Current boss tips midfield legend to return as Stamford Bridge chief.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has hailed departing midfield legend Frank Lampard by earmarking him as a future manager of the club, according to the Daily Mirror.
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Mourinho claims that he knew the veteran midfielder would be leaving the club two weeks before the season ended after the two had a heart-to-heart conversation about which direction the club would be going in next season.
Parting was such sweet sorrow when England’s World Cup vice-captain quit Stamford Bridge after 13 years because owner Roman Abramovich has left the door ajar for Lampard to return whenever he wants and in a role of his choice.
Chairman Roman Abramovic has told the 35-year-old that he will be welcomed back at any time in a special tailor made job, which could see him installed as Mourinho’s number two in the dugout.
Lampard is now set to sign for MLS franchise New York City FC, who will enter the American league in time for the start of the 2015 season.
The Special One said: “It’s not the end of Frank’s career at Chelsea – it’s just a little break. It’s the end of his career as a Chelsea player, but he will be back for many, many years because he’s one of the most important players in the club’s history.
“You can’t imagine how difficult it was for him to leave.
“I think only he knows because we spoke – not by phone, in person – but at the same time I can feel some happiness about the process because for sure he comes back to Chelsea one day. For sure.
“Everybody wants it, Mr Abramovich – the No.1, the most important person – wants very much Frank to be back, I want him to be back, the staff want him back, so he comes back for sure.
“And the other thing is that he can come back the way he wants.
“Mr Abramovich has left the door completely open for him on the understanding Frank can do anything he wants at this club: he can try things, feel where he is better suited, we can feel as a club where he can give us more, but he can come back when he wants and, to repeat Mr Abramovich’s words, the way he wants.
“He can be a coach, he can start at the academy, he can start being my assistant at the same time because he is doing his coaching badges, or he can start in a different role.
“He can decide in this moment whether he wants to start immediately in a coaching role, or if he wants to be an ambassador, representing the club in important places of our life – he can do what he wants.
“For now, he feels that he still wants to play football for another two or three years, and he is happy to do that because it’s the thing he loves most apart from his family.
“In the middle of the sadness I can feel some happiness because he’s a fantastic person, and I also feel happy because the club recognise that.”
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