Frank Lampard 'could manage Chelsea again' as search begins for Enzo Maresca replacement

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Frank Lampard could yet manage Chelsea for a third time, according to former team-mate William Gallas. Lampard has coached Chelsea twice before to varying degrees of success.

The Stamford Bridge legend secured Champions League football for the club during his first stint in charge by bringing through young talent , including Reece James and Mason Mount , following a transfer embargo.

However, he lost his job the next season to be replaced by Thomas Tuchel . The 46-year-old was then reappointed on a caretaker basis in 2023 after Graham Potter was sacked by the club , but he could only muster one win from 11 games.

Lampard has since picked up the managerial thread at Coventry City, where he is doing a tremendous job in the Championship. The Sky Blues are eight points clear at the top after a blistering start to the season. They're 10 points in front of third-placed Ipswich Town, putting them in pole position in the race to get to the Premier League.

The Chelsea legend is thriving in the Midlands, with Coventry set to back him in the January transfer window . That offers a stark contrast to his old club and Enzo Maresca, who parted ways on New Year's Day.

The west Londoners are now looking for their next manager in the Todd Boehly era, with Liam Rosenior, Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola seen as the favourites to take over. While there's no suggestion Lampard will be in the running for a third stint just yet – he's currently among the outsiders in the betting – his old team-mate Gallas reckons another reunion in the future isn't out of the question.

Speaking in March of last year, Gallas said: "After what happened to Frank Lampard , we had to be patient. He is doing well right now with Coventry City, if he can give them the chance to get into the Premier League that would be the best thing for him.

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"But you never know, he could go back. That’s why it’s good for him to improve and do something really good with another Premier League team in the future, maybe helping them into Europe in the Europa League or Champions League .

"That would give him more experience and then one day, we could see him at Chelsea again. But right now, I don’t know. The best thing that can happen for him now is Coventry City to go to the Premier League. That will be the best story for him."

Coventry returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2001 now looks like an increasingly likely scenario. However, if ex-Chelsea man Lampard does lead them there, he won't be meeting Maresca in the Stamford Bridge dugout after his departure.

In a statement confirming the Italian's exit, the Blues said: "Chelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted company.

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"During his time at the Club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Those achievements will remain an important part of the Club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the Club.

"With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the Club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.