Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has been announced as Everton's new boss, starting his tenure off with the Toffees' FA Cup tie with Brentford on Saturday.
The former England midfielder has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract, until June 2024.
The appointment of Lampard comes after a number of other rumoured candidates, including former Everton striker Wayne Rooney, had all turned down the role.
Lampard started management with Derby County in 2018, leading the Rams to the final of that season’s Championship play-offs.
He was appointed head coach at his former club, Chelsea the following year. He guided the Londoners to fourth place in the Premier League and the FA Cup final in his first season in charge.
While it was rumoured that his former colleague at Chelsea, current assistant coach with Ireland Anthony Barry, would be joining Lampard in Everton, the announced backroom team is notably missing the Chelsea First team coach.
Lampard's backroom team made up of Joe Edwards as his Assistant Manager, Paul Clement as First Team Coach and Chris Jones as First Team Coach and Head of Performance.
Welcome to Everton Football Club, Frank Lampard! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/LuGqBCrrE7
— Everton (@Everton) January 31, 2022
In a statement released by Everton on Monday, Lampard expressed his delight at the new challenge.
“It is a huge honour for me to represent and manage a club the size and tradition of Everton Football Club," Lampard said.
"I’m very hungry to get started. After speaking to the owner, Chairman and the Board, I very much felt their passion and ambition. I hope they felt my ambition and how hard I want to work to bring it together.
“You can feel the passion Everton fans have for their club. That will be hugely important. As a team – the competitive level that the Premier League brings and the position we are in the table – we certainly need that.
"It’s a two-way thing. I think Everton is a unique club in that you can really understand what the fans want to see. The first thing they want is fight and desire and that must always be our baseline.
“My first message to the players will be that we have to do this together. We’ll try to do our job and I know the fans will be there backing us.”
Frank’s message to Evertonians.💙 pic.twitter.com/Q3y7srlIzv
— Everton (@Everton) January 31, 2022
Lampard won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Champions League and Europa League, while earning 106 caps for his country in a glittering playing career.
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