Though his playing days may be numbered, Frank Lampard may not be done with the beautiful game just yet.
The Mirror reports that Chelsea will offer a position at the club to their former star player and club legend Frank Lampard upon his departure from New York City FC. The team aims to bring Lampard back in either a coaching, ambassadorial , or mentoring role, with the priority simply being his continued relationship with the Stamford Bridge club.
Chelsea are wary of Arsenal’s recent failures to maintain relationships with former star players. Lampard’s manager at New York City FC, Patrick Vieira, along with former New York Red Bull, Theirry Henry, and Dennis Bergkamp are among those that have voiced their displeasure with the Gunners treatment of former players.
The Blues seek to avoid that issue by offering players such as Lampard, and perhaps his fellow MLS expat, Didier Drogba, positions at the club. Lampard in particular has previously expressed an interest in coaching.
Lampard walks away from his NYCFC tenure having played a major role in the team’s 2016 success after their 2015 failures.
thanks for stopping by and picking up more money than MLS spends on entire team rosters…
The Arsenal statement couldn’t be more false.
– Henry chose Sky over coaching Arsenal 18’s, certainly can’t have it both ways. Coaching them on a weekday then criticizing them on weekday. He preferred the almighty dollar to cutting his teeth.
– Viera for all he did at Arsenal did not really show himself in a great light, always was pushing for a move away and eventually got it. Great player and this close to being Arsenal legend. Loyalty goes both ways.
– Bergkamp doesn’t like to fly, hard to hire him when the team has been in the Champion’s League 17 out of the past 17 years. He is certainly wanted at the club by the fans.
– Ljungberg is currently the under-15’s coach
– Tony Adams, Mr. Arsenal, turned down the under-18’s role to go to China. Go figure.
– Arteta is the only one I have issue with but not a bad place to land at City under Guardiola. Hope he comes back to Arsenal in a few years to take over for Arsene.
Not many people inherit a team like Zidane at Real or Guardiola at Barca where they can simply step in and let them play. Seems like Arsene and the Arsenal staff want them to earn their stripes, hone their coaching styles, and make their bad decisions out of the limelight for a few years.
In general Arsenal is extremely welcoming of former players. Hell, Pires still trains with them from time to time!