Coventry City boss Frank Lampard described his side’s promotion back to the Premier League after 25 years away as a “unique” achievement.
The Sky Blues secured a top-two finish in the Championship with three games to spare courtesy of a 1-1 draw at struggling Blackburn Rovers.
“To go and get promotion automatically as a non-parachute [payment] team with three games to go… these boys have managed to achieve something special and unique,” Lampard told Sky Sports.
“This is what it’s about. Coming here and getting a point at this stage isn’t easy.”
He added: “Doing this after 25 years… wow.
“The resilience to come back after losing in the play-offs (last season to Sunderland). We spoke in the summer about what we could do this season and whether we could finish third or fourth to get a home play-off in the second game which we didn’t do last year.
“It’s such a good feeling that the boys have managed to get it over the line.”
The former Chelsea and England midfielder, 47, took over at the CBS Arena in November 2024 for his first job outside the top flight since a season at Derby in 2018-19.
An emotional Lampard, who also credited the “incredible” job his predecessor Mark Robins had done, said he had “fallen in love” with the club during his time in the Midlands and ranked leading Coventry back to the top flight alongside his many accolades as a player.
“I’m proud of myself and the staff,” he said.
“We came into a bit of an unknown 15 or so months ago when we arrived in a people carrier.
“We’ve fallen in love and this is right up there with what I have achieved.
“I’m very proud to be the manager.”