Frank Lampard ‘closes in on a return to management’ with Championship side – as he ‘prepares to return to the dugout’ for the first time since Chelsea interim stint

Frank Lampard is close to returning to the dugout as manager of a Championship team, according to a report.

Lampard has been out of work since his interim stint with Chelsea at the end of the 2022-23 season, which saw him take over from Graeme Potter until Mauricio Pochettino took charge.

It was his second stint with the Blues, with his first appointment in 2019 initially reaping success until he was sacked in January 2021 by former owner Roman Abramovich.

He has also had spells in charge of both Derby County and Everton since finishing up playing in 2017, with varied success coming at both clubs but the former England star struggling to settle.

Now, however, he could, according to The Mirror, be set for a return to the dugout with Championship side Coventry City, who brutally sacked long-serving manager Mark Robins last week.

Frank Lampard is close to a return to management with a Championship side, according to a report

The former midfielder has been out of work since a stint as Chelsea interim boss in 2023

He could be set to replace Mark Robins, who was sacked after seven years in charge, at Coventry 

Robins left the club 17th in the Championship on the back of a 2-1 defeat by Derby County at home on Wednesday night. They appointed assistant coach Rhys Carr on an interim basis as they search for Robins’ successor. 

In 2022-23 he led them to the Championship play-off final, where they lost on penalties to Luton, and last campaign they were agonisingly knocked out of the FA Cup semi-finals by Manchester United on spot-kicks. 

Robins returned to the Sky Blues in March 2017 for a second stint in charge with the club bottom of League One and was unable to prevent relegation that season.

However, he led them to an immediate promotion and in 2019-20 steered them to the League One title. He was the Football League’s longest-serving manager.

Coventry have also been linked with the likes of Wycombe – who are top of League One – boss Matt Bloomfield, as well as Robbie Keane and current England interim chief Lee Carsley.

But Lampard is now the heavy favourite to be heading to the dugout at the CBS Arena, and could be in position for Coventry’s next game – at home to Sheffield United – after the international break.

He would be free to appoint for City, due to him being out of work – the same can’t be said for the likes of Bloomfield.

Coventry drew 1-1 with table-topping Sunderland in their first game of the post-Robins era on Saturday, with Haji Wright and Jack Rudoni ensuring they came back from 2-0 down at the Stadium of Light.

Lampard, pictured alongside wife Christine, has managed three sides but struggled to settle

Coventry are 17th in the Championship and could appoint Lampard over the international break

The sacking of Robins left many fans scratching their heads, with the general view that he should have been given time to turn around their poor start to the season.

Coventry had picked up seven points in five games since the last international break and, before their loss to Derby, had beaten Luton 3-2 and Middlesbrough 3-0 in consecutive games.

They almost knocked Tottenham out of the Carabao Cup third round in September before a late turnaround with goals from Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson knocked them out.