Exclusive: Former Coventry Midfielder Admits Frank Lampard Has Made Him Eat Humble Pie

Former Coventry City midfielder Garry Thompson admits he has been forced to eat “humble pie” after Frank Lampard turned the club’s fortunes around. 

Thompson was left less than impressed with the Sky Blues’ sacking of Mark Robins, who had taken the club from the depths of despair in League Two to missing out on the Premier League in the 2023 play-off final, earlier this season with the side struggling near the relegation places.

He labelled former Chelsea star Lampard as a “vanity signing” when he was unveiled by the club at the end of November.

But the turnaround has been clear to see with Coventry among a bunch of sides in the play-off mix following a run of four wins on the bounce. 

“I’ve got to say, I’ve got to eat humble pie on the Frank Lampard one because he’s done very well,” Thompson told SportsBoom.com. 

“I thought when Frank first went in, I was interviewed by the BBC and I said it was the vanity signing. One minute it was Ruud van Nistelrooy they were going to get and then it was Frank. It was like they were going oh, he’s new and shiny, let’s have him."

“I went to Coventry versus Millwall in December and it was possibly the worst game of football I’ve ever seen and it was cold. It was one of those games where you really feel the cold because it was so bad."

“But Frank has gone in there and to be fair to him with the results lately, he’s done very well.”

HAVE TO RESPECT PLAYERS GOING IN MANAGEMENT

Lampard is one of a number of ‘Golden Generation’ England stars who have turned their hand to management. 

Wayne Rooney left Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle on New Year’s Eve, whilst Steven Gerrard recently departed Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq last week. Both are expected to want to carry on their managerial careers.

Thompson added: “You walk into a dressing room as Frank Lampard or a Wayne Rooney and you’ve played at the highest level, you’ve seen it and done it, but there’s an immediate respect and credit because you’ve been to the level that those players want to get to.”

“That does wear off. After a few games they start judging you on your management ability. That’s when things can start to go wrong.”

“Frank Lampard has had a decent career so far, but he’s a young manager. It’s like Steven Gerrard, he did ever go well at Rangers, but the last couple of clubs haven’t gone too well for him.”

“But fair play to these guys. They have got the bug. Rooney wants to get back into it, Lampard wanted to get back into it.”

“For the money they earn, I’m not sure I’d want to stand on the sidelines and be battered by people saying ‘you’re hopeless’ or singing ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’.”

“Fair play to them. They keep going back to the well. A lot of people would shy away from it, especially after the careers they’ve had.”