Official: Frank Lampard returns as Chelsea boss with Luis Enrique waiting

It's official. Frank Lampard returns to Stamford Bridge and becomes Chelsea's interim manager until the end of the season. The former Blues legend as a player, who has previously coached the club, returns to what has always been his home. 

Club owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali welcomed Lampard in an official statement: "As we continue our thorough and comprehensive 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 the characteristics and qualities we need."

Chelsea, despite the announcement of Lampard's signing, are working on finding a long-term option for next season. Luis Enrique remains top of Todd Boehly's list. This has been an emergency solution to try to right the course of a project that is falling apart. 

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Lampard back to Stamford Bridge

Lampard was without a club after being sacked by Everton in January this year and returns to the Chelsea dugout for his second spell in charge. He coached the Blues between July 2019 and January 2021, being sacked and replaced by Thomas Tuchel. Now, the English coach accepts the job until June and returns home. 

In his Chelsea managerial debut, Lampard had to take on the responsibility of taking the reins of a team that was under a transfer ban, as well as the added pressure of being a club legend making his debut in the dugout after a spell at Derby County.

In his first season (19/20), he managed to qualify the team for the Champions League and bring through youth players such as Reece James, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham. He had no other option, but he took advantage of the Blues' great academy of talent to build a very young team.

It was from his second season onwards that the team began to fall out of the European places and accumulated a run of very poor results that led to his dismissal. His replacement, Tuchel, took over mid-season and won the Champions League (20/21). Now he will have the chance to prove again that he is up to the job. 

Luis Enrique

The final decision on Lampard was the responsibility of Chelsea, who in parallel continue to work with more long-term options such as Luis Enrique. The option of the Asturian coach remains a priority for the Blues despite the announcement of the signing of 'Frankie', who arrives as a short-term solution. 

Chelsea will go with Lampard until the end of the season and depending on his performance they will consider extending his contract or go straight for Luis Enrique once the month of June arrives -- Julian Nagelsmann is another option. Ahead of them is the Champions League tie against Real Madrid on 12 April and their last chances of getting into the European places via the Premier League.