Shaun Wright-Phillips has publicly warned Frank Lampard against taking the Chelsea manager position, believing the Coventry City boss should consolidate his managerial credentials elsewhere before returning to Stamford Bridge. The former Blues winger expressed his concerns as Chelsea continues its search for a permanent manager following the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior this season.
Wright-Phillips, who spent five years at Chelsea during his playing career, told football.london that Lampard has built something special at Coventry that warrants protection. "For me, I hope he doesn't take it," Wright-Phillips said. "Not in disrespect to Chelsea, more in that I think he's kind of established himself now. With this Coventry team, he's got players that will run through walls for him. To see how they get on in the Premier League and what they do after—that would solidify him as a manager and as a man." The sentiment reflects confidence in Lampard's current trajectory rather than skepticism about his ability to manage at elite level.
Chelsea in Transition
Chelsea's managerial instability has become a defining feature of the 2024-25 campaign. After sacking Maresca in January, the club appointed Rosenior as his successor, only to part ways with him three months later. The Blues will operate under interim coach Calum McFarlane for the remainder of the season before appointing a new permanent boss.
Several high-profile names have been linked with the role, including Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Cesc Fabregas, Oliver Glasner, and Andoni Iraola. However, Lampard remains one of the most intriguing candidates given his prior experience managing Chelsea from 2019 to 2021, when he guided the club to the FA Cup final.
Industry insider Keith Wyness echoed Wright-Phillips' assessment, describing the current Chelsea situation as "a mess." He advised Lampard to prioritize stability at Coventry over the uncertainty at Stamford Bridge. "I'd much rather, if I was Frank, stay with stability at Coventry and make my name there than go into the mess that is Chelsea right now," Wyness told Football Insider. Lampard's success in engineering Coventry's Championship promotion for next season has demonstrated his capability to rebuild and stabilize underperforming organizations—a skillset that could prove valuable at Chelsea, but perhaps better refined elsewhere first.
