Frank Lampard leads Coventry City to a phenomenal Premier League after a long 25-year wait

Frank Lampard has led Coventry City back to the top flight. (Image credits – Wikipedia, licence details)

Frank Lampard’s Coventry City scripted history on Saturday as they secured their promotion to the Premier League after a wait of 25 years following their 1-1 draw at Blackburn. Bobby Thomas's equaliser meant the Blues will be directly heading into the top division of England.

The defender has been with the club right from the time when they were back in League Two. Lampard kept his promise of taking them back to the Premier League as the away end kept singing his name at Ewood Park.

Thomas' goal was enough as the Championship leaders cemented their top spot with that well-earned point. Coventry have secured 86 points in 43 games and are followed by Ipswich Town and Millwall, who have both secured 76 points. Following the final whistle, Lampard celebrated with his players holding the “We are going up” banners in the away end. The Championship trophy will also be the club's first major silverware since lifting the FA Cup back in 1987.

Coventry missed out on promotion narrowly last season when they lost to Sunderland in the playoffs final. However, this season Lampard's men have meant business right from the start and have dominated the season thoroughly.

The Blues also secured emphatic victories against Derby County by 5-3 and against Queens Park Rangers by 7-1. By the end of the first half of the season, Lampard's team had lost only one game against Wrexham away from home. Coventry did slip a bit with a loss against Ipswich and a disappointing draw at Preston, but consecutive wins against Bristol City and Swansea brought their momentum back.

"This is a special night for the football club, which is bigger than all of us,” said Frank Lampard following the game. (sic)

“That could not be more clear than when you saw the fans at the end of the game. This club has suffered for 25 years since we've been out of the Premier League, and that journey is going down, playing at different stadiums. Credit to everyone involved in those tough years. Mark Robins, of course, he has to have a massive shout-out, and it's just such a massive achievement from everyone involved.” (sic)

He further added, “I'm more emotional than I thought I would be, and the final whistle just caught me. It just dawned on me then what this achievement means to our fans. Winning the Champions League with Chelsea was the best night of my life, but this comes very, very close. The players have got to enjoy tonight, and we're off tomorrow. They don't drink as much as we do, but Tuesday and Portsmouth will come very quickly, and I don't want any anti-climax. These boys deserve to win this league.” (sic)

Despite the promotion, the biggest challenge is yet to come for the Blues. Survival in the Premier League isn't easy, and the first step is to retain the manager. Frank Lampard is in high demand amongst the English sides, and Coventry has to make sure Lampard is there with them to lead their project in the top flight next season.

The former Chelsea and Everton boss received the Championship Manager of the Season award and has finally made a good reputation for himself as a manager after topsy-turvy spells with Chelsea and Everton.

As per reports, Bournemouth are considering Lampard as a potential replacement for Andoni Iraola, who is set to leave the Cherries at the end of the season to look for a new challenge in his career.

The Chelsea legend has revamped Coventry’s football philosophy, and unlike other sides who bank on defensive resilience to secure promotion, he has showcased a positive brand of football and dominated the Championship. Whether this approach works in the Premier League is still questionable, but Lampard has experience and seems determined to lead the Blues next season.