There are plenty different approaches taken by clubs across Europe as to how they treat their former players once they cross from a role on the pitch to one on the touchline or in the background.

With the prominence of retired players moving into punditry, many clubs are keen to harness every ounce of expertise they can from retiring heroes by tempting them into a career in coaching or management.

Some clubs, on the other hand, whilst keen to see their retired stars succeed in a staff role, do not look to hand them that chance on a plate within the confines of their own training complex.

Both approaches have their pros and cons, and both can work, but with the battle for continental qualification in the Premier League looking tighter than ever, clubs need to be careful in the way they manage the transition from player to coach.

Take, for example, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has, over the years made a point of not allowing recently retired players to learn their trade as a coach within the confines of the club. The Frenchman demands a certain level of respect from his players towards the coaching staff, something which could be lost when the new midfield coach has just stepped out the same changing room as those he now manages.

Conversely, there is the approach of clubs such as Manchester United and Barcelona who, with differing levels of success, often look to promote from within.

In Manchester, the appointment of former midfield hard-man Nicky Butt as the head of the academy appears to be working well. However, although managers David Moyes and Louis van Gaal will be mainly held accountable for the club’s recent failings, no one can hail the appointment of Ryan Giggs as assistant manager as a successful one.

In La Liga, however, the era overseen by club hero Pep Guardiola will go down in history as possibly the most successful the club’s ever seen, with the side he established in the late noughties heralded as possibly the best club side ever to play the game.

Bringing club legends through the ranks within the clubs where they made their mark is a tricky business. The return of Frank Lampard to Chelsea, having ended his playing career after spells with Manchester City and New York City FC, has caused much excitement and, thus, his development as a coach will be tracked at every turn.

The former England international’s credentials are unquestionable and, furthermore, the West Ham academy graduate is often praised for his intellectual prowess away from football. It would, then, seem that he is the ideal retired professional to walk into any coaching role.

However, give him too much too soon and the club may well have lost one of the greatest coaches, or even managers they could have had after an inexperienced mistake causes his career to take a turn for the worse.

On the other hand, restrict Lampard too much and he may never develop to the level many expect him to.

A fine balance needs to be struck within the club, who must also almost forget his on-field successes as a player, in order to give him a full training as a coach, with no let offs or cut corners.

A training ground and atmosphere in which he is comfortable is the perfect place for Lampard to take his first steps into the world of coaching and, so long as the club plot his progress properly, they could have a remarkable coach, or possibly manager, on their hands.