Frank Lampard Wins LMA Manager of the Year After Leading Coventry Back to the Premier League

Frank Lampard Earns Top Managerial Honour with LMA Award

Frank Lampard has been recognised as the League Managers Association Manager of the Year, earning the prestigious accolade following an outstanding season that saw him guide Coventry City back into the Premier League.

Championship Dominance Seals the Deal

Lampard's Sky Blues were dominant throughout the Championship campaign, finishing an impressive 11 points clear at the summit to claim the title outright. The promotion ends Coventry's absence from England's top division, with the club last competing at that level during the 2000-01 season — a wait of nearly a quarter of a century.

The achievement stands as the most significant individual honour of Lampard's managerial career to date, coming after a journey that has included both highs and considerable setbacks in the dugout.

The Sir Alex Ferguson Award Presented by Thomas Tuchel

Lampard received the Sir Alex Ferguson Award — named in honour of the legendary former Manchester United manager — at a ceremony where England head coach Thomas Tuchel did the honours. The award is determined by a vote among managers across the football pyramid and factors in both results and the financial resources available to each candidate.

Tuchel delivered a personal message from Ferguson himself, in which the iconic Scot praised Lampard's Coventry side for playing "great football with confidence and belief." Ferguson added a warm send-off: "I have enjoyed watching you. Best of luck in the Premier League next season."

A Career Rebuilt at Coventry

The former England international midfielder built his managerial reputation at Derby County, where his side narrowly missed out on promotion after losing the Championship play-off final in 2019. He subsequently took the reins at Chelsea — the club where he had spent 13 years as a player — before being dismissed 18 months into the role in January 2021. He later returned to Stamford Bridge in a temporary caretaker capacity.

A stint at Everton followed, during which Lampard guided the Toffees to safety from relegation before being shown the door. His appointment at Coventry, however, proved to be the turning point, as he built a free-scoring and defensively resolute side that swept the second tier aside.

Record-Breaking Numbers

Coventry's statistical output this season was nothing short of remarkable. The club finished as the Championship's top scorers, netting 97 goals across 46 matches, while simultaneously boasting the division's best defensive record — a combination that underlined just how complete Lampard's team was.

Strong Shortlist Across All Competitions

Lampard was far from the only manager recognised at the ceremony. Arsenal's Mikel Arteta claimed the Premier League award after leading the Gunners to their first top-flight title in 22 years. Other tier-specific honours went to Lincoln City's Michael Skubala, who won League One, and Bromley's Andy Woodman, who guided his side to the League Two championship.

In women's football, Manchester City's Andree Jeglertz took the Women's Super League award following a title-winning campaign, while Karen Hills received the WSL2 honour after steering Charlton into the top flight of women's football for the first time.

Alongside Lampard, the shortlist for the main award included Keith Andrews of Brentford, Unai Emery of Aston Villa, Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola of Manchester City, Skubala, and Woodman.

Hall of Fame Inductees

The evening also celebrated two managerial legends as Steve Bruce and Martin O'Neill were formally inducted into the LMA Hall of Fame, each having reached the remarkable milestone of 1,000 games as a manager.

Following in Distinguished Footsteps

Lampard joins a respected group of managers who have claimed the LMA's top award while operating outside the Premier League. Chris Wilder received the honour in 2019 during his transformative tenure at Sheffield United, and Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna was the 2024 recipient — a lineage that adds further weight to Lampard's achievement.