After less than a year in charge, Frank Lampard has been sacked as Everton’s manager.
After nine losses in 12 games, Lampard leaves Goodison Park with the club in 19th place in the Premier League and locked in a second straight relegation battle.
Rafael Benitez, a former manager of Derby County and Chelsea, was replaced by Frank Lampard in January of last year after only 200 days in the position.
Since owner Farhad Moshiri acquired the team in February 2016, Everton has been searching for its eighth permanent manager due to Lampard’s departure.
Official statement
The official statement reads, “The club thanks Lampard and his coaching staff for their service during a challenging 12 months”.
Another club statement read, “Frank and his team’s devotion and dedication have been excellent during their time at the club, but recent results and the current league position meant this tough choice had to be taken.”
“However, Alan Kelly continues to serve as goalkeeping coach despite the departures of coaches Joe Edwards, Paul Clement, Ashley Cole, and Chris Jones from Everton.”
The search for a new manager has already begun, according to Everton. Paul Tait and Leighton Baines will take training until a new manager is appointed.
#EFC can confirm that Frank Lampard has left his post as Senior Men’s First Team Manager today.
Paul Tait and Leighton Baines will take training until a new manager is appointed.
— Everton (@Everton) January 23, 2023
Frank Lampard’s tenure as Everton manager
Everton was 16th in the Premier League, six points above the relegation zone, when Lampard took over at Goodison Park on January 31, 2022.
They ended 16th after losing 10 of their final 18 games but beating Crystal Palace 3-2 in a comeback to secure their safety.
Richarlison, a Brazilian forward who scored 10 league goals last season, was transferred to Tottenham for £60 million. Still, the club spent more than £80 million on players like Dwight McNeil from Burnley and Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana from Lille.
They started the year with two losses, four draws, and one victory over West Ham on September 18. Only two more came in the following 13, and Lampard was fired after the Toffees lost 2-0 to fellow struggling team West Ham on Saturday.
They are now two points from safety and in 19th place, above Southampton in last place on goal difference.
Frank Lampard's record for Everton:
◉ Matches played: 38
◉ Won: 9
◉ Drawn: 8
◉ Lost: 21
◉ Points: 35It's not looking good. 🫣 pic.twitter.com/j1bzF8owMo
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 21, 2023
Who might take over as Everton’s manager?
Marcelo Bielsa, the former manager of Leeds United, is one of the names being considered as Lampard’s possible replacement.
Although Leeds fired him in February last year, the 67-year-old Argentine, whom Everton owner Farhad Moshiri loves, has not worked since.
Nevertheless, he is still regarded as a hero at Elland Road for leading the team back into the Premier League. It is unknown if Bielsa would accept a position in the middle of the season.
The bookmakers’ favourite is former Burnley manager Sean Dyche, fired last April after ten years with the Clarets for failing to keep them in the Premier League.
The odds on former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson, who left the club’s coaching staff in the summer to pursue managerial opportunities but has not yet found a job, had shrunk, particularly since he had already served in the Toffees’ interim manager capacity twice before after Marco Silva and Rafael Benitez left the club.
Before Lampard’s hiring a year ago, the Everton board discussed the former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who left St. Mary’s in November and is now available.
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan, who has overseen a turnaround at The Hawthorns since his appointment in October, is another outside contender with supporters at Goodison Park.
