Frank Lampard: The Legend

Frank Lampard: The Legend

The term 'legend' gets thrown about too frequently for my liking, but when it comes to Frank Lampard, I honestly think it applies.

The Chelsea midfielder has been prolific for the last ten years and recently signed a deserved 1-year extension to his contract after breaking the clubs all-time goals record with an astonishing 203 strikes.

He's one of my favourite players of all time and is recognised as one of the greats of the modern era. Even Sir Alex Ferguson said he regrets not signing the "unbelievable" (1) Lampard, which is a massive compliment for any player. 

Most people know about the all-time goalscoring record as it made big news when it happened but he still has his detractors, even as he signed a new deal there were a few murmurs from Chelsea fans saying it was 'time for him to move on' and that Oscar, Mata and others were more than ready to replace him.

Personally, I'm glad he signed on and I'm sure the majority of Chelsea fans would agree with me. It may be true that you're only as good as your next game, but Lampard has achieved some amazing things at Chelsea and his records speak for themselves.

Along with the Chelsea goals record, he also holds the record for most goals scored by a midfielder, (165) and Opta (the self-professed "world's leading sports data company") used "official stats" to cite Lampard as the EPL player of the decade.

Statistics don't always tell the full story. Lampard's consistency came to be second nature, it was his intelligent play, technique and longevity at the top that made him stand out from the crowd as the trophies started to roll in steadily.

Lampard always seems to come up with the goods for Chelsea and as the years have passed, he's adapted his game and captained the team to their famous Champions League victory, scoring important goals and assists, as well as smashing his penalty past Manuel Neuer in the final shoot-out. 

Every player has to leave eventually and maybe this season will be his swansong. Much is dependant on his fitness (which seems perfectly fine considering his age) and Mourinho's plans for him regarding the first XI.

He's shown no lack of appetite despite winning nearly everything at club level and may add a forth Premiership title depending on how the season goes, with bookies citing Chelsea and the Manchester clubs as favourites to win the league. 

Despite never winning anything with England's 'golden generation' and an apparent inability to play effectively with Steven Gerrard, (as well as the unwanted accolade of most shots without a goal in a World Cup tournament) he always gave his all in the England shirt, many people forget he was in the team of the tournament at Euro 2004, or that he's England's second highest goalscorer from midfield and ninth overall, (one goal behind joint sixth) with his 29 goals surpassed only by Bobby Charlton's return of 49.

Lampard is a Chelsea legend, without those goals and assists it may have been a completely differently story for the Blues in the last decade. In an era of expensive flops and inflated wages, the £11m fee paid for Lampard is one of the deals of the of the decade and he's more than paid his dues.

Whatever he decides to do after this season, he should rest easy in the knowledge that statistically, he was one of the best English players of his generation and the records will ensure he won't be forgotten in the years to come.