Online Reporter
COVENTRY CITY boss Frank Lampard described his side’s promotion back to the English Premier League football after 25 years away as a “unique” achievement.
The Sky Blues, for whom legendary former Zimbabwe captain Peter Ndlovu starred, secured a top-two finish in the championship with three games to spare, courtesy of a 1-1 draw at struggling Blackburn Rovers.
Ndlovu became the first African to play in the era of the English Premiership when he featured for Coventry in 1992 where he also attained legendary status. But the club has over the last quarter of a century endured a topsy-turvy ride in their life outside the Premiership.
“To go and get promotion automatically as a non-parachute (payment) team with three games to go . . . these boys have managed to achieve something special and unique,” Lampard told Sky Sports.
“This is what it’s about. Coming here and getting a point at this stage isn’t easy.”
He added: “Doing this after 25 years . . . wow.
“The resilience to come back after losing in the play-offs (last season to Sunderland). We spoke in the summer about what we could do this season and whether we could finish third or fourth to get a home play-off in the second game which we didn’t do last year.
“It’s such a good feeling that the boys have managed to get it over the line.”
The former Chelsea and England midfielder (47) took over at the CBS Arena in November 2024 for his first job outside the top-flight since a season at Derby in 2018-2019.
An emotional Lampard, who also credited the “incredible” job his predecessor Mark Robins had done, said he had “fallen in love” with the club during his time in the Midlands and ranked leading Coventry back to the top-flight alongside his many accolades as a player.
“I’m proud of myself and the staff,” he said.
“We came into a bit of an unknown 15 or so months ago when we arrived in a people carrier. We’ve fallen in love and this is right up there with what I have achieved. I’m very proud to be the manager.”
Lampard said he would allow the players to enjoy securing promotion but then turn their attentions to winning the title.
They are 11 points ahead of second-placed Ipswich with three games to go, but the Blues have two matches in hand.
“The players can have a couple of beers on the way home but they’ve got to get the job done now,” he said. We want to go and get it done now. If we play how we have done the rest of the season we will be fine. We want to sustain it now.”
Lampard revealed he had allowed the players to have “a bit of a party” after last Saturday’s 0-0 draw against relegated Sheffield Wednesday meant that only a miracle would have stopped them from going up.
However, he said the levels in training on Tuesday and Wednesday last week had given him “the hump”.
Businessman Doug King took on sole ownership of the club in January 2023. — BBC Sport
Tinaye Agere