Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believes Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is like a “boss” and “a bit of a friend” to his players, a man management skill he loves.
The 38-year-old recently retired from the game, ending a 22-year career where he won three-Premier League titles and one European Cup.
Lampard openly stated that he is now “more interested” in management after previously being unsure about whether or not to venture in that area.
He spoke about his admiration for Pochettino, who has guided his team to Champions League football for the second season running.
Former England international Lampard admitted that he now wants to become a manager and explained what type of relationship Pochettino has with his players.
“I want to manage,” Lampard told the Times. “Most of my career I wasn’t sure but when I got into my thirties I became a lot more interested.
“Much as I’m interested in coaching I’ve just as much interest in how to deal with people. I see someone like [Mauricio] Pochettino and his relationship with players — like both a boss and a bit of a friend — and I love that.”
During his playing days, Lampard was a box-to-box midfielder and was known for his ability to score goals from the middle of the park.
He played 611 Premier League matches, scoring 176 goals and supplying 118 assists for Chelsea, West Ham and Manchester City.
Pochettino joined Tottenham during the summer of 2014 from Southampton and he most recently helped them secure the runners-up spot in the Premier League – their best league finish in over two decades.
Added to that, he has brought through a number of young players during his time at the club, with striker Harry Kane and attacking midfielder Dele Alli being the standout performers for him in recent seasons.