Coventry City booked their spot in the Championship play-offs with a win over Middlesbrough on the final day of the league season, and a boyhood Chelsea fan was the star of the show for Frank Lampard’s side.
Ever since Coventry appointed Frank Lampard as their manager in November 2024, Chelsea supporters have definitely been keeping an eye on their results.
The 46-year-old Englishman is cemented in Stamford Bridge folklore as one of the club’s greatest players. He’s since returned to the club in the dugout during a challenging managerial carer.
When Lampard arrived as the Coventry boss midway through the season, they were sitting 17th spot in the Championship table.
On Saturday afternoon, the Sky Blues secured a 2-0 win at home to Middlesbrough to fire themselves into the play-offs.
Jack Rudoni fires Coventry into Championship play-offs
In Coventry’s win over Middlesbrough on the final day, Jack Rudoni was the star of the show.
Rudoni, 23, scored in each half to book his team’s spot in the play-offs. The attacking midfielder guided in a header in the first half before a tidy left-footed finish on a counter-attack late in the game.
As a result, Coventry jump up to fifth position in the Championship table, which sets up a two-legged semi-final against Sunderland in the play-offs.
Many people have doubted Lampard’s ability as a manager after spells at Derby Country, Chelsea and Everton. However, he’s bounced back superbly well this season at the Coventry helm.
At one stage, Coventry won eight games out nine in the Championship to help fly up the division, equalling a 55-year record in the progress.
Lampard went through major disappointment the last time he was in the play-offs by losing with Derby against Aston Villa in the 2019 final. He’ll hope for better success this time around with a talented Coventry outfit.
Jack Rudoni is a boyhood Chelsea fan
It’s worth noting that Coventry star Rudoni is actually a boyhood Chelsea fan. Therefore, working under Lampard every single day must be a surreal feeling for him.
“I grew up supporting Chelsea so I was basically watching them every week, and as a midfielder he (Lampard) was probably my favourite player as I was growing up,” Rudoni said via Coventry Live last month.
Based on his performances this season, Rudoni looks every bit like a future Premier League player. Will he get the opportunity with Coventry next year, though?
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 43 | 9 | 12 |
If Coventry do make it into the top division, perhaps Chelsea could do Lampard a favour by loaning them one or two young talents.
