Harry Redknapp has revealed he was the driving force behind Frank Lampard's early managerial steps before returning to Chelsea as head coach.
Just a year after retiring from professional football, Lampard was named Derby manager in 2018; the former England international subsequently led The Rams to the Championship play-off final before heading back to Stamford Bridge last summer.
The former midfielder has enjoyed a largely positive debut managerial campaign with Chelsea, with The Blues sitting fourth in the Premier League with nine games remaining.
But how different things could have been. Redknapp's involvement in his nephew's career is well known, but the 73-year-old has now revealed it wasn't just Derby that Lampard held talks with.
"First off I got Frank the job at Ipswich with Marcus Evans," Redknapp told Sky Sports' The Football Show. "I phoned him, I said: 'you need a manager, how Frank Lampard's your man.' He met him, loved him, offered him the job.
"Frank said, 'Harry, they've got no budget, it's difficult, I can't bring any players in'. I said it was a great club but you've not got a magic wand, you're going to need a bit of help.
"Suddenly the Derby job became available, and I rang Mel Morris, he's got a house up the road from me. He told me he was going to go for an experienced manager, I said: 'You keep getting managers and getting rid of them, you've not been very clever at picking managers. Take Frank Lampard.'
"He said he had no experience, but I replied: 'There's been lots of great managers who've had no experience - look at Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard… He knows the game. He's a great professional, he understands football, he'll bring so much to the football club.'
"He thought about having him as an assistant but I said he wants to be a manager, please meet him.
The next day he met him in London, they had a meeting at 7 o'clock, half past eight he rung me and said he'd blown him away. I've given him the job. And that was it.
"I had no doubts he'd be a success. He's a clever, bright lad, his work ethic is incredible, he's been brought up with the game, he'll be amazing."
