Frank Lampard has been sacked as Everton manager.
News of the 44-year-old's departure emerged on Monday, two days after a defeat at West Ham United that left Everton second from bottom of the Premier League.
The board of directors had been present at the London Stadium on Saturday to watch the latest defeat for a side now winless since October. Alongside them was majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, attending a game with Lampard in the Everton dugout for the first time. His first game of Lampard’s reign was to be the manager’s last.
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Why did Everton sack Frank Lampard?
The decision follows a catastrophic run of form since the World Cup break that saw Everton lose crucial games against relegation rivals Wolves, Southampton and West Ham. A battling point at Manchester City on New Year’s Eve offered signs of hope that failed to materialise but the 4-1 home defeat to Brighton days later left Lampard in a critical position.
In the three weeks that followed he was unable to bring about progress on the pitch. Off it, his reign was further undermined by the legacy of mismanagement at Everton that left him without the tools required to reset the season.
The club did not secure a signing in the first three weeks of a crucial transfer window, largely due to the financial constraints of the hundreds of millions of pounds squandered before his arrival. Meanwhile, the club became engulfed in crisis as relations between the board and fanbase disintegrated as supporters sought answers over why their club was hurtling towards another relegation battle.
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Amid the chaos and disappointment the supporters did not turn on Lampard. There was an acceptance he was dealing with the consequences of the recklessness of others.
Whatever happened off the pitch, however, Lampard accepted he was responsible for events on it. With 15 points from 20 league games, one win in 14 - 11 defeats within that run, and having lost four consecutive home games, the man heralded as Everton’s saviour after his remarkable work to save the club from the drop last season can have little complaint about his fate.
Lampard departs Goodison Park having won 12, drawn eight and lost 24 of his 44 games in charge of the Blues and with a win percentage of 27.2%.
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