Coventry City manager, Frank Lampard, has labelled the club’s return to the Premier League after 25 years as a “unique” achievement after sealing automatic promotion with games to spare.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the Sky Blues clinched a top-two finish in the EFL Championship following a 1-1 draw away to Blackburn Rovers.
“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.”
Lampard, 47, took charge at the CBS Arena in November 2024 for his first job outside the top flight since his spell with Derby County in 2018-2019. The former Chelsea and England midfielder said guiding Coventry back to the elite ranks ranks alongside his finest achievements as a player.
An emotional Lampard also praised predecessor Mark Robins for laying the foundations.
“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.”
With promotion secured, Lampard says attention now turns to the title race. Coventry sit 11 points clear of Ipswich Town, who have two games in hand, with three matches left.
“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.”
