This article delves into the legendary career of Frank Lampard, a goalscoring midfielder known for his trophy-laden 13 years at Chelsea. Experience the nostalgia with mock Ceefax/Teletext graphics as we explore the journey of a player who was told he would never make it.
You can also watch a video version of the article below.
1995-96
After two years in West Ham United’s youth team, Frank Lampard made his first professional appearances on loan at Swansea City in the 1995-96 season. He scored one goal in 11 games before returning to West Ham. Hammers boss, and Lampard’s uncle, Harry Redknapp gave his nephew his debut in a 3-2 win over Coventry City.
1996-97
Lampard started three Premier League games, but not everyone was thrilled to see the youngster in action. “Personally, I don’t think he’s quite good enough yet,” a supporter said at a fans’ forum. “I didn’t wanna say this in front of him,” Redknapp responded, “but he will go right to the very top… right to the very top.”
1997-98
Redknapp’s faith paid off almost immediately. Lampard became a first-team regular, starting 27 Premier League games as West Ham finished eighth. He also showed a keen eye for goal, netting seven times in all competitions. England Under-21 call-ups quickly followed.
1998-99
Lampard became Mr. Reliable as West Ham ended the season in the lofty position of fifth. He scored another five goals and played 90 minutes in all 38 league games. Lampard’s fine form didn’t go unnoticed by England boss Kevin Keegan, who handed the emerging talent his first senior call-up.
1999-00
The season started with a bang as Lampard lifted the first trophy of his career: the Intertoto Cup. Things got even better when he made his senior England debut in a 2-1 win over Belgium. West Ham finished ninth, with 13-goal Lampard in midfield and 17-goal Paolo Di Canio in attack.
2000-01
Lampard scored another nine goals but failed to cement his place in the England team. West Ham finished 15th in a disappointing season that ended with Redknapp leaving the club. The Upton Park departures didn’t end there, as Lampard joined Chelsea in an £11 million deal. “It’s always been my ambition from day one to play European football,” Lampard said. “Hopefully I can test myself against the best players in Europe and we can contest for trophies.”
2001-02
Lampard became a key player in his first Chelsea season, scoring seven goals in 53 games. Claudio Ranieri’s men finished sixth and lost the FA Cup final 2-0 against Arsenal. The campaign ended on a sour note for Lampard, who failed to make Sven-Goran Eriksson’s 2002 World Cup squad.
2002-03
Lampard’s second season at Stamford Bridge brought a little more joy. Ranieri guided the club to fourth and Lampard played almost every minute of the campaign, scoring eight goals in 48 games. His form was rewarded with a return to the England squad.
2003-04
Lampard bagged 15 goals in 58 games as Chelsea finished second following Roman Abramovich’s takeover. At the end of the season, the midfielder made his mark on the international stage with three goals in four games during England’s run to the Euro 2004 quarter-finals. He even made it into UEFA’s Team of the Tournament.
2004-05
Out went Ranieri and in came Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. “You are the best player in the world,” Mourinho told Lampard while he was showering one day. Lampard went on to score 19 goals in 58 games, including the strike that clinched Chelsea’s first league title in 50 years. He also won the League Cup for the first time.
2005-06
Lampard’s star rose to new levels when he finished second to Barcelona’s Ronaldinho in the 2005 Ballon d’Or vote. Domestically, he scored 20 goals in 50 games as Chelsea won the title again. At international level, however, things didn’t pan out so well. Although he won England’s Player of the Year for the second successive year, Lampard missed a penalty in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final shootout defeat against Portugal. There were also concerns throughout the tournament about England’s inability to fit Lampard and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard into the same starting 11.
2006-07
Lampard proved his worth to the team with 21 goals in 62 games, but Chelsea were pipped to the title by Manchester United. All was not lost for Mourinho’s men, though, as they claimed the League Cup and FA Cup to add more trophies to the cabinet.
2007-08
Mourinho unexpectedly left Chelsea six league games into the season, with Avram Grant replacing him. Meanwhile, Lampard’s Euro 2008 hopes ended when England sensationally lost 3-2 to Croatia in a qualifier at Wembley. He still managed to score 20 goals in 40 games in an injury-hit campaign. Chelsea finished second and lost the League Cup and Champions League finals to Tottenham and Manchester United, respectively.
2008-09
Mourinho took over at Inter Milan and tried to sign Lampard, but the interest was quickly rebuffed. “Chelsea FC has informed Inter this morning that we will not enter into any discussion regarding the transfer of Frank Lampard.” Elsewhere at the Bridge, the managerial merry-go-round continued as Chelsea sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari midway through the season and replaced him with interim boss Guus Hiddink. Hiddink guided Chelsea to third place and a 2-1 FA Cup final win over Everton, with Lampard scoring the winner. He ended the season with 20 goals in 57 games.
2009-10
Lampard scored a career-best 27 goals in 51 games from midfield, including four goals in Chelsea’s 7-1 win over Aston Villa. Carlo Ancelotti, the Blues’ latest new boss, led the club to the Premier League title and the FA Cup. On the international stage, meanwhile, replays showed Lampard’s 20-yard effort against Germany in the World Cup last-16 clearly crossed the line, but the referee felt otherwise. “What is it FIFA don’t want?” asked BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson. “Technology. Thanks very much, Sepp Blatter.” England lost 4-1.
2010-11
Chelsea’s quest to win the Champions League ended in quarter-final heartache against Manchester United. The season didn’t go too well for Lampard, who only scored 13 goals in 32 games due to a lengthy injury. Chelsea finished second with a points tally of 71 – the worst since Abramovich bought the club – and Ancelotti paid the price by losing his job.
2011-12
Mourinho’s 33-year-old former right-hand man Andre Villas-Boas replaced Ancelotti, but he got the sack after a bad run. “His plan was long-term,” Lampard said, “but somewhere in the middle of that, the present didn’t go so well.” Roberto Di Matteo took over and, against all odds, won the FA Cup final against Liverpool and the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Lampard ended the season with 16 goals in 49 games, two trophies, and an untimely injury that ruled him out of Euro 2012.
2012-13
The goals kept on flowing for Lampard, who scored 17 times in 50 games. However, his starting spot came under serious threat after Rafa Benitez replaced Di Matteo as manager. For the second year in a row, Lampard captained Chelsea in a European final in the absence of John Terry. This time, he led the team to victory against Benfica in the final of the Europa League.
2013-14
After leaving Real Madrid, Mourinho returned to Chelsea and led the club to third place. The Special One’s return wasn’t necessarily good news for Lampard. Mourinho’s former star man only scored eight goals in 40 games – his worst goal return in 11 years – as he struggled to hold down a permanent place in the team. It was a similar story at international level, where Jordan Henderson was preferred to Lampard as Roy Hodgson’s England bowed out of the 2014 World Cup in the group stage. He retired from international football after the tournament.
2014-15
Lampard’s Chelsea contract expired and he left the club after 13 trophy-laden years. “You can’t imagine how difficult it was,” Mourinho said, reflecting on Lampard’s exit. The midfielder initially joined MLS side New York City FC. However, before moving to America, he surprisingly signed for Chelsea’s title rivals Manchester City for a season after some confusion about his New York contract status. He scored eight goals in 38 games as Manchester City finished second under Manuel Pellegrini.
2015-16
Injuries hindered Lampard’s impact in America, but he still managed to score 15 goals in 31 games across the 2015 and 2016 seasons. New York City FC made the 2016 playoffs before suffering a 7-0 aggregate loss against Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Retirement
Lampard’s short stint stateside ended after the playoffs and, on February 2, 2017, he announced his retirement from football. “Whilst I have received a number of exciting offers to continue playing, at 38 I feel now is the time to begin the next chapter in my life,” Lampard said. “I’m grateful to the Football Association for the opportunity to study for my coaching qualifications and I look forward to pursuing the off-field opportunities that this decision opens.”
Career summary
Lampard retired with a record of 312 goals in 1,041 games for club and country. Along the way, he won the Premier League (x3), FA Cup (x4), League Cup (x2), Champions League (x1), Europa League (x1) and Community Shield (x2). A true icon of the game, Lampard will forever be regarded as one of the finest midfielders football has ever seen.
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