Frank Lampard on Lyon's managerial shortlist

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Frank Lampard on Lyon's managerial shortlist

Olympique Lyonnais are considering appointing Frank Lampard as their new manager, sources have confirmed to 90min.

Lyon announced on Monday that they and previous boss Laurent Blanc had mutually agreed to a contract termination, with the club rooted to the foot of the Ligue 1 table after four matches this season.

Following their 4-1 thrashing at home to Paris Saint-Germain before the international break, Lyon's ultras called out the playing squad with an impassioned speech in the Groupama Stadium, demanding that they do not disrespect the shirt of such a successful club.

90min reported last week that ex-Chelsea head coach Graham Potter had been offered the chance to succeed Blanc, but he declined following a meeting with Lyon owner John Textor.

Sources have now told 90min that there is another former Chelsea boss that Lyon are eyeing, with Lampard considered a candidate for the job.

Textor, who is also a co-owner of Crystal Palace, is understood to respect the former midfielder greatly. Lampard has been linked with the Eagles job heavily in recent years.

Lampard has been out of work since the end of the 2022/23 season when his caretaker stint in charge of Chelsea came to an end, with Mauricio Pochettino replacing him in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

He began last season at Everton but was dismissed in January with the Toffees in serious danger of relegation to the Championship.

The Everton job was Lampard's first following his initial one-and-a-half year tenure as Chelsea's permanent head coach. He led the Blues to a top-four finish and the FA Cup final in his only full season in charge.

Lampard's first foray into management came with Derby County in 2018/19. His Rams side were beaten in the Championship play-off final by Aston Villa.

Though Lampard is admired by Lyon, he is not the only big name that they have eyes on. 90min understands former Milan star Gennaro Gattuso is on their shortlist too.

Gattuso was most recently the manager of Valencia, leaving his role in January 2023 after half a season at the helm.

The ex-Italy midfielder has endured a tumultuous managerial career. He was close to being appointed Tottenham Hotspur's head coach in 2021, but following a fan protest the club changed their minds and gave the job to Nuno Espirito Santo.

That same summer, Gattuso was announced as Fiorentina's new boss, but they mutually agreed to terminate their agreement two weeks before his contract started.