Thursday saw Chelsea FC unveiling what will be their only major acquisition this summer transfer window (well, second if you count the transaction making the Mateo Kovacic loan into a permanent acquisition). On July 4th Chelsea made it official: their all-time leading scorer, Frank Lampard, will be their new manager.
Lampard will be the third Blues boss in the past four seasons, as predecessor Maurizio Sarri left after one for Juventus, and the man who had the post before him, Antonio Conte (now leading Inter Milan) was sacked after just two years. Given the transfer ban placed on the club by FIFA, they won’t be able to sign any new players.
HE’S HOME! ?
Frank Lampard is the new Chelsea head coach!
#WelcomeHomeFrank— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 4, 2019
In other words, this is the biggest news day of the summer and the silly season, Chelsea supporters. Thursday brought Frank Lampard, whose previous gig was leading Championship side Derby County, an opportunity to meet the media and publicly outline his vision for the club.
“I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea as head coach. 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 Frank Lampard via a club statement.
“I am here to work hard, bring further success to the club and I cannot wait to get started.”
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: “It gives us great pleasure to welcome Frank back to Chelsea as head coach. Frank possesses fantastic knowledge and understanding of the club and last season, he demonstrated he is one of the most talented young coaches in the game.”
Felt like a relaxed press conference with so many familiar faces. Petr Cech in the front row. Good balance between excitement, humble, friendly but overalll impression is he can’t wait to get cracking. pic.twitter.com/L44K6pexXo
— Alison Bender (@alibendertv) July 4, 2019
Another club legend and recent front office appointee, Petr Cech was on hand, sitting in the front row for the press conference as Lampard outlined his vision for the club and unveiled his coaching staff.
Lampard will certainly have a tough task ahead of him. Chelsea have lost their best player, Eden Hazard, to Real Madrid, and they won’t be able to sign anyone to replace him for the next two transfer windows. There is going to be a lot expected of January acquisition from Borussia Dortmund, Christian Pulisic.
And lot is expected of the 20-year-old American winger.
So Jody Morris, Chris Jones, Eddie Newton and Joe Edward’s will be assisting him. What with the transfer ban this is a great move. He was quick to tell me it’s “no old boys club” #cfc
— Alison Bender (@alibendertv) July 4, 2019
For more on what we expect from Chelsea FC this upcoming season, please go to this link.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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