By Starrys Obazei | January 24, 2023
starrys@ddnewsonline.com
Frank Lampard has been sacked by Everton after 12 months as head coach following an eighth consecutive defeat.
This is coming after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by West Ham left them 19th in the Premier League and without a win in 10 matches in all competitions.
Lampard’s dismissal follows Everton owner Farhad Moshiri attending his first match since October 2021 as the Toffees succumbed to defeat at the London Stadium – their third consecutive defeat in the league.
The former Chelsea boss arrived at Goodison Park in January 2022, and although he helped the club avoid the drop last season.
He leaves Everton with 15 points from 20 games and three wins this term the worst victory record in the division.
Everton are 19th in the table, with only Southampton below them on goal difference.
The 44-year-old had 18 months left on the contract he signed on January 31 last year.
It has not yet been confirmed but it is expected his backroom staff of joe Edwards, Chris Jones, Paul Clement and Ashley Cole will also leave with Lampard.
It has been a hugely challenging time for Lampard, who had a grown to have a huge affinity for the club, was enjoying living in the North West and was desperate to bring success to a set of fans who had never given him anything other than public support.
He had seen Everton miss out on a number of transfer targets that he was keen on – most notably Danny Ings, who left Aston Villa to join West Ham – and was on the back foot from the start of the season after Richarlison was sold to Tottenham.
Everton’s problems on the field are best encapsulated by the fact they have only scored two goals or more in two of their 20 Premier League games and the lack of firepower has led to a draining of confidence.
Lampard has also had to deal with disciplinary issues within his squad and last week was forced to send Abdoulaye Doucoure to train on his own following an exchange after the 2-1 defeat to Southampton on January 14.