Frank Lampard won everything at club level for Chelsea – but one of his favourite football moments was reaching a final that ended in defeat.
The Coventry boss is making his second run at Championship promotion and finds himself in a familiar position heading into a perfectly-poised final day.
The Sky Blues currently occupy the final play-off spot after a stunning five months under the Blues legend, climbing out of a relegation battle and into a promotion race.
Despite two damaging defeats to Plymouth and Luton in recent weeks, Coventry will make the play-offs if they beat Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Lampard might be feeling a sense of deja-vu, given his Derby side were sixth and in need of victory on the final day of the 2018/19 campaign.
What’s more, Boro were the team he fended off with a 3-1 victory over West Brom, finishing one point ahead of the seventh-place side.
Coventry fans will be hoping history repeats itself for Lampard, although not in its entirety.
Derby were beaten in the play-off final by Aston Villa that year, denying the 46-year-old promotion to the Premier League in his first season as a manager.
Despite the heartbreak, Lampard was still left with a truly iconic memory before taking the Chelsea job that summer.
He finally got revenge on Leeds.
That Championship season was made famous by Marcelo Bielsa and ‘Spygate’ – after a Leeds staff member was rumbled while hiding in a bush to watch Derby train.
Having won the subsequent match 2-0, Bielsa admitted to spying on his opponents and delivered a PowerPoint presentation, leaking all the information they had on Lampard’s Derby.
There was never any love lost between Lampard and BielsaGetty Images - GettyLampard was understandably unimpressed – and there was a growing narrative that Leeds had got under his skin.
The Whites won both of their league encounters against Derby that season, before claiming a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the play-off semi-final at Pride Park.
Yorkshire fans took the opportunity to mock the Rams boss, performing spy goggle gestures in unison and chanting ‘Stop Crying Frank Lampard’ to the tune of the Oasis classic.
When Leeds went ahead in the second leg, Elland Road was bouncing to the sound of Lampard’s tears – until Derby silenced them.
A stunning turnaround saw the Rams claim a remarkable 4-2 victory on the night, winning 4-3 on aggregate and sparking wild scenes.
Lampard and his staff stormed the pitch, as Derby players gave the home fans a taste of their own medicine by returning the spy goggle gestures.
‘Spygate’ delighted Leeds fans and infuriated LampardGetty But the iconic midfielder would get the last laughGettyView Tweet: t.co/5ukg8tEgtq
It didn’t stop there – as Derby posted a video from the dressing room with Lampard leading his players in chants of ‘Stop Crying Frank Lampard’.
Speaking afterwards, the former England star admitted that, emotionally, it was as good as anything he has experienced in football.
“In terms of personal achievement, the feeling is as much as I’ve had in football,” said the 40-year-old.
“It’s not the personal achievement of being able to win stuff at Chelsea, but in terms of how I feel right now, it’s up there.
“I was fortunate in my playing career in the Champions League, winning leagues.
“But when you come here at the start of the season and you feel the club and the fans and the position the club were in, to be here tonight, they’re heroes.”
Frank Lampard's trophy cabinet
Premier League x3
FA Cup x4
League Cup x2
Champions League x1
Europa League x1
He added: “The pressure as a manager is more intense than a player. I wanted this so badly. You worry you want it too badly. I’m very proud.
“It means a great deal. From day one since I came in we have had issues, as every club has, and there have been ups and downs.
“We’ve done something that has not been done before.”
Taking a Championship club from 17th in November to Premier League promotion might also be a first.
And with an entire city placing their destiny in his hands, going one better than 2019 might just top that famous victory over Leeds.
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