Leeds United could find themselves up against Frank Lampard in the Championship this season, after their last meeting in the league four years ago.
Daniel Farke’s men are flying high in the Championship. Leeds sit in third place in the league with 29 points. The Whites have the second best attack in the league with 24 goals, and have one of the best defences, having conceded just nine goals.
The club bounced back to winning ways this weekend, beating QPR. Leeds lost to Millwall in midweek, before their win last weekend.
Daniel Farke will be regretting the loss at The Den, which would have seen them top of the league, with Sunderland dropping points against Coventry on Saturday.
QUIZ: Can you name these 10 Leeds United players from the 2000s?
Frank Lampard could come back to haunt Leeds United this season
Credit: Imago Images
Leeds United and Frank Lampard have had a somewhat bitter rivalry since the 2019 Championship playoffs. The former Chelsea player lead Derby to the playoff final after beating Leeds but then lost to Aston Villa.
Lampard caused a fuss earlier that season after accusing Marcelo Bielsa of spying resulting in a famous Bielsa press conference where he presented a powerpoint presentation about what he was doing.
Now, Lampard has been linked with the vacant Coventry City job according to The Mirror. The 46-year old would be directly competing with former Leeds player Robbie Keane for the Coventry job.
Earlier this year, Lampard said the victory over Leeds when he was Derby boss was one of his best moments since he retired from professional football:
“If I look back through my managerial career I have had big wins which have given me more fulfilment than any of my playing days. Fortunately enough I won stuff in my playing days, whether it was because of Drogba or me, or John Terry. I was in a great squad.” He said on the Stick to Football podcast.
“But when you are the manager you feel the responsibility of getting Derby to the play off final, we beat Leeds who were probably a better team than us. You feel the extent of it.”
Derby County made history during that playoffs, becoming one of the first teams to reach a playoff final after losing the first leg of the semi-final at home.
The fans will remember Frank Lampard
The aftermath of the playoffs was what really angered Leeds fans; Lampard and Derby County mocked Leeds over the ‘spy gate’ saga. The Whites were forced to pay a fine after the league concluded an investigation.
Lampard beat Leeds when he was in charge of Chelsea in the Premier League, but it was at Stamford Bridge. The former Chelsea man also recorded another victory over the Whites when he was in charge at Everton, beating them 3-0 at Goodison Park.
However, Leeds fans got a bit of payback when they held Everton to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road in 2022.
Daniel Farke would be hoping that his first choice midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Illia Gruev would be fit and available after the international break.
