Frank Lampard has shared how Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, played an important role in his success at Coventry City. Before taking the managerial job at Coventry, Lampard had the chance to meet with Guardiola, where they discussed tactics. This encounter occurred just a month before Lampard accepted the role at Coventry.
“I went up to Manchester City to do an interview with Rodri, and I got the chance to sit down with Pep for 45 minutes, which was amazing,” Lampard told The Athletic.
This wasn’t the first time Lampard had been influenced by Guardiola’s methods. “Before I even started coaching, I spent a couple of days at Manchester City, and I was fascinated by Pep’s involvement with the players on the training ground. I thought, ‘That’s exactly what I want to be—someone who works closely with the players, going through everything with them,’” he explained.
For Lampard, Guardiola’s approach wasn’t just about tactical brilliance. It was also about the immense energy and connection he had with his players. “I was really impressed with Pep’s energy,” Lampard said. “Even though he’s been at City for a long time, his passion for the game and interaction with the players was clear from the start of the season.”
Lampard took over at Coventry just a few weeks after the meeting, replacing Mark Robins, who had been the Championship’s longest-serving manager after spending seven years with the club.
Despite facing challenges in his previous managerial stints at Derby County, Chelsea, and Everton, Lampard has transformed Coventry. Under his leadership, the team has risen from near the relegation zone to fifth place after a recent 3-2 victory over Oxford United. Lampard’s impact is clear, with Coventry winning 11 of their first 18 league matches under him.
After a slow start, with only 12 points from the first nine games, Lampard has since turned things around. He has guided Coventry to 24 points in their last nine matches, marking a major turnaround in the club’s fortunes.
Lampard also addressed the common criticism of England’s ‘Golden Generation’ of footballers who have struggled in management. He pushed back against the stereotype that former great players make poor managers, pointing out that this view is often oversimplified.
He said, “There’s a tendency to look at it lazily and just label the ‘golden generation’ as poor managers without understanding the challenges they face. Anyone who steps into management after a successful playing career deserves credit. There’s always a bigger level of scrutiny and pressure, but the longer you manage, the more you learn.”
Lampard concluded by emphasizing that his growth as a manager comes from a combination of his playing experience and the lessons he learned from his first day in charge at Derby County.
