Frank Lampard has returned to Chelsea as caretaker manager until the end of the season following the sacking of Graham Potter, the Premier League club confirmed on Thursday.
The club’s record goalscorer and fans’ favourite previously spent 19 months as manager at Stamford Bridge before being dismissed in January 2021.
“We are delighted to welcome Frank back to Stamford Bridge. Frank is a Premier League Hall of Famer and a legend at this club,” co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said in a statement on the club’s website.
“As we continue our thorough and exhaustive process for a permanent head coach, we want to provide the club and our fans with a clear and stable plan for the remainder of the season.
“We want to give ourselves every chance of success and Frank has all of the characteristics and qualities we need to drive us to the finish line.”
Lampard’s return, while the club seeks a full-time replacement for Potter, will provide a boost for the fans who have seen their team struggle despite a spend of almost 300 million pounds ($374 million) on new players in January.
Chelsea are currently 11th in the Premier League although they are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“This is my club. I have a lot of emotions towards the club. I’m also a practical person,” Lampard told a news conference.
“I’ve been on a different path since I left Chelsea, but to come back at a time when the club have asked me, with a belief I can help until the end of the season, I’m delighted to have this opportunity.”
The former England midfielder enjoys cult status at Stamford Bridge and many fans were disappointed to see him fired by former owner Roman Abramovich after a run of poor results.
Lampard’s first task will be preparing the side for Saturday’s away trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League before the focus turns to next week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Real Madrid.
