From spy-gate to mid-season doubt just a few months ago, it's not been an easy journey for Frank Lampard, but he's finally set to secure the best achievement of his managerial career by taking Coventry City to the Premier League.
Last weekend's draw against Sheffield Wednesday simply delayed the inevitable after Middlesbrough suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Portsmouth.
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard applauds fans after the match
The Sky Blues, after so much playoff pain, decided to do things the easy way this time around and are on their way to the Premier League at long last.
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Andoni Iraola's decision to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season could yet see Lampard walk away from the very project that he built this summer.
The latest on Frank Lampard's future at Coventry
Some may say that Lampard won't have time to pick up the phone whilst the promotion party is ongoing, but in all seriousness, he could have a major decision to make this summer.
Iraola's set to depart the South Coast and the Cherries have already drawn up quite the shortlist. Alongside Lampard, they're reportedly looking at former RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose and Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna.
Lampard's record at Coventry
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The concern for Coventry is that Bournemouth clearly rate Lampard highly to put him on their list alongside a name like Rose.
As far as Coventry are concerned, it would be the worst possible time to lose Lampard ahead of their promotion to the Premier League. His departure would leave them completely stranded at a time when stability is crucial to any survival chances.
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The Sky Blues have set their sights on a midfielder.
In a summer which must follow the Sunderland and Leeds United blueprint, rather than Burnley's, the last thing they'll have time for is to find a new manager.
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard applauds fans after the match
Alas, Lampard may leave them with no choice. If Bournemouth come calling, it may be too tempting for the former Chelsea midfielder to turn down - leaving the Sky Blues back to square one and potentially turning towards another Premier League legend.
Coventry could turn to former striker to replace Lampard
It's a lot more complex than simply swapping one Premier League legend for another. If that were the case, then there would be a long line of disgruntled former players waiting to take the role they believe they deserve based on top-flight appearances alone. Some other Chelsea legends come to mind.
A certain Robbie Keane is not one of those disgruntled players. He crafted his managerial expertise in English football and across the world as Leeds United's assistant manager, Tel Aviv's manager and now as the manager of Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros. To say that he's not taken the easy route would be a major understatement.
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It's in Hungary that Keane has enjoyed the most success too, notably winning the league and drawing interest from both Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur before refusing to leave his current role mid-season.
Keane's record at Ferencvaros
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The former striker also knows Coventry well, having played 34 times for the club, before going on to become a player that Michael Dawson dubbed a Premier League "legend".
On paper, he would be an ideal replacement for Lampard without necessarily being like-for-like in systems and style. Where the current Coventry boss prefers to use a 4-2-3-1 system, Keane has often used a 3-5-2 system in Hungary and that could be perfect for Premier League survival.
It's not so long ago that Daniel Farke switched to a back three with great success at Leeds. It's a change which has taken the Whites six points clear of the drop zone.
It's pragmatic and not always pretty, but style doesn't need to be the priority for a promoted side in their first season back in the top flight.
Ferencvaros manager Robbie Keane
As much as Lampard's departure would come as a blow, it would be a blessing in disguise if it opened the door for Keane and a system far more ready for Premier League survival than Coventry's free-flowing 4-2-3-1.
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