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Chelsea on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of its former player, Frank Lampard as its new head coach on a three-year contract.
An official statement by the club on its website said “one of our greatest players in our history during his long and illustrious career returns home-Stamford Bridge.”
After signing the contract, the 41-year-old said: “I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea as head coach. Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared, however, my sole focus is on the job in hand and preparing for the season ahead. I am here to work hard, bring further success to the club and I cannot wait to get started.”
Chelsea Director Marina Granovskaia stated that “It gives us great pleasure to welcome Frank back to Chelsea as head coach. Frank possesses fantastic knowledge and understanding of the club and last season, he demonstrated he is one of the most talented young coaches in the game.
“After 13 years with us as a player, where he became a club legend and our record goalscorer, we believe this is the perfect time for him to return and are delighted he has done so. We will do everything we can to ensure he has all the support required to be a huge success.”
Lampard joined Chelsea in 2001 from West Ham and played 648 matches scoring 202 goals. He is Chelsea’s all time record goal scorer.
He left Stamford Bridge in 2014 having won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League. He is also Chelsea’s only player who has represented his country more than anyone else in the club’s history. He retired from England national team with 106 caps and 29 goals to his name, hanging up his boots in February 2017.
Lampard was Derby County’s head coach last season and he led the championship club to the play off final in his first season.