Lampard named as Chelsea boss until end of season

(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 12, 2020 Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard comes out to give an interview before the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England. – Chelsea announced on January 25, 2021 they had sacked manager Frank Lampard after a poor run in the Premier League. (Photo by Jon Super / POOL / AFP)

Frank Lampard says he will “focus on the job in hand” after being named Chelsea’s caretaker manager, rather than trying to land the role full-time. Lampard has completed a surprise return to Chelsea for the rest of the season, replacing the sacked Graham Potter.

The club say Lampard will take charge while they carry out an “exhaustive process” to find a permanent boss.“I want to do the best possible role I can and after that we will see what happens,” the 44-year-old said.

“I am not getting anywhere ahead of myself.” Lampard, who has been out of a job since he was dismissed by Everton in January, previously managed Chelsea from July 2019 until he was sacked in January 2021. His first game will be away to Wolves in the Premier League tomorrow before a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Lampard was a player at Stamford Bridge when interim boss Roberto di Matteo led the club to Champions League glory as a caretaker before earning the job on a full-time basis. Asked if he could follow a similar path, the former midfielder said: “It won’t be my decision so again I don’t want to jump forward to that.

“I understand I will get asked that question a lot. I have my eyes wide open. The important thing for me is to park that and focus on the job in hand.” Chelsea are 11th in the Premier League, 14