Chelsea have appointed Frank Lampard as their new head coach.
The former England midfielder returns to Stamford Bridge following a season in charge of Sky Bet Championship side Derby.
Lampard has signed a three-year deal to replace Maurizio Sarri after the Italian left to join Juventus in June.
The 41-year-old is Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer and won 11 major honours during a successful 13-year stint in west London.
“Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce Frank Lampard as our new head coach,” a statement on the club’s official website read.
“One of the greatest players in our history during his long and illustrious career, Lampard returns to Stamford Bridge having signed a three-year contract.”
Lampard acknowledged his successful past with the club but insisted he is only thinking about the future following his appointment.
“I am immensely proud to be returning to Chelsea as head coach,” he said.
“Everyone knows my love for this club and the history we have shared, however, my sole focus is on the job in hand and preparing for the season ahead.
“I am here to work hard, bring further success to the club and I cannot wait to get started.”
Lampard took Derby to the Championship play-off final in his one year in charge at Pride Park, losing to Aston Villa.
He had been excused from reporting back for pre-season training with the Rams in order to conclude negotiations after last week being granted permission to speak with Chelsea.
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia hailed Lampard as “one of the most talented young coaches” around today as she welcomed him back to the club.
“It gives us great pleasure to welcome Frank back to Chelsea as head coach,” she said in the statement announcing his appointment.
“Frank possesses fantastic knowledge and understanding of the club and last season, he demonstrated he is one of the most talented young coaches in the game.
“After 13 years with us as a player, where he became a club legend and our record goalscorer, we believe this is the perfect time for him to return and are delighted he has done so. We will do everything we can to ensure he has all the support required to be a huge success.”
Lampard takes over from Sarri, who endured a frosty relationship with the majority of Chelsea fans during his reign despite leading the club to the Europa League title, the Carabao Cup final and a third-placed Premier League finish.
Chelsea are also in the midst of appealing against a transfer ban imposed by FIFA following irregularities in the signing of young players.
Unless an appeal is successful at some point, Lampard will therefore be unable to recruit new players in the next two transfer windows.
His first competitive game in charge will come at Old Trafford as Chelsea meet Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
Having come through the youth ranks at West Ham, Lampard moved across London to sign for Chelsea in 2001, enjoying a trophy-laden decade once Roman Abramovich purchased the club in 2004.
Having initially left to join New York City in Major League Soccer, Lampard returned to the Premier League with a loan spell at their parent club Manchester City.
His first goal for City was an 85th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, with Lampard opting not to celebrate.
After a two-year stint in MLS, Lampard hung up his boots and took up television punditry and other roles until being appointed Derby boss last year.
He is expected to be joined at Chelsea by Jody Morris, his assistant manager at Derby and another former Blues midfielder.
Addressing the club’s supporters in a short Twitter video on the Stamford Bridge pitch, Lampard said: “I’m delighted to be back, so many great memories of this place. The new role starts here and I can’t wait to get started. See you soon.”