Speaking to BBC Sport, Coventry City boss Frank Lampard opened up about his managerial philosophy and the major influences on his career. The 48-year-old manager played under legendary figures such as Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink and Rafael Benitez during his illustrious playing days at Chelsea and elsewhere.
Eight years into his own managerial journey, Lampard cited Mourinho and Ancelotti as the two main forces that shaped his style on the touchline. He described Mourinho as intense and demanding, capable of instilling fierce self-confidence, while praising Ancelotti for creating a calm and trusting environment where players felt secure.
Lampard explained that he tries to strike a careful balance between the two contrasting personalities in his current role at Coventry. Sometimes he adopts Mourinho's demanding strictness when standards drop, while other times he channels Ancelotti's empathetic understanding when dealing with human issues, such as a player arriving late.
Lampard successfully guided Coventry back to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship with 95 points last season. Despite past challenging spells at Derby, Chelsea and Everton, he values this recent promotion on par with his greatest achievements as a player.
