Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack would be ideal Chelsea coaches
Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack are two of Chelsea’s legends. The Blues should bring them back to start their coaching careers at Stamford Bridge.
When Frank Lampard announced his retirement people soon started asking when he would go into management. It is an obvious move for Lampard. He was well known during his time as a player for his work ethic and professionalism. He has all the qualities to become as a good a manager as a player.
Michael Ballack – Lampard’s onetime midfield partner – is another former Blue that people view as a future manager. Both players are now retired and contemplating their turns on the touchline.
Chelsea should hire both Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack as coaches to work with Antonio Conte. Of course, Conte would have to want them to join his team. But assuming that he would, it would be a quiet but deeply beneficial move for Chelsea’s present and future.
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Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack were very similar players. They were both perhaps the leading midfield lights of their respective countries (England and Germany) during the 2000’s. Both have great leadership qualities and are virtually peerless except for one another.
Both have near 100 caps: Lampard at 106 and Ballack at 98. They have won nearly every trophy it is possible to win as players. Interestingly enough, they perhaps hindered one another in midfield during their time together at Chelsea. That would never happen as coaches, and the dual benefit to all the youngsters at Chelsea would be magnificent.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, for example, has been one of the leading lights of the Chelsea academy for years now. Chelsea are still waiting for him to make his full breakthrough into the first team.
Michael Ballack would be a perfect mentor to the young player. Loftus-Cheek is rather tall and has a similar style of play to the young Michael Ballack. They both have so much inherent athleticism that at times it can look like they are not even trying that hard.
Ballack’s apparent effortlessness betrayed a masterful understanding of the game and unbelievable passing ability and technique. Loftus-Cheek is very similar to Ballack in this way. He could truly be a dominant player if given the right coaching and motivation.
Frank Lampard, on the other hand, has the sort of leadership ability that would benefit everyone at Chelsea. He was Chelsea’s captain during the Champions League final after John Terry idiotically got himself sent off in the semi-final against Barcelona. Lampard should have been captain in many more instances. Only John Terry’s status as homegrown kept the armband with him instead of Lampard.
Lampard is the club’s all-time leading scorer and one of their most decorated players. This makes it easy to forget that many people did not think Lampard was going to be an excellent player when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge. He was viewed as a hardworking, diligent but ultimately limited player during his time in the West Ham academy and during his brief period in their team.
What he became at Chelsea is no doubt down to his indomitable will to win and succeed. Every single player in the academy can benefit from that. Players who have sacrificed their time like Nathaniel Chalobah, Nathan Ake, Lewis Baker and Marco Van Ginkel can all learn so much from Frank Lampard.
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While Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard may not have been the best on-field combination of all time, they could easily be two of the best coaches. The pair represent some of the ideal versions of professional footballers. Having them in the Chelsea organization – even in a minor role – would benefit everybody involved.