestone
Played in the heart of midfield against Villa having returned to the club in 2017 after starting his career with the Rams. He stayed at the club another season after the play-off final defeat but revealed in July 2020 that he and the club could not agree a contract extension.
He ended up leaving and subsequently joined Hull City. But in August 2023, he landed a move to Manchester United as player/coach. He left Old Trafford and joined Wigan as first-team coach and is now on Birmingham City's staff.
Bradley Johnson
Left the club after the play-off defeat to Villa and joined Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer. There was speculation the 35-year-old might rejoin Derby in the summer of 2023. But that did not materialise and moved to MK Dons. However, he did finally return to Derby as a coach for the club's academy.
Harry Wilson
Scored 18 goals in all competitions for Derby as they reached the play-off final and the Welsh winger was a big hit at Pride Park. His impressive performances, as they marched to a top-six finish in the Championship, had everybody predicting he would become a regular in Liverpool's first team.
He returned to the Reds after the Wembley defeat, but had world class competition at Anfield so it was no surprise he was loaned out again to Bournemouth, Cardiff and then Fulham. It was the latter who made his deal a permanent on a four-year contract in 2021 and has made more than 120 appearances for the Cottagers.
Tom Lawrence
Stayed with Derby until the summer of this year when he moved to Rangers on a free transfer. Had captained the Rams last season in which he showed fine leadership skills despite the club's financial problems off the pitch. Quickly established himself north of the border but he suffered an injury in the 4-0 win over Ross County which kept him on the sidelines for a considerable length of time. Was released by Rangers in the summer and still without a club.
Mason Bennett
Stayed at the club after defeat to Villa but was loaned to Millwall in January 2020 before the Lions made his move permanent at the end of the season for an undisclosed fee. Played more than 75 games for the Lions but left the club to join Burton Albion. He was released this summer and was snapped up by Harrogate.
On the bench
Scott Carson
Stayed at the club until 2021, when he landed an unbelievable move to Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. Nowhere near the first team, of course, but he is there for his experience, and he saw trophy after trophy being lifted at the Etihad. Left the club this summer and has not retired.
Sky Sports deal
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Like Carson, he left Derby in 2021 and ended up joining Millwall. But he finally left the Championship club in the 2023 summer window to sign for Wrexham, who are backed by Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds.
Jack Marriott
Scored with nine minutes remaining of the final and remained at Derby but was sent on loan to Sheffield Wednesday in the 2020-21 season. Moved to Peterborough United for a second spell but left there to join Fleetwood Town. He then earned a move to Wrexham.
Martyn Waghorn
Remained at Derby until the summer of 2021 but will forever be remembered for scoring the penalty against Sheffield Wednesday that kept Derby in the Championship on the final day of the 2020/21 season.
He left to join Coventry City, but he ended up returning to Pride Park in the summer of 2023 and has scored seven goals in 27 games as the club went on to win promotion back to the Championship. Was let go at the end of that season and last played for Northampton. He then retired.
Florian Jozefzoon
The winger had signed for Derby in 2018 and after the play-off final heartache against Villa, he stayed at Derby for a further two years. But he could never really establish himself in the first team and it was no surprise that Derby eventually decided to part company. After a spell with RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie. After moving to Bandırmaspor, he now plays for Intercity in Spain.
Calum MacDonald
Was an unused substitute in the final and it was perhaps expected he would leave the club at the end of that season. Moved to Blackpool and then joined Tranmere on loan. The League Two club then made his loan deal into a permanent move. Made 40 appearances last season. Was a free agent for a long time but found a new club in Stockport County. He then left the Hatters to move to Mansfield and won promotion from League Two.
Jason Knight
He was one of Derby's prized assets and never came off the bench in the final, but he blossomed into a fine player. Played well under Paul Warne in the 2022/23 season but ended up sealing a move to Bristol City for a fee of around £1.8m. The 23-year-old is currently playing alongside ex-Rams team-mates Max Bird and Haydon Roberts. Helped the Robins into the playoffs but they were beaten by Sheffield United.
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