Derby County have named Frank Lampard as their new manager ahead of the new campaign. The Chelsea legend has been confirmed as the new Rams boss, penning a three-year contract with the English Championship outfit.
Derby were on the lookout for a new manager after the exit of Gary Rowett to Championship side Stoke City earlier this month. They decided to opt for the 39-year-old in what is Lampard’s first job as a manager. The former Premier League midfielder expressed his delight after signing for the Rams and was quoted to have said, “I’ve always wanted to manage a club with a big tradition and history like Derby County, so this is a huge opportunity,”
“We want to build on the club’s top six finish in the Championship last season, while at the same time bringing through some of the excellent youth and Academy talent we have at Pride Park.
“This is my first job as a manager, but I’ve worked closely with some of the best coaches in the game and I’m confident in my own abilities and those of the team around me, including the board.
“I know it won’t be easy – managing a football team never is – but I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Here is how some of the Derby fans reacted on Twitter.
One Derby supporter couldn’t wait for Lampard to arrive at Pride Park.
https://twitter.com/Becky4189Hall/status/1001228402194558977
https://twitter.com/EmHar1884/status/1001435312319549440
Some fans were really frustrated with the appointment of an inexperienced manager.
This is the problem with todays football, ignore all the young managers who are grafting to be a good manager and gamble on a half decent player as manager. What is the point of climbing the ladder. #dcfc #Lampard
— Aaron (@BcfcMaddocks) May 31, 2018
While other supporters were a bit more optimistic.
https://twitter.com/BorderCasual/status/1001452173442670592
There were also some murmurs about who the Rams are going to sign next.
Manager: Frank Lampard
Assistant: Jody Morris
Direct of football: Harry Redknapp
First signing and captain: John Terry?
Dare to dream? 😍 #dcfc #lampard #redknapp #terry #morris
— Niall Anthony Lalani (@NiallLal) May 30, 2018
There were a lot of Chelsea supporter groups wishing their former player the best going into his new role as a manager.
Derby County have appointed Chelsea legend Frank Lampard as manager.
Best of luck super Frank!#CFC #ChelseaFC #dcfc #Lampard pic.twitter.com/fmfnEHS9D6
— Chelsea Extra 🏆 (@CFCExtra) May 31, 2018
Some sources are now claiming that Jody Morris, who has led Chelsea’s U18 side to the FA Youth Cup in successive campaigns, is expected to join Lampard’s backroom staff at Pride Park. The 39-year-0ld might be inexperienced as a manager but he has learnt a lot from playing under coaches like Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini and Carlo Ancelotti during the course of his career as a player.
Only time will tell whether this appointment turns out to be the right move for Derby County as they look to clinch a promotion spot next season.
