Roman Abramovich is not immune to sentiment or the sound of the crowd. His face may be empty and expressionless and his rule remote since his UK visa problems began but the Chelsea owner does sometimes allow emotion to rule his heart.
Abramovich gave interim manager Roberto Di Matteo the job on a permanent basis against his better judgment in 2012 on the high of winning the Champions League, and in 2013 he recalled Jose Mourinho to satisfy fans estranged by Rafa Benitez.
But never in 16 years of unprecedented success at Stamford Bridge has the Russian performed such an unashamedly romantic move as this.
Roman Abramovich, pictured with Frank Lampard in 2005, is prepared to pay £4m to release him from his Derby contract in a bid to recapture the success they previously enjoyed
Derby County have granted permission to Chelsea to speak to Lampard about the top job
The pursuit of Frank Lampard by Abramovich and director Marina Granovskaia confirms the unique circumstances in play at Chelsea, with a transfer ban and a determination to try something different.
As the club’s record goalscorer and icon of their most glittering era, Lampard’s legendary status is secure.
He cannot claim experience as a coach, he is starting a 12-month UEFA Pro Licence course and has one season behind him at Derby when he failed to win promotion with one of the biggest budgets in the Championship.
But he offers an understanding of Chelsea and an ability to connect with its masses which will afford him respect, patience and time from fans who did not grant Maurizio Sarri the same.
Lampard is a club legend at Chelsea and helped them to a succession of trophies
Maurizio Sarri left Chelsea after just one season to return to Italy with Serie A giants Juventus
Lampard is a managerial novice, but one shaping up as an expert frontman. Intelligent and articulate, he has been in the spotlight of English football for years and performed this role well for Derby.
In his backroom team are assistant manager Jody Morris and fitness coach Chris Jones. They, too, understand how Abramovich and his club like to roll.
Morris, having coached in Chelsea’s academy, and Joe Edwards, expected to move from the development squad to a first-team coaching role, will provide links to the youth ranks.
They will give young talent a fair chance, which is what academy chief Neil Bath has demanded for years. Chelsea’s academy is the envy of the country but one manager after another came in, looked at the prized graduates and decided they were not ready to meet the standards of a club competing at the highest level.
Lampard is expected to take assistant and former Chelsea man Jody Morris (left) with him
He will now follow in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho, who brought success to Stamford Bridge
Lampard will have little choice, and this is why he gets the chance. No established manager was keen to walk cold into the club after what befell Sarri, not with Chelsea fighting the two-window transfer ban imposed by FIFA.
They have sold Eden Hazard, their best player, to Real Madrid and will not take up options to sign Mateo Kovacic or Gonzalo Higuain, both on loan last season.
There was no appeal in the deal for Max Allegri or Erik ten Hag. Sure, plenty of ambitious coaches would have loved the job but could not boast the chemistry Lampard has with the fans.
And, in a sense, this is Abramovich still reaping the benefits of that great team Mourinho built.
Petr Cech is back, Claude Makelele could follow, Joe Cole is coaching in the youth ranks and Didier Drogba is a visible presence. The legends are maturing but will it work?
Petr Cech shakes hands with director Marina Granovskaia after returning to the club last week
Owner Abramovich poses with Cesar Azpilicueta and the Europa League trophy in Baku
The returning icon move did not pay off for Glenn Hoddle at Spurs. Nor for Graeme Souness or Billy Bremner. They do not all fire like Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.
Lampard will find he is not short of goodwill as he selects from the many young players at the club to supplement the senior squad.
Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori were with him on loan at Derby last season. So too Tammy Abraham, who scored 26 goals on loan at Aston Villa, and Reece James, who caught the eye at Wigan.
All proven in the Championship but not in the Premier League and Lampard must take care not to create a good Championship team. Chelsea are a Champions League club with sights on trophies, even in times of strife.
Lampard worked with Chelsea loanee Fikayo Tomori during last season with Derby County
Mason Mount speaks to Lampard during Derby’s Championship play-off semi against Leeds
All of which will be a test of Lampard’s eye for talent, his ability to motivate under the intense scrutiny of the top flight. He would be smart to bring a wise old mind into his inner circle.
His tactical acumen will be tested, in competition with and judged alongside Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
Coaching will be more important than before at a time when Chelsea are about to employ their least experienced managerial team since Ken Bates’s penchant for player-managers with Hoddle, Gianluca Vialli and Ruud Gullit.
But the circumstances feel right. Or as right as they could be at Stamford Bridge. There have been powers inside the club agitating for this kind of approach for some time. If not now, when?
Lampard is set to sign a three-year contract with Chelsea worth around £4million a season
