Chelsea’s reputation of developing homegrown talent had been a rather poor one until Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge as a manager in 2019.
The departure of Maurizio Sarri as the Blues’ manager after winning the Europa League three years ago led to the Blues to take a managerial gamble on one of there greatest ever players in Lampard, succeeding Sarri after only one season of experience as a professional manager.
That season came at Derby County in the Championship, where despite spending less than what was made in player sales, the Rams reached the play-off final, losing to an Aston Villa side inspired by then captain Jack Grealish, as well as John McGinn, Tyrone Mings and Tammy Abraham.
