Chelsea have appointed former midfielder Frank Lampard as their manager on a three-year deal.
Lampard, 41, has left Championship side Derby County to take over at a club where he spent 13 years as a player.
He succeeds Maurizio Sarri, who left Stamford Bridge in June to take charge of Italian champions Juventus.
HE’S HOME! ?
Frank Lampard is the new Chelsea head coach!
#WelcomeHomeFrank— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 4, 2019
Lampard led Derby to the Championship play-off final, where they lost to Aston Villa, in his first season as a manager.
The former England international made 648 Chelsea appearances, winning 11 major trophies with them.
He takes over with Chelsea under a transfer embargo after the club were given a two-window transfer banby world governing body Fifa – a decision they are appealing against at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The 41-year-old said: ‘I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea as head coach. Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared, however, my sole focus is on the job in hand and preparing for the season ahead. I am here to work hard, bring further success to the club and I cannot wait to get started.’
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: ‘It gives us great pleasure to welcome Frank back to Chelsea as head coach. Frank possesses fantastic knowledge and understanding of the club and last season, he demonstrated he is one of the most talented young coaches in the game.
Frank Lampard as a Chelsea player ??
? 648 appearances – 4th most in club's history
? 211 goals – club's all-time top scorer
? 11 major honours in 13 years
? Stand-in captain for 2012 Champions League final win pic.twitter.com/Sy3ipdaFxp— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) July 4, 2019
‘After 13 years with us as a player, where he became a club legend and our record goalscorer, we believe this is the perfect time for him to return and are delighted he has done so. We will do everything we can to ensure he has all the support required to be a huge success.’