Frank Lampard looks set to miss out on yet another managerial job, with Vitor Pereira close to becoming the new Everton boss after re-emerging as owner Farhad Moshiri’s preferred candidate for the job.
Lampard has now been out of a job for 12 months as he was sacked by Chelsea in January 2021, and the Blues legend is finding it tougher to land a new role than he may have previously thought.
The former Chelsea boss impressed during his first managerial role at Derby and almost led the Rams back to the Premier League, but left for a dream return to Stamford Bridge after they narrowly missed out on promotion.
Lampard's homecoming was cut short after just 18 months in charge, and he's struggling to get back in the dugout.
After Roy Hodgson parted ways with Crystal Palace last summer, it looked as though Lampard may make the short move across London to take charge of the Eagles, but the former Chelsea boss was never really first choice.
Lampard was initially ruled out of the running as talks progressed with Nuno Espirito Santo, but he was back in contention after a move fell through, only to be snubbed for Patrick Viera.
This was fine with Lampard, who has said that he is in no rush to return to management, but he may not have expected a 12-month absence from employment.
Newcastle then presented itself as an opportunity as Steve Bruce was sacked shortly after the new mega-rich owners took charge, and Lampard was in the running to lead the Magpies though a transitional period.
To Lampard's credit though, he was not interested in the Newcastle role and raised concerns over the club’s Premier League relegation battle, as was the same when the Norwich vacancy became available.
Lampard was extremely interested in taking the Aston Villa job, and was even interviewed by the club over succeeding Dean Smith, but Steven Gerrard was the overwhelming choice to get the job as the former midfield pairing battled again.
So after missing out on two roles, and passing up two more himself, it looked likely that the Everton job could finally be the one that Lampard was waiting for, but he looks set to miss out for a fifth time in 12 months.
Former England team-mate Wayne Rooney has also been linked with a return to Merseyside, but it is thought that Lampard is second in the running, albeit far behind Pereira who appears to be Moshiri's favoured pick.
The Everton board had set out a process of interviewing several candidates for the role, with Lampard and Pereira two of the coaches asked to make further presentations, when they met Moshiri early in the week.
But after meeting again with Pereira, Moshiri and his backer Alisher Usmanov seem to have again taken the advice of their close friend and associate, the agent Kia Joorabchian, who represents the coach.
