After winning every possible title during his time in England, Frank Lampard decided to try something else and since 2015 he has been playing in the USA. This season he has been in a good form, scoring 12 goals in 18 appearances for New York City, who are looking to win the MLS.
The legendary footballer has played 849 games, scored 256 goals and has provided 176 assists, inluding all the club matches he has played thus far. As an England international he has 106 caps, 29 goals and 11 assists. Lampard has also won Champions League (2012) and Europa League (2013), along with numerous individual awards. Without a doubt, he is one of the greatest footballers ever existed.
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Lampard is active off the field as well; he wrote and published books for kids (Frankies Magic Football) and helps disadvantaged children through his role as an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust, a UK charity that transforms lives through literacy.
Former Chelsea, Manchester City and England captain opened up to Sportskeeda on various topics such as his career in the Premier League and MLS and his engagements off the pitch.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:
This term New York City are very strong in MLS. What are you hoping to achieve with them?
We are stronger this year and I put this down to experience and hard work this season. We have achieved our first objective by qualifying for the play offs and now we want to try to win the MLS cup.
MLS is not at the level of Premier League, but the USA have tried their best to help the league grow in stature. How can you contribute to MLS’ rise?
I think it is important for every player in the MLS to improve the league by their own responsibilities and performance. Personally I try to play the best I can and also work off the pitch to raise the profile of the MLS in the USA and worldwide.
India have also attempted to improve the football scenes by inviting renowned names to play in the ISL. Did you ever have such a proposal? If you had, would you consider it to play or coach in Indian Super League?
I have never had a proposal to play in the Indian Super League and I am very happy to play in the MLS with NYCFC. I do have great respect for the Indian Super League and I am very aware of the players that are going to play there and the growth of the league. Of course, if I was ever asked, I would consider the option as I consider all options at this point in my career.
Premier League is considered to be one of the best football championships in the world. What characteristics of it make it the best in your opinion?
For me the Premier league is the worlds' best. The reasons are that I think it has fantastic home grown players but also some of the best players in world football playing there. On top of that, the passion of the fans which translates into the pitch is for me what makes the league stand out as the best.
Manchester City seem to be the strongest team this year in the Premier League, at least after the first few games and Chelsea are below them. What do you think of the future of your two former teams?
I think Chelsea and Manchester City are the two strongest teams in the Premier League and for me this has been the case in recent years, although last year Leicester was a fantastic story. After the start Manchester City have made, I believe they are now the favourites to win the Premier League, but I also believe Chelsea will have a strong season.
Will New York City be the last club of your playing career or you plan to fulfill another dream that you may have as a player? Maybe to compete for a particular team or in a particular championship?
I am very happy to be a NYCFC player this year. At this stage of my career I do not look further forward than the season that I am playing and the club that I am at. Of course things can change and then I will look at my options but I am very happy playing in NYC and concentrating on trying to win the MLS Cup with the club.
Generally, it is very rare that midfielders are able to score as many goals as a forward. How did you make it happen?
I think I have been able to score goals throughout my career because of so much hard work since I was a young boy wanting to play professional football. There are other elements such as personal talent and the help of your team mates to provide opportunities but I always think the work I have done on scoring goals in training helped me to replicate it in games.
Apart from playing football, you are running some other projects as well. One of them is Frankies Magic Football, books you have written for kids. What do you want to teach the children through your work in literature?
I love writing my books and all I have tried to do is write exciting and adventurous football-related books to inspire children to read more. I believe the ability to read is of huge importance to children around the world and if I can help in any way to encourage more children to read then I am very happy.
You are an ambassador of the National Literacy Trust in a program for supporting disadvantaged children across the UK. How do you help those kids?
I help with my work for National Literacy Trust (www.literacytrust.org.uk) by trying to raise awareness that it is difficult for children (particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds) to read and learn as much as they possibly could. The NLT does fantastic work across the board to get this message out and make reading more available and enjoyable for children of all ages.
You are an idol for all children and you help them acquire happiness by enabling them to connect with you through Frankies Magic Football and National Literacy Trust Program. Is there anything that children teach you?
I love spending time with children through my books and my work with NLT. I have always had a belief that children and their education are important for the future for all of us. My works in this area and interacting with the children makes me even more positive about this.
