Former England midfielder Frank Lampard is taking his first step into management by taking the reins at Derby County, the Championship club announced on Thursday. The 39-year-old, who won three Premier League titles with Chelsea, has signed a three-year contract at the second-tier English outfit two years after retiring in 2016. Derby have been looking for a new manager since Gary Rowett was lured away by recently-relegated Stoke. Lampard said his aim was to take Derby back to the Premier League for the first time since 2008, when the club finished rock bottom. He remains the club’s leading goalscorer with 211 goals and, as well as his hat-trick of Premier League medals, also lifted four FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League during a trophy-laden stay.

Source: Punch May 31, 2018 08:37 UTC