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Chelsea's all-time leading goalscorer, Frank Lampard turns 40 today. Lampard was an all-round and versatile box-to-box player, who was capable of playing anywhere in midfield.
He started his career at West Ham United. He played for the Hammers from 1995 to 2001. During this period, he played 148 matches for them, scoring 24 goals. In 2001, he moved to Chelsea for £11 million. Lampard has been at Chelsea for 13 years, making 648 appearances. He was released by Chelsea in 2014. This summer, Lampard took his first managerial job - with Championship side Derby County.
He is one of seven players, and the only midfielder, to have scored 150+ goals in the English Premier League. He has also recorded the fourth-most Premier League assists ever.
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Individual honours:
Ballon d'Or: 2005 runner-up
UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year: 2008
World XI: 2005
Premier League Player of the Season: 04/05, 05/06 PFA
Premier League Team of the Year: 04,05,06
Chelsea Player Of The Year: 2004, 2005, 2009
In honour of his birthday, let's take a look at the 10 best quotes on Frank Lampard.
#1 Harry Redknapp
“I’m telling you now, he [Lampard] will go right to the very top. Right to the very top. ’Cos he’s got everything that is needed to be a top midfield player. His attitude is first-class. He’s got strength, he can play, he can pass and he can score goals. I couldn’t be more strong in how I feel about him.”
Harry Redknapp is uncle to Frank Lampard. Lampard played under him at West Ham United, at the beginning of his career.
Back in 1996, Lampard was just 18 years old. And the Hammers boss was adamant that Frank would go to the very top. Then, a disgruntled fan told him Lampard was not as good at Scott Canham or Matt Holland. Redknapp backed a young Lampard in front of everyone.
#2 Didier Drogba
“Frank is the best midfield player that I played with, the most intelligent and efficient.”
Didier Drogba came to Chelsea in July 2004 for a club record £24 million fee. In 8 years playing together, Lampard and Drogba won 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cup titles and one Champions League title.
#3 Jose Mourinho
“One of my best players ever, one of my best professionals ever, a Chelsea legend and a legend in the Premier League.”
Frank Lampard played under Mourinho for four years at Chelsea across two spells, winning the Premier League twice. Mourinho has tipped him as the best professional he has worked with.
#4 John Terry
“You talk about the Zolas and the best players to have played at the club, but for me he (Lampard) is the best. You can only single out two players to play consistently well and to score goals over the course of the last 10-15 years and that is him and Ryan Giggs. It’s incredible, to see the number of goals he’s scored at such a high level as well – Champions League goals, Premier League goals – and the hunger. It’s incredible, season after season to do what he’s done.”
John Terry is the most successful Chelsea academy graduate. He is Chelsea's most successful captain. Lampard and Terry played together for 15 years. They enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Stamford Bridge. Both of them have made over 500 appearances for Chelsea. Now, John Terry looks set to sign for Derby County because Lampard is their new manager.
#5 Pablo Zabaleta
“For me, what makes Frank Lampard special is how professional he is in training. You see him at training: He is the first to arrive on the training ground and the last to go home. He won everything with Chelsea, he’s a legend in football and he’s still playing like he’s 18 years old.”
Frank Lampard was released by Chelsea in May 2014. After that, he signed a two-year contract with New York City. Then, Lampard joined Manchester City, who is New York City's parent club.
Zabaleta and Lampard were teammates for one season in Manchester City. In that season, Lampard played 32 matches and scored 6 goals including one against Chelsea.
#6 Gary Lineker
“A fine player, an outstanding finisher and a credit to the game of football.”
Gary Lineker holds England's record for most goals in FIFA World Cups, with 10 scored. In his career, Lineker has played for Leicester, Tottenham, Barcelona and Everton. Currently, Lineker and Lampard are BBC pundits at World Cup 2018 in Russia.
#7 Carlo Ancelotti
“A magnificent example of English leadership – when I see him on the field, it makes me happy.”
Carlo Ancelotti is one of the best managers in football. Ancelotti came to Chelsea in 2009 from Milan. He was Chelsea's manager for two season's. In those two seasons, Chelsea won one Premier League title.
The first season under Ancelotti is also notable for the attacking football that was displayed. In two seasons under Ancelotti, Lampard scored 40 goals.
#8 Gianfranco Zola
“He’s one of those midfielders who can score goals, especially when it comes to tight games. Everyone expects the strikers to score but actually Frank got the goals. But Frank has done better than just that because he keeps scoring all the time. I don’t think there is any other midfielder in the world who has scored as many goals as him.”
Gianfranco Zola spent the first decade of his career in Italy. Then, he moved to Chelsea in 1996. He played for Chelsea from 1996 to 2003. During this period, Zola scored 59 goals in 229 matches. Zola and Lampard played together for only two seasons. Zola has described his former Chelsea team-mate as "unique".
#9 Roy Hodgson
“Frank Lampard has been a superb representative of the English game, both as a player on the pitch and an ambassador off it. To reach in excess of 100 international caps is something very few professionals achieve and he is in exalted company. He has served the national team quite brilliantly during his 15-year international career.”
Frank Lampard featured in the World Cup on three occasions for England (WC 2006, WC 2010 and WC 2014). Roy Hodgson was England's manager at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil. England finished their World Cup campaign at the bottom of Group D. After this competition Lampard announced his retirement from international football. He earned 106 caps, scoring 29 goals.
#10 Ray Wilkins
“When you take the work ethic the guy’s got, it’s no fluke. The guy works so hard day in day out. It’s first class. When you’ve consistently scored goals and played the way he has for so many seasons you have to say he is world class. He has this ability to get forward but the ability to get back and defend as well. Every day in training he does this. He works so hard – he trains as he plays. He is a credit to the game and a fantastic athlete.”
Wilkins played for Chelsea from 1973 to 1979. He was in Chelsea's training staff on two occasions. He was a very close friend of Frank Lampard. He has died aged 61. Wilkins did and will be a major part of Chelsea’s history.
