Everton appoint Frank Lampard to save Premier League status

Frank Lampard will get another shot as a Premier League manager after being hired by Everton on Monday. Lampard replaces Rafa Benitez, who was fired two weeks ago, and is tasked with reversing Everton’s slide toward the relegation zone. The club, which has been in English soccer’s top division since 1954, is 16th in the 20-team league and just four points above the bottom three. The 43-year-old Lampard was fired as Chelsea manager one year ago after 18 months in charge of the club for which he starred as a player. Chelsea had brought back its midfield great and record scorer as manager in 2019, even though Lampard had only a single season’s experience in management in the second division with Derby. He achieved Champions League qualification in his first season at Stamford Bridge by securing a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, but was fired midway through last season with Chelsea in ninth place and its defensive record particularly concerning under Lampard. More damning for Lampard was the fact that his replacement — Thomas Tuchel — almost immediately got the best out of Chelsea’s expensively assembled squad and led the team to the Champions League title in May. Lampard scored 211 goals for Chelsea from central midfield from 2001-14, during which he won every major honor at the club including three Premier League titles and the Champions League. “He has played at the very highest level of the game and has football in his blood,” said Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s majority shareholder. “He impressed us all greatly during the thorough interview process and we’re all ready to give him all of our support as he looks to give the team an immediate boost.” Derby manager Wayne Rooney, Lampard’s former England teammate, said Friday that he declined an interview for the vacancy at Everton. Everton is a nine-time English champion — but not since 1987 — and is without a major trophy since 1995, living in the shadow of neighbor Liverpool during that time. The team is an ever-present in the Premier League since the inaugural 1992-93 season, but looks set to be in a relegation fight this year after winning just one of its last 14 games. Lampard, who has signed a 2 1/2-year deal, is the sixth full-time manager hired since Moshiri became majority owner in 2016. The Iranian businessman has spent nearly $700 million on transfers in that time and this month injected another 100 million pounds ($135 million) into the club, saying it demonstrates his commitment amid turbulent times at Goodison Park. Lampard’s first game in charge will be at home to Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday. “I’m very hungry to get started,” Lampard said. “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.”