Frank Lampard was a candidate for the position of manager at Southampton before the club decided against hiring him
story from The Athletic claims that Frank Lampard was a candidate for the position of manager at Southampton before the club decided against hiring him.
Reports had it that the Saints were interested in hiring Lampard when he was fired from Everton earlier this year, but that didn’t pan out.
Reports indicate that Lampard was considered by the Saints as a replacement for Nathan Jones before the latter’s dismissal over the weekend.
At least one Southampton player is likely to endorse Lampard. His former England colleague Theo Walcott called him a “natural leader” when they were together on the national squad.
Although the exact reasoning for Southampton’s rejection of Lampard remains a mystery, it’s likely due to their disappointment with his performance during his time at Everton.
It’s true that the Englishman has led the Toffees into a relegation fight this season, and he has honestly seemed lost at Goodison Park.
Lampard’s playing style is another possible explanation. Ralph Hasenhuttl has coached Southampton to prefer a high-pressing style of play, whereas Lampard has had trouble getting his sides to create many chances when they have the ball.
Despite Southampton’s final decision not to hire Lampard, the mere fact that he was under consideration is encouraging for the former Chelsea manager, who may still get a position in the Premier League. Despite his difficulties at Everton, he helped guide Chelsea to a top-four finish in his first season and set the stage for Thomas Tuchel to lead the club to a Champions League title.
Lampard is now jobless, although he will certainly get employment offers in the coming months. After such a rough time on Merseyside, it will be intriguing to watch where he lands and whether he is able to redeem himself in the eyes of the footballing community. The hunt for a new manager at Southampton continues, but it seems unlikely that Lampard will be the one to take over at St. Mary’s.
