06 December 2023 , 11:25
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Former Premier League bosses Frank Lampard and Dean Smith are both in the running for a sensational return to management at MLS club Charlotte FC.
The North Carolina outfit parted company with their second head coach in as many years in November, with Christian Lattanzio losing his job after the teams playoff elimination. The Italian had masterminded Charlotte's first appearance at the post-season stage but franchise chiefs still decided to take a different direction.
Last season was a particularly difficult campaign for the former Manchester City academy coach to navigate amid tragedy off the field. After the shock of the death of their defender Anton Walkes in January, Lattanzio was able to rally his team to a ninth-placed finish in the Eastern Standings.
With the search for his successor now entering its second month, the fledgling MLS franchise's chiefs are now purported to be targeting some high profile candidates. According to The Athletic, via TopBin90, Lampard and Smith have emerged as frontrunners for the vacant post during the club's recruitment process.
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Their report contends that the pair are the outstanding names as Charlotte near the conclusion of their extensive interview process for their new head coach. The club is said to be targeting installing their next boss at some point in December, with the team's pre-season slated to begin in January.
In a statement explaining the reasoning behind their decision to take a new route in the dugout, Charlotte FC president Joe LaBue said previously: "We undertook an offseason evaluation of our organization and we’re confident this move is in the best interest of the Club for 2024 and beyond. Our Club will continue to be ambitious and strive to progress both on and off the pitch."
Both Lampard and Smith have been out of work since stints as caretaker managers at Chelsea and Leicester City, respectively, at the end of last season. In the case of the former, he previously managed Everton, Chelsea - as a permanent head coach- and Derby County to mixed success following the conclusion of his playing career.
Dean Smith and Frank Lampard are frontrunners for an MLS vacancy as they look to get back into managementHe guided Derby to the playoffs in the EFL Championship in his first season as a manager, landing an emotional return to Stamford Bridge. After assuming the Blues hotseat, he achieved Champions League qualification but was shown the door by Roman Abramovich during the following campaign.
He was subsequently snapped up by Everton and was able to help a struggling Toffees team to avoid a costly relegation from the Premier League. Despite the former England stalwart striking up a strong relationship with the Merseyside club's supporters, he eventually was shown the door during the next campaign.
A move to the MLS would see him return to the United States, seven years on from the final two seasons of his career which was spent with New York City where he scored 15 goals in 31 appearances.
As for Smith, his recent short stint at Leicester saw him oversee the club's surprise relegation from England's top tier following longer spells with Norwich City and Aston Villa, Brentford and Walsall. The job at Villa Park was the highlight of his managerial career to date as he oversaw the club's promotion back to the Premier League and an appearance in the EFL Cup final.