Frank Lampard: The Ordinary Man

Fran Lampard signed for Chelsea in 2001 from West Ham United

‘Simplicity is genius’.

In the summer of 2001 Chelsea signed Frank Lampard, then just 22 years old, for 11 million pounds. Fast forward 13 trophy-laden years and 211 goals later to the summer of 2014, and Lampard is set to depart from the shores of Stamford Bridge.

The story of Frank Lampard is one that is hard to explain.

Even as a 17-year-old teenager in West Ham in the now viral Harry Rednknapp interview, you could see how highly his manager rated him and just what the fans thought of him. 'Right to the very top' echoed Harry Redknapp as the fan argued that Scott Canham (who?) was better.

13 years later the verdict on who was right and who was wrong is as decisive as ever.

Frank Lampard went on to become Chelsea's highest goal scorer, winning multiple Premier Leagues, a Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League and the Carling Cup.

He was voted Chelsea's player of the year thrice in his stint at the Bridge; he also became PFA player of the year and came second only to Ronaldinho as World Player of the Year.

He holds the record for the most consecutive matches played by an outfield player.

He is the highest scoring midfielder in Premier League history, and ranks in the top 5 in the all time list.

Just to put things into perspective, Ryan Giggs, the longest serving EPL player, has started fewer games than Frank Lampard has.

Lampard ranks second in the assist list, making him one of the greatest all round midfielders to have graced the Premier League.

He scored the winning goals that took Chelsea to their first title in 50 years.

In the absence of Terry, he lead the team when Chelsea won its maiden Champions league and Europa league, cementing their place in the history books.

Yet, Frank Lampard is ordinary.

When asked in an interview to show some skill, Lampard was baffled. He said, “I pass, I shoot, I score.” In an era where flair, skill and dribbling are recognized, no one batted an eyelid as Lampard passed and shot and scored his way to the record books, year in and year out.

For 15 seasons he scored five or more goals, for 10 seasons he scored 10 or more goals and for five seasons he scored 20 or more. He simply passed and shot and scored.

Ordinary.

His skills came about through hard work and dedication, a trait almost forgotten today. “First in training, last to leave”, said Mourinho.

While many great players peaked up and plummeted down, and some declined incredibly, Frank Lampard was the one constant.

Frank Lampard’s second goal against Bolton which helped Chelsea win their first league title in 50 years on April 30, 2005

But Frank Lampard is ordinary.

He only scored inconsequential goals, as he rounded the keeper slotting home his second goal of the game that got Chelsea its first title in 50 years. And he had no skills, even as he swiveled 360 degrees to score against the best keeper in the world with his weaker foot.

He couldn't step up on the big stage, as he scooped the ball from an impossible angle against the best team in the world in their own backyard. He didn't have the drive or the desire, even as he slotted home from the spot days after his mother passed away to send Chelsea into the final of the Champions League.

He didn't inspire the team, as he robbed the best player in the world and set up the goal against Barcelona in the first leg, and 10 men down in the second leg squeezed the ball past four men to set up the goal that got Chelsea to the finals. And in the finals, captained the team to the greatest victory in the history of the club.

The genius of Frank Lampard is his simplicity.

James Gordon probably said this famous quote while referring to Frank Lampard - “He isn't the hero we deserve, but the one that we needed.”

Frank Lampard is a hero that we needed in this era of modern football where simplicity is a skill so easily ignored. His goal scoring record would put most top-class strikers to shame. His ability to arrive in the box and slot it into the bottom corner has become a trademark of his.

It’s almost become a habit, and perhaps we are so used to it over 13 years, that it’s sometimes forgotten how much effort and dedication it took to be able to consistently run 50 yards, time the run to perfection and slot home game in and game out for the best part of the last decade. Football is about passing, shooting and scoring, and in the modern age that basic rule has been overshadowed completely by unnecessary while still spectacular intricacies, over-exuberance and the intense pressure that comes with playing.

And yet Frank Lampard withstood it all, as the Matthew Harding end scream 'Super, Super Frank' over and over again. He is a beacon to all of us ordinary men; a player who showed that you don't need flair and skill to go 'right to the very top'. He is an ordinary man who, through his modesty and hard work, added a little extra to that ordinary. And yet, his genius will not be known.

Didier Drogba ended his glorious days by slotting home the goal on the grandest stage of them all, Ashley Cole finished his by captaining Chelsea in his final game, while Lampard's last game had him substituted at half time. It’s almost befitting though; Frank Lampard came in as a boy whom no one believed in and went out as a whisper after breaking through everything that came his way.

Thank you Frank Lampard for being an inspiration, a true footballer and the greatest Chelsea player ever to have graced the game.