Frank Lampard ‘advancing’ towards Rangers manager job after third set of talks with Chelsea legend
Frank Lampard heading to Rangers to become the new manager “seems to be advancing” after talks last week, according to Simon Phillips.
The Chelsea writer and podcaster reported via Twitter on 3 October that the former Stamford Bridge player and manager has spoken with the Light Blues three times now as a possible move to Glasgow seemingly becomes more likely.
The 45-year-old has been out of work since finishing a second spell in charge at the West London side last season but suggested on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (2 October) he might be ready for a new job as he had been recharging away from management over the summer.
Phillips wrote: “Understand Lampard has spoken with Rangers on three occasions now, with the latest conversation being last week. Seems to be advancing.”
Risk
It is clear to everyone that there is precedent for such a move given the Gers appointed Steven Gerrard and went on to win the SPFL title.
The club took a risk to hand the reins to the former Liverpool captain and it paid off, but trying to do the same again might be tempting fate.
Lampard’s first reign at Chelsea was relatively encouraging for a time but ultimately fell apart, and while he then kept Everton up he barely lasted a year at Goodison Park.
His time back at Chelsea last year was frankly a disaster, so it could be argued he hasn’t done anything to earn another job the size of Rangers.
However, he might justifiably argue that he took over at Stamford Bridge once under a transfer ban, and a second time amid an historically poor season where two managers had already been fired in Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, while Everton’s fortunes before and after him shows anybody might struggle there.
Similarly, Gerrard’s failure at Aston Villa after leaving Ibrox might make the powers that be in Glasgow discount Lampard’s Premier League record.
But at a time when it certainly feels like a manager with proven success to their name is required it seems like a gamble to roll the dice on the former England star.
In other Rangers news, the club want talks with a former European league title-winner before deciding who to put through to interviews.