Lampard: I’m ready for manager’s job
Frank Lampard has declared himself ready to move into management once the right opportunity arises.
The former Chelsea and England midfielder has been working behind the scenes to complete his coaching qualifications at Chelsea as he inches closer to a first job in management.
Lampard expects more of his generation of England players to move into management.
“I’m doing my coaching badges at the moment. I’ve spent a lot of time at Chelsea this year, gaining hours of experience,” Lampard told the Press Association.
“I’ve already managed to get my A Licence in coaching. So yes, with the right opportunity and right timing for me, I’d really take a very close look at it.
“Because you do want to give back, show you can help try to develop players, and help them tactically and whether you can be a good man-manager.
“The FA are working much more closely now with ex-players to try to get them into their coaching badges.
“I think we had some barren years when the help wasn’t there, and players went away from the game. But now I think they’re trying to help players go straight into getting their coaching badges.”
Lampard was speaking to launch Barclays’ ‘Game Changing Fans’ report, in partnership with YouGov, examining the relationship between supporters and Premier League clubs.
The 4,039 supporters quizzed rated Liverpool the league’s loudest fans, while in-depth research with former players underlined the continued strong links between clubs and fans.
“We must never lose sight of the hardcore fans that all these clubs have, the people who work hard for their money to go and watch these teams home and away; it’s special,” said Lampard.
“When Chelsea won the league in 2005 at Bolton, we needed to win the game and in the first half it didn’t go according to plan, we didn’t turn up almost.
“I remember coming out for the second half and we were met by this roar from the Chelsea fans. It pushed us on and we won the game 2-0.”
The ‘Game Changing Fans – The 12th Player in every Premier League team’ report can be downloaded via this link: Game Changing Fans.
