Frank Lampard

Defeat at fellow strugglers West Ham United at the weekend was Everton's ninth loss in 12 Premier League games.

They are second from bottom of the table with 15 points from 20 matches, above Southampton on goal difference.

Former England midfielder Lampard, 44, replaced Rafael Benitez in January 2022 with the team 16th in the table and helped Everton avoid relegation.

Everton are now looking for their sixth permanent manager in five years.

Chelsea has lost five of its last eight Premier League games and dropped to ninth place, despite Lampard benefiting from nearly $300 million spent on new players for this season.

Chelsea said the performances had “not met expectations" and left the team "without any clear path to sustained improvement” – making a change of managers necessary with former Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel set to be hired.

Reflecting Lampard's standing at the west London club, the firing after 18 months in the post was announced in a rare statement by owner Roman Abramovich.

Lampard was sent off during Derby's Championship defeat to Rotherham United on Saturday, the first time the former England midfielder has been dismissed since taking his maiden managerial job.

The former England international accepted the charge and the FA confirmed a "standard penalty" had been handed out to Lampard, who left his technical area during the game.

Speaking ahead of Derby's Championship game against Blackburn Rovers, Lampard called for consistency in the way managers are punished.

RNZ reports Lampard, who started his career at West Ham United, established himself as one of Europe's finest midfield players during a 13-year spell at Chelsea.

"After 21 incredible years, I have decided that now is the right time to finish my career as a professional footballer," Lampard said in a statement.

"Whilst I have received a number of exciting offers to continue playing at home and abroad, at 38 I feel now is the time to begin the next chapter in my life.

Frank Lampard is fired up to face Steven Gerrard for the first time in MLS when New York City host LA Galaxy on Saturday.

The former Chelsea star will come up against Gerrard for the first time since joining the ex-Liverpool captain in the United States top flight in 2015, with Lampard having missed the 5-1 defeat at Galaxy's StubHub Centre in August due to injury.