Jeff Stelling has suggested that Frank Lampard could be a perfect fit for a Premier League managerial role, potentially at West Ham United. The talkSPORT Breakfast host put forward the idea that the Chelsea legend could be a viable option for the Hammers, especially if current manager Julen Lopetegui faces the sack. Lopetegui, who took over from David Moyes earlier this summer, has come under increasing pressure following a poor start to the season. Although the club’s board is still backing the Spanish manager for the time being, they are acutely aware that improvements in results are urgently needed.
However, Lampard may not be available for long, as he has been linked with a move to Serie A’s Roma, a position that could become vacant in the near future. The 46-year-old former midfielder has been out of work since his stint as Chelsea’s interim manager in 2023. Before that, he managed Derby County and Everton, and also had a permanent spell as Chelsea’s boss. Despite his recent managerial setbacks, his name has been mentioned in connection with various managerial vacancies, and now Stelling believes West Ham could be an attractive opportunity for the former England international.
West Ham will play Everton at the London Stadium on Saturday, a crucial match that could have significant consequences for Lopetegui’s future. Should the Hammers fail to secure a positive result, it may hasten the end of his tenure, and Lampard could potentially be considered as a successor.
During the talkSPORT Breakfast show, Stelling presented the idea to listeners, asking, “Is it time, if Lopetegui goes, for West Ham to bring Frank Lampard home?” He acknowledged that the suggestion might divide opinions but maintained that it was merely speculative. Stelling pointed out that while there is an existing manager at the club, Lampard’s availability and his past links to West Ham made him a possible candidate for the role. “I know there’s a man in situ at the moment, but it is just a speculative suggestion at the moment,” Stelling clarified.
Not surprisingly, the suggestion did not resonate well with some West Ham fans, with many voicing their disapproval. One listener, Jim, texted the show, expressing frustration over the departure of David Moyes and suggesting that the board’s decision to hire a “cheap replacement” was a mistake. Some fans even suggested that Harry Redknapp could return to manage the club, with Frank Lampard serving as his assistant. Another fan, Del, commented, “Frank was a fantastic footballer, but not a great manager,” while other supporters took a more playful jab at Stelling, with one fan humorously suggesting that it was time for Stelling to “get rid of the horns and tail” after suggesting Lampard for the role.
Interestingly, not all feedback was negative. A Spurs fan, Martin, weighed in on the conversation, sarcastically declaring that Frank Lampard would be perfect for West Ham, joking that he would “take them back to the Championship where they belong.”
Although Lampard’s time at West Ham was short-lived, having come through the club’s academy, he was never fully embraced by the majority of supporters. Many fans at the time believed he had been given preferential treatment due to his famous father, Frank Lampard Sr., who was a former player and assistant manager to Harry Redknapp. Lampard Jr. moved to Chelsea in 2001 for £11 million, a transfer that earned him a hostile reception whenever he returned to Upton Park as an opponent. Despite the early friction with West Ham fans, Lampard would go on to achieve legendary status in English football, winning multiple Premier League titles, the Champions League, and earning over 100 caps for England. Redknapp famously predicted that Lampard would go on to become a football great, a prediction that has been proven correct over the course of his illustrious playing career.
While it seems unlikely that West Ham fans would readily embrace a return for Lampard, especially given his complicated history with the club, the notion of him taking over as manager raises intriguing possibilities. Whether Lampard would be interested in such a challenge remains to be seen, but with his managerial career still very much in flux, West Ham could represent a significant opportunity—albeit a controversial one.