Frank Lampard’s managerial career has been mixed to say the least - but one thing he could never be accused of lacking is passion.
The former Chelsea and England midfielder is out of a job once again having been sacked by Everton, leaving the Goodison Park club 19th in the Premier League table. It is the second successive job which has ended with Lampard being dismissed after his stint at Chelsea came to an end in January 2021.
Whilst results didn’t go Lampard’s way at Everton, he was credited with galvanising the club in their quest for survival last season amid a backdrop of disconnect between the players and fans. He was similarly popular at his former club, Chelsea, where he blooded a number of young players in his first season before things quickly went downhill.
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But Lampard's touchline antics sometimes rubbed people up the wrong way - including Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. The two famously clashed in a shouting match during a behind-closed-doors game at Anfield in July 2020, in which Liverpool ran out 5-3 winners.
Lampard was head telling his Reds counterparts to "f*** off" after being left unhappy a foul wasn't given, and he was still frustrated after the game, telling Sky Sports: “Fair play to Liverpool Football Club, they’ve won the league, but also don’t get too arrogant with it. That was my point, but it’s done. In match play, you can get emotional and that was it,”
After the incident, Klopp suggested Lampard had broken football’s unwritten rule by continuing the argument after the game as he reacted angrily to accusations of arrogance.
Klopp said: "You cannot hit me with something like that. We are not arrogant.
"Frank was in competitive mood, I respect that. Say what you want in that situation, pure emotion, he came to win.
"But what he has to learn is speaking about that after the game when the whistle has gone is not OK. Final whistle, as a real sportsperson... close the book and he didn't do that and that is what I don't like, honestly. I only speak now because he spoke afterwards.”
Lampard later added: "I've seen the video, I was there. In terms of language used, I regret it because I've got two young daughters on social media. In terms of passion to defend my team? No.
"I could have handled it differently but some of the reports were I was upset with the celebrations. Far from it. They can celebrate like every goal.
"I'd have had a beer with Jurgen Klopp after the game but there were things on the bench, not from Klopp, that I felt crossed a line. I regret the language but we'll move on.”
When Lampard returned to Anfield as Everton boss last season, he addressed the incident again and admitted he may have been in the wrong.
He said: “It was well meaning at the time, a bit misguided from my point of view. But I can’t preach to my players (about) staying on the right side of the line and then say it is fine for me to get it wrong.
“I have seen Jurgen since then and everything is fine. We all get things wrong but move on because we understand the passion of the game.”
Unfortunately for Lampard, he will not get chance to head back when Everton return for the next Merseyside derby on February 14 as he now considers his future after time at Goodison Park was up.
