Now, we should preface this by saying that Rangers icon Graeme Souness neither had no currently has any qualms about the decision to hand Philippe Clement the keys to the Ibrox machine.
Speaking back in October, after the former Club Brugge, Genk and AS Monaco coach was confirmed as Mick Beale’s replacement, Souness described Clement as one of the ‘outstanding candidates’.
His CV certainly backed up such a claim. Three Jupiler League titles, two Belgian Coach of the Year awards.
With Rangers looking to cut the gap between themselves and Old Firm rivals Celtic at the Scottish Premiership summit, Clement – once he has his squad in place – may be the man to do just that.
But speaking to talkSPORT (26 October, 11am), Souness admits that he had championed the appointment of another out-of-work coach who was keen on taking over on the blue side of Glasgow.
Rangers chose Philippe Clement over Frank Lampard
“There was the two outstanding candidates; Frank and Philippe,” Souness said, feeling that Frank Lampard even ‘had the edge’ over the experienced Belgian.
“For me, Frank had the edge because of this; Frank, I think, has still got a great deal to offer. Taking the Chelsea job when he did was always going to be very, very difficult. The Everton job is a basket case. And have they improved since Frank left? Not a bit.
“So, I wouldn’t be too critical of Frank. The thing that encouraged me about Frank is that he wanted to do it. He doesn’t need the money. He wants to be a successful manager. And he fancied the Rangers job.”
Eight months on, and with Lampard still on the managerial breadline, one wonders where the Chelsea hero ends up next. They say absence makes the heart grow stronger. But, in Lampard’s case, over a year out of the game threatens to make him something of a forgotten man in coaching circles.
He recently missed out on the Charlotte FC job in America to ex-Aston Villa boss Dean Smith.
But, as far as Gary Lineker is concerned, Lampard may be a victim of misfortune. Look at things from a different perspective and you could argue that the 46-year-old is not the busted flush he has been made out to be by some.
Could Lampard replace Gareth Southgate for England
Lampard did save Everton from relegation in 2023, after all. He also led Chelsea to the FA Cup final and into the latter stages of the Champions League.
And while his reputation as one of Britain’s up-and-coming coaches was damaged substantially by that dismal second spell in the Stamford Bridge dugout and the manner in which his Everton time ended, Lineker feels that Lampard should still be a leading candidate for one of the most high-profile jobs in the game should Gareth Southgate vacate the England hotseat after Euro 2024.
“I think he’s been a bit unlucky in his managerial career in some ways,” the Three Lions legend said on his The Rest is Football podcast
“I wouldn’t disregard Frank Lampard. I think he tactically gets it. I think the players will respect him immediately.
“If you’re going to go English, who else (is there)?”
