Frank Lampard waited 18 months to decide on his next move.
Bruised by a difficult provisional passage of 11 games with Chelsea at the end of the 2022-23 season, Lampard wanted to make sure that his next role was right.
“I have had a lot of challenges in my management career,” he told Mail Sport. “But I learned when you talk to a club, you want to know what their expectations are.
“You want to immerse yourself in the team, see what you think you can improve. What style of play should I bring? Do we have the players to do it? What does the owner want? And what is the feeling and tradition of the club?
“I weighed all these things and I felt that I could have an impact here,” explains Lampard, whose return to the shelter with Coventry at the end of November. “Some other opportunities that arose, I did not know if they suited me, but it felt good.
His appointment to the Coventry Building Society Arena was mocked in certain circles. Landed a risky move after the departure of Mark Robins, some said that Lampard only obtained the post because of his name.
Frank Lampard had a huge impact on Coventry since he became director in November
Lampard passed the two -point Sky Blues from the relegation area to sixth place
The legendary Chelsea midfielder, 47
But this point of view could not be further from the truth and in the next six months, the legendary Chelsea midfielder transformed Coventry’s fortune.
The Sky Blues went from two points from the relegation area to sixth thanks to 15 victories in 28 games. Their destiny is in their hands to claim a roadblock before a confrontation of the last day against Middlesbrough, managed by the former teammate of West Ham and England of Lampard, Michael Carrick.
Lampard not only strengthened his reputation, but recovered as a promising young English director, recognition he held after led derby to the playoff final, qualifying for the Champions League and the FA Cup final despite a transfer embargo in Chelsea, before an act of rescue in Everton.
“I’m very happy,” said Lampard, who supervised Coventry’s best race for 55 years with nine victories in 10 earlier this year. “At Christmas, we may not even have imagined that we would arrive here, so we are happy in this direction.
“We have a home game to try to participate in the play-offs. This situation itself is a good success, but now we want to reach this next step.
Lampard is a committing and pleasant company and the penchant he has already developed for Coventry is reflected.
In a oddity of destiny, the 47 -year -old man made his debut in West Ham against the Sky Blues in 1996 and remembers having watched them winning the FA Cup in 1987.
During his time out of the game, he tolerated the work of the media and made sure to rest and spend time with his family.
Lampard’s previous role was a difficult temporary spell of 11 games with Chelsea in 2023
Lampard used his 18 -month break from the game to reflect and become a better coach
He faced the difficult request to replace Mark Robins, who obtained a legendary status in Coventry
But the break was also used to become a better coach. “In a work, you are in the bubble,” explains Lampard. “When you go out, you can have a wider view and think about things.
“Did he look at what I could have done better?” What did I do well? What can I improve with my next job?
Lampard speaks to Mail Sport on behalf of the Sky Bet Every minute Matters campaign in partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The campaign aims to collect 3 million pounds sterling for the BHF and hopes to obtain 270,000 people to learn the RCR. 235,000 are already on board.
“It’s an incredible cause and I felt close enough to me,” said Lampard. “I had history of heart disease in my family and you hear stories of young people with these sudden heart arrests, so this campaign touched a sensitive string with me.
“It’s a pivotal thing and I’m really happy to be part of it.
Upon his arrival in Coventry, Lampard was confronted with the challenge of replacing a club legend in Robins, whose dismissal was controversial – and he had to breathe confidence in a lateral temperature with relegation problems.
Joined by trusted assistants Joe Edwards and Chris Jones, he ignored outside noise and focused on rapidly rapid improvements and clarity.
Lampard spoke to Mail Sport on behalf of the Sky Bet Matter Matters campaign
Lampard initially focused on rapid improvements and the restoration of confidence in his team
He galvanized and United Coventry’s Fanbase and the participations are in place at the CBS Arena
Lampard’s experiences in Everton helped him inspire the Coventry team and he initially granted priority to improving their defensive file.
From there, more detailed plans were shared and he relied strongly on video analysis during his mandate.
The tactical flexibility of Lampard saw Coventry switching between a three back and a rear four, while the ambitious owner Doug King showed support via the addition of the captain of Swansea Matt Grimes in January.
Several players prospered, including Jack Rudoni, a boxing midfielder in a box compared to Lampard after contributing seven goals and 12 assists.
“We never deviate from the basic principles that we have with the team,” he adds. “The players were good enough with that, so I am satisfied with the way they responded.
“There have also been very good individual stories of players improving, which is one of the best pleasures of this work.”
Lampard faced a major problem on his arrival that he had to speak.
“We felt physically that we could be better,” he says. “Our figures were quite average. A high intensity style works in this league. We must be one of the best teams and in certain parameters, we are now.
Several players prospered, including Jack Rudoni (right), a crash midfielder in a box compared to Lampard after having contributed seven goals and 12 assists in the championship this season this season
Lampard thought that Coventry had to be better physically after taking the job
Lampard fist pumps after crucial victories have become a memorable part of his mandate
Lampard has also galvanized and united a club which – while undergoing incredible high under Robins – has also endured difficult moments in the past 12 years, especially being made twice homeless.
The medium crowds have increased by more than 2,000 this season and Lampard’s handguns after the crucial victories have become emblematic.
In fact, their 2-1 victory against West Brom on Good Friday was watched by 31,167, a record for a championship match at CBS Arena.
“The fans really bought it,” said Lampard. “The atmosphere is incredible. The players have shown passion and quality – things that fans want to see.
“We need another great push this Saturday. We know that we will have great support behind us, so we want to get a result for them.
This great push comes from what could be a last day upside down. Coventry is sixth, a point in the fifth place of Bristol City. However, Millwall, Blackburn and Middlesbrough could exceed the side of Lampard if they slipped.
A difficult meeting awaits you and the memories of the victory in the semi-finals of Coventry against Boro in 2023 persist.
Equality is a play-off for the play-offs and the message of Lampard is simple.
“We deserve to arrive where we have it now,” he says. “What we can achieve should be a real carrot for us to try to grasp.
“If we are at our best, we know that we can compete with anyone in this league, but we must now continue it under intense pressure.”
Sky Bet and EFL recently united their forces to support the British Heart Foundation to welcome the Sky Bet EFL every minute Relay account – An exhausting challenge of 4000 km, where fans walked, run or lived at each of the 72 Sky Bet EFL clubs in just 28 days and inspired more than 20,000 to start learning RCR.
To learn RCR in just 15 minutes with the free online tool of the BHF, research ‘Revivr’.
