July 4 – After weeks of speculation, Chelsea have finally appointed their former midfielder Frank Lampard as their manager on a three-year deal.
Lampard, 41, has left Championship side Derby County to take over at a club where he spent 13 years as one of the most popular players in their history.
He succeeds Maurizio Sarri, who left in June to take charge of Italian champions Juventus despite winning the Europa League and steering Chelsea to third in the table.
Lampard led Derby to the Championship play-off final, where they lost to Aston Villa, in his first season as a manager. The former England international made 648 Chelsea appearances, winning 11 major trophies with them.
He takes over with Chelsea under a transfer embargo after the club were handed a two-window transfer ban by FIFA. They are currently appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared. However, my sole focus is on the job in hand and preparing for the season ahead,” said Lampard who will have his work cut out trying to emulate Sarri’s achivements.
Remarkably, Lampard is the 10th full-time manager appointed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich since he bought the club in 2003.
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