Former Spurs boss claims Chelsea caretaker Frank Lampard can still become a ‘top manager’
Harry Redknapp has said he backs current Chelsea interim coach Frank Lampard to become a top manager in the future.
The England and Chelsea midfielder took charge of the Blues on Thursday after the club sacked Graham Potter last week.
It is Lampard’s second spell with the club, returning to Stamford Bridge after being dismissed as head coach in January 2021.
He was also sacked as Everton boss in January after less than a year in charge, with the club languishing in the relegation zone.
But former Tottenham and West Ham boss, and Lampard’s uncle, Harry Redknapp has backed the legendary midfielder to succeed.
After being asked on talkSPORT if Lampard could take Chelsea on a good run form, Redknapp said: “Absolutely. You look at the squad, all of the players they’ve got there, they’re full of absolute top talent.
“Probably got 24/25 players there that could almost get in any team, but for some reason as a group they’ve just not been performing well enough.
“It’s a great chance for Frank, it can put him back on the big stage if he does well.
“Even if he doesn’t get the Chelsea job at least it’ll put him back in the frame for something else again.
“He wants to manage, he’s a lad who could sit at home probably doing nothing or playing golf for the rest of his life, he can certainly afford to do that, but he’s got that desire.
“Like as a player he wants to be a success, he doesn’t want to be a failure and I think he wants to come back and try to prove that he can become a top manager and I’m sure he can given the right opportunities.”
Lampard will have his work cut out for him on his return to the club he scored 211 goals for.
His side are currently 11th in the Premier League table, having only scored 29 goals in 29 top-flight games this season, fewer than relegation-threatened Leicester and Leeds.
Chelsea do have a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on the horizon, with victory in the competition looking like the Blues’ best ticket to European football next year.
Lampard’s return was mostly met with shock across football, and he would surely need to seriously impress if he is to remain in the role next year.
New Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is reportedly interested in former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, and ex-Bayern Munich manager Julian Naglesmann to take over the hot seat.
READ MORE: Lampard’s Chelsea return defies logic and gravity. Why not give Potter the rest of the season?
