Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard made his return to coaching on Thursday, as he was appointed head coach of Coventry City, a club competing in the second division of English football.

At the age of 46, Lampard has signed a contract lasting two and a half years, a decision that has been welcomed by Coventry’s owner, Doug King. King emphasized that Lampard possesses a “clear understanding of exactly what is needed to succeed at the very top level,” expressing confidence in the former player’s abilities.

Having been out of a managerial role since June of the previous year, following a brief interim stint with Chelsea, Lampard brings with him a wealth of experience. His previous role at Chelsea spanned from 2019 to 2021, after which he managed Everton for nearly a year. Additionally, he has firsthand experience in the Championship, having started his managerial career with Derby County.

King pointed out that Lampard is well-acquainted with the demands of the Championship, stating, “Frank cut his teeth in the Championship and knows what is needed in this league to be successful.” This new position represents a change in direction for Lampard, who was once regarded as a promising managerial prospect after his debut season at Derby, which led to his appointment at Chelsea.

Lampard is heralded as one of Chelsea’s all-time greats; however, his tenure came to an end after a string of poor performance in January 2021, resulting in his replacement by Thomas Tuchel—who subsequently guided the team to a Champions League victory. At Everton, Lampard managed to pull the club from the brink of relegation after stepping in midway through the 2022 season. But his time there was cut short, as he was dismissed less than a year later while the team occupied the second-to-last position in the standings.

During his interim period at Chelsea, Lampard faced significant challenges, managing just one win in eleven matches, with eight losses. However, he hopes to leverage his experiences in this new role at Coventry City.