"I hadn't realised that at all": An emotional Frank Lampard reflects on promotion to the Premier League with Coventry City

Lampard was visibly moved, placing the promotion alongside his triumphs with Chelsea FC.

"It’s definitely up there," the 47-year-old told Sky Sports. "I was lucky enough to play in some great Chelsea teams. Winning the Champions League and the league title was simply incredible."

He added: “To achieve this with this club, in these circumstances, feels like overachieving. I don’t want to take anything away from the players. They’ve raised their game through sheer hard work, and I’m proud to be their manager.”

Life isn’t easy in Coventry, a sometimes gloomy industrial city that suffered heavily from German air raids during World War II and, more recently, from economic decline. The city’s pride also collapsed: Coventry City, a top-flight club for many years, FA Cup winners in 1987, and a founding member of the Premier League in 1992.

Relegation from the top flight in 2012 triggered a slide that took the club all the way down to League Two by 2017. Climbing back to the Premier League within eight years is a rare feat in modern, cut-throat football. Yet it is no miracle; plenty of money is involved in Coventry too.

City’s revival is closely tied to owner Doug King, who took sole control in 2023 and stabilised the club after years of turbulence under Sisu Capital—though not before enduring criticism for personnel moves, including the exit of two-time promotion-winning manager Mark Robins.

King, however, brought in Lampard to replace Robins, and the 106-time international—who hadn’t exactly been at his best during his previous managerial spells at Derby, Chelsea and Everton—was a perfect fit for Coventry. In his debut season, Lampard narrowly missed out on promotion; now he was charging ahead.

Saturday’s Coventry Telegraph splashed “GOING UP!” across its front page, adding: “The Super Sky Blues are where they belong.” That top-flight return revives memories of club legends such as record-breaking goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic, “Mr Magic” Tommy Hutchinson and striker Dion Dublin.

Promotion secured, the Sky Blues now face the Premier League’s sternest tests. Their squad, spearheaded by former Schalke striker Haji Wright (16 goals this term) and Danish playmaker Victor Torp, is formidable. Yet the gulf between the second and top tiers remains vast, and avoiding relegation will be Coventry’s next major hurdle.

Yet one sky-blue relegation survivor offers hope: in 2001 Manchester City joined Coventry in the drop; since then, they have more than bounced back.

Click here to read article