FRANK LAMPARD is desperate for a return to management — and wants England coach Michael Johnson as his sidekick.
Lamps, 45, was close to getting the Rangers job after being heavily backed by club consultant Graeme Souness.
GettyFrank Lampard wants back into football management[/caption]
Dave Pinegar – The SunMichael Johnson Ex Derby County player and current club ambassador 10/05/2019 Michael Johnson talks to ex player and Sun reporter Warren Haughton at Pride Park Stadium Pic Dave Pinegars[/caption]
Highly-rated coach Johnson, an ambassador at Derby, is England Under-21s No 2 and has been part of the Three Lions set-up for years.
The Rangers’ job alluded Lampard and Johnson and was instead given to Philippe Clement.
This was despite Souness’ suggestion for Lampard to take charge.
The Scot claimed that the former England star was an “outstanding candidate” and that he had dealt with difficult jobs.
Lampard had managed at Derby County, Chelsea and Everton.
At the Rams, he had success as he almost won promotion via the play-offs in 2019.
While at Chelsea and Everton, Lampard struggled but had to deal with many outside factors.
Souness labelled the Toffees job as a “basket case” and suggested that the club has not improved since replacing Lampard with Sean Dyche.
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When Souness was asked by Simon Jordan if he supported Lampard for the job he told talkSPORT: “Aye.
“There were two outstanding candidates, Frank and Philippe, who got the job.
“The final say was not with me. For me, Frank had the edge because of this.
“Frank has a great deal to offer in terms of management.
“I think if you analyse him taking the Chelsea job when he did, it was always going to be very, very difficult.
“I think taking the Everton job is a basket case. Have they improved since Frank has left? Not a bit.
“So I would not be too harsh to judge Frank. I know you were critical of him, Simon, but I think he is a football man, through and through.
“The thing that encouraged me about Frank when I met him is that he wanted to do it, he doesn’t need the money, he wants to be a football manager, a successful football manager and he fancied the Rangers job.
“That is a hard place to work in the west of Scotland. Fortunately, it went well for me but I know how difficult it is.”