Frank-ly Awesome : A Decade of Frank Lampard

We all grow up idolizing someone, there’s always that one poster in the wall that must be there in every room that ever belonged to us. There have been inspirational people in many a field who inspire millions of people today.

If you look at history there are great leaders like Gandhi, or his anti-self and a great orator in Hitler, powerful leader in Napoleon, or even way back to scientists like Albert Einstein, writers like Shakespeare, musicians like Mozart, painters like Da Vince, Van Gogh etc.

Then there are the modern time heroes, those still inspiring people today, the Bollywood-Hollywood-Movie actors of today’s world ala Shahrukh-Hanks-Jackie Chan-Rajnikanth and the likes, the politicians like Obama-Rahul Gandi, people like Bill Gates, and other top enterpreneurs,celebrity talk show host like Oprah Winfrey, and then there are those from the Sport Industry, the likes of Federer, Zidane, Tendulkar, Muhammad Ali, Schumacher etc.

On 20th June 1978, my idol was born, on 14th June 2001, The Guardian reported: “Lampard signs for Chelsea“, the same summer in which I began really following the beautiful game we call Football.

In the end of the 99-00 season, Chelsea had won the FA cup, following that we started of the season winning the Charity shield, and the then manager Gianluca Vialli was sacked following a string of poor performances, in his time however Chelsea had won an impressive 5 trophies (just a fact for all those nuts who think Chelsea were nothing before 2005). Claudio Ranieri (later dubbed as the tinker man) took over the reign, and we finished 6th that season, without progressing much in any of the cups, a real disappointment specially considering the strong team that we had. That season also marked John Terry‘s first full season as a 1st team regular.

Therefore summer recruitment’s were needed, especially in midfield where legend Dennis Wise, and Poyet were allowed to move on. Claudio Ranieri signed William Gallas from Marseille, signed two Barcelona players in Zenden and Petit, but his biggest signing was that of a 22 year old rather unknown midfielder from West Ham, Frank Lampard for a whopping 11 million.

Debut :

“I think everyone knows how I felt,” he added. “A lot happened at West Ham but I will always be grateful to them – they gave me my chance,” said Lampard. “It’s always been my ambition from day one to play European football.

“I think I can take my game on from here and win a lot of medals with the club. Hopefully I can test myself against the best players in Europe and we can contest for trophies.”

“The chance of European football and working with a well-respected coach will bring my game on.”

Frank Lampard played 53 games in his 1st full season at Chelsea, and scored his debut goal against Levski Sofia, a goal which became trademark Frank Lampard for years to come. It started off if I remember correctly with Lampard passing the ball, and then he ran 50 yards to the penalty box received the box and slotted it in. After that, there was no turning back. He scored 7 goals that season.

His 2nd season was pretty much the same with 8 goals, before he was given the role of filling the void of one of Chelsea’s greatest ever player Zola.

Playing alongside the genius of Zola must’ve surely helped Lampard, because the moment one legend retired, the other stepped up to the plate like nothing had changed, and although both of them have such contrasting styles, the one thing that is so common between the 2, is humility.

An Idol :

Every time I watch a Chelsea game, and Lampard scores my carpet gets ruined, my voice is tested to its highest pitch, and anyone in the vicinity is given a special performance of my ability to scream.

As I’ve watched throughout my school days, into college, and now into university, in the past 10 years so much has changed. The whole outlook of things in the world has changed drastically (For better or for worse).

In those 10 years however, Frank Lampard has remained the most consistent performer Premier League history. 166 goals and 100 + assists are a testament to that fact.

As a huge fun, I’ve read almost every article about Lampard that google can search for me, and among this day and age of footballers and controversies it amazes me how simple this man is. He comes from a footballing background, was educated, and even studied Latin. Recently an IQ test was conducted, and it was seen that Lampards IQ was higher than 154, which is higher than 99% of the world.

Despite being from a rich background, Frank Sr made sure that Lampard was well grounded. Even to this day it is noted by most managers that Frank Lampard is the 1st to arrive at a training session, the one that works the hardest, and the one that leaves last. Work ethics which are 2nd to none. Here’s a brilliant article by Jeff Powell.

It was this : ‘Not everyone understands that simplicity is genius.’

Frank Lampard is not a Lionel Messi, who can run rings around defenders, he’s not a Ronaldo, who can score a goal out of nothing, Frank Lampard has a talent which is greater than either of them, hard work and humility. His goal scoring record speaks for himself, and despite the fact that he scores so many, the amount he sets up is even more admirable with over a 100 assists including some outrageous ones against the likes of Man City Bolton and Aston Villa which shows his unselfish nature. If Messi did any of the 3, we’d still be talking about it today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHJzd9TERvo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMaDBlgp2zY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ij2sfpYFK0

His goals, well the 1st which comes to my mind is his finish against Bayern Munich, in Andy Grays words “Take a bow son, take a bow”. That was sheer brilliance, to turn 360, and finish off with a stunning volley with your weaker foot against arguably the best goalkeeper of that time was amazing.

There are so many other goals that if I start naming and putting the links in, it’ll take me ages. But the Bayern goal was really special to me. He’s scored against all the top clubs, and he also scored the goals that got us the premier league for the 1st time in 50 years, it was quite fitting.

Lampard went 164 games without missing a match a record for an outfielder who shows his tremendous fitness and stamina levels, and this season suffered his 1st major setback which saw Chelsea suffer their worst period since he came to the club.

500 Not Out :

Lampard will make his 513th appearance for Chelsea, in his 10year at the club. Eyes will be on the likes of Rooney, Torres, Silva, Suarez of the world, but there will be one lad who’ll be ticking his team forward like he has always done, effectively and in the most humblest manner that we almost think now that it is inbuilt. That man is Frank Lampard.

There is honestly so much more to say about this legend, who will most certainly be remembered as Chelsea’s greatest ever player, and even if England can’t accept his genius, once Lampard calls it a day, the nation and the world will truly miss him.

As for me, Frank Lampard will always be on my wall, and an inspiration to me and everything that I do in the future.

May you keep playing.

The day he retires, I am sure; a certain special tear drop will roll down.