Official: Frank Lampard axed as Chelsea manager, with Thomas Tuchel set to be appointed
Chelsea have officially announced that they have reached an agreement with Frank Lampard to leave his post as Head coach of the club after a poor run of results and performances.
The club legend returned last summer to take charge of a team that had lost Eden Hazard and was unable to sign players due to a transfer ban. He successfully guided them to a Champions League squad, regardless, placing 4th with a young squad.
Lampard followed that achievement up by going 17 games unbeaten in the new season having bolstered the squad with Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva.
The run also saw the club securing an early qualification to the round of 16 of the Champions League but after a turn in results, he has been fired as the head coach of the club.
Lampard suffered defeats at the hands of Everton, Wolves, and Leicester City in his last few games and was unable to secure a win over any of the top sides in the first half of the season.
His inability to get the best out of the likes of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz also raised question whether Frank Lampard could guide the team to success this season.
The news of Frank Lampard’s sacking was announced in the early hours of Monday by Matt Law of the Telegraph even before the club released an official announcement via their handle.
Roman Abramovich said:
“This was a very difficult decision for the Club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him’.
“He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances we believe it is best to change managers.
“On behalf of everyone at the Club, the Board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as Head Coach and wish him every success in the future. He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.”
Thomas Tuchel to replace Frank Lampard
In replacement of Frank Lmapard, Chelsea are expected to appoint former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint Germain coach, Thomas Tuchel as the head coach of the club.
Tuchel was replaced by Mauricio Pochettino as Paris Saint Germain head coach and was among the candidates to replace Lampard alongside Allegri, Shevchenko and Brendan Rodgers.
But according to several sources including the Athletic’s Raphael Honigstein, the club are expected to appoint Tuchel in the coming hours.
There is the hope that his German connection will help bring out the best out of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
Chelsea are currently 9th on the league table and 11 points behind leaders Manchester United while they are set to face Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 Champions League next month.
More to follow…
