Look no further than Frank Lampard and Coventry City for modern FA Cup tradition, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE... the competition will never be an afterthought for the four-time winner
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If you’re looking for FA Cup tradition in the modern game, there are few better places to start than Frank Lampard and Coventry City. Lampard won the trophy four times as a player, scoring the winner in the 2009 Final, and led Chelsea to Wembley as manager in 2009. His father, Frank snr, was part of the West Ham side who defeated Arsenal in the Final 45 years ago.
![[The former Chelsea midfielder won the FA Cup four times during his illustrious career]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/07/93985989-14273301-image-a-3_1736579926582.jpg)
Coventry beat Tottenham in a classic Final in 1987 and were a cruel VAR call away from staging one of the great comebacks in last season’s semi-final against Manchester United. Now Lampard and Coventry are trying to write more FA Cup storylines together. The former Chelsea and England midfielder will oversee his 10th game in charge when the Sky Blues meet Sheffield Wednesday in the third round on Saturday.
![[Coventry suffered a heartbreaking semi-final defeat to eventual winners Manchester United last term]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/07/93986049-14273301-image-a-7_1736580220067.jpg)
Never accuse Lampard of shirking a challenge. After a promising start to his managerial career, at Derby and during his first spell at Chelsea, Lampard found the going tough at Everton. It was even tougher in his second spell at Stamford Bridge, a temporary stint that followed the sacking of Graham Potter.
![[Midfielder Josh Eccles admitted that it took the team around a month to recover from the loss]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/11/07/93986003-14273301-image-a-4_1736580004741.jpg)
It is to his credit that he has decided to drop back into the Championship in order to rebuild. This is a complicated club, whose owner, Doug King, is not willing simply to sit back and allow the manager to get on with his job. King has ploughed in much of his personal fortune to try to reach the Premier League but that is unlikely to happen until next season at the earliest.
