Lampard a candidate for the Derby County job — report

Frank Lampard, Chelsea legend, all-time leading goalscorer, and icon of generations, has been a very busy man since retiring in February 2017, including continuously working on his coaching badges (which have involved regular trips to Cobham for hands-on homework).

Super Frank may not yet have all his official licenses — he’s working on his UEFA qualifications, but he does have his A-level already — and he’s only as the very start of a hopefully long and successful managerial career (which may just him take the Chelsea job at some point), but there's already a fair share of interest in his services, both as a manager or an assistant coach.

Lampard was linked with the vacant Ipswich Town position earlier this week; now it's Derby County's turn to come knocking. He's reportedly on a 20-man shortlist to succeed former Rams coach Gary Rowett. Derby’s season, their tenth since relegation in 2008 after the worst season in Premier League history, has once again, for the third time in five seasons, ended in disappointment with elimination in the Championship promotion play-offs, and a decision on their new manager is expected to come at some point next week.

Some reports, such as this one from the Mirror have even gone so far as to claim that Derby owner Mel Morris has already held talks with Lampard in order to give the latter his first chance at management sooner than expected. The former Chelsea midfielder's “impressive CV” has seemingly changed Morris' mind and has led to him presumably snubbing the other more experienced contenders (whoever those may be).

Wherever Lamps will ultimately end up, I'm sure he'll be a fantastic, hard-working manager. The man’s a born winner, with a competitive drive unmatched by most. Anything less would be a disappointment from Suuuuuuuuuuper, Super Frank!