Ex-Chelsea icon Frank Lampard emerges as a frontrunner for vacant EFL managerial position

Chelsea icon Frank Lampard, who has 106 caps for England, has emerged as the bookmakers favourite to take charge of a promotion-chasing EFL club. Oxford United are currently searching for a new manager to take the reins at Kassam Stadium after Liam Manning’s departure to Championship side Bristol City earlier this week.

The Yellows have enjoyed a sensational start to the season and currently sit second in the table after 15 games and have amassed an impressive 32 points, leaving them just three points behind league leaders Portsmouth.

Oxford have ambitions of returning to the Championship for the first time since 1999 and have their eyes on a number of talented managers, including ex-Birmingham boss John Eustace and former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder, but the new frontrunner to take on the Oxford job is former Chelsea and Everton manager Frank Lampard, who is priced at 2/1 with the bookmakers.

Lampard is viewed as a club legend at Chelsea after an incredible 13-year career with the club. During his playing days he won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League. After his retirement, he took on the role as Derby County boss in 2018 and led the Rams to a play-off semi-final.

Lampard went on to join his former club Chelsea in 2019 during a time when the club had a one season transfer embargo. In this period he harnessed the talents of many young players and led the Blues to a Champions League finish.

However, performances unravelled in his second season, after a failed attempt to sign Jude Bellingham and Lampard was eventually replaced midterm by Thomas Tuchel. Lampard struggled to bounce back from his Chelsea setback and won just 12 of his 44 games at Everton, before being sacked in January.

Lampard’s most recent managerial venture was a brief return to Stamford Bridge on an interim basis. In that time he won one, drew two and lost eight of his matches in charge. The 45-year-old is 2/1 joint favourite to take over at Oxford United alongside former Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic defender Paddy McCarthy.