When Frank Lampard moved from West Ham to Chelsea in 2001, the Blues knew they were getting a midfielder who could play across the attacking third with energy, verve and a knack of popping in with a goal or two. What they didn’t probably know, was that they were getting a midfielder who would turn into their all-time top scorer and a club legend.
What makes Lampard special, apart from his uncanny ability to dominate midfield and score at an impressive rate of a goal every three matches, are his incredibly numbers and the longevity in the hole behind the striker(s). In an era where a few bad games can reduce midfielders to bench-warmers, Lampard kept going at an astonishing rate without his performances dropping.
GOALS
Lampard scored a whopping 211 goals for Chelsea. Add another 25 for West Ham, 8 for Manchester City, 15 for MLS side New York City FC and 29 international strikes for England and it’s an incredible number for a midfielder (288).
ASSISTS
Lampard just didn’t score, he created. And boy, he created plenty. Across all competitions, for all his clubs, Lampard recorded 178 assists. Out of these, a whopping 150 came for Chelsea. It’s no wonder strikers like Didier Drogba loved him – the sort of service Lampard provided was second to none.
TROPHIES
A player may be brilliant, but without trophies, his legacy lacks greatness. No such issues for Lampard though, who won three Premier Leagues, one Champions League, four FA Cups, two League Cups and one Europa League.
MATCHES
Across a career which took him to four clubs and two leagues, Lampard played 852 times. He also played 106 times for England and it’s clear that Lampard was always available and always ready, whether it was the Premier League, Champions League or international football.
Feature image source: AFP