Frank Lampard: Chelsea legend was admired by Lionel Messi, Jose Mourinho’s ‘best ever’ and ‘phenomenal’ according to Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson
It’s June and therefore the birth month of one of the greatest Premier League midfielders of all time: Frank Lampard.
The Chelsea boss, who turns 42 on June 20, was unquestionably one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
Lampard won 11 major honours with Chelsea in a glittering 11 years at Stamford Bridge – including the Champions League in 2012
Beginning his career in east London, Lampard would make his name at West Ham from 1995 to 2001, scoring 24 goals in 148 matches in his six years at Upton Park.
But, as we all know, it was at Chelsea where he would blossom into a true great of the game.
Following his £11million switch to Stamford Bridge, Lampard would make 648 appearances for the Blues in 13 years at the club.
He won everything in English football in the most successful period of the club’s history, with a remarkable Champions League triumph in 2012 perhaps the biggest achievement of his glittering career.
In his first seven months in charge, Lampard steered Chelsea to a respectable fourth in the Premier League before football was halted by coronavirus
Undoubtedly the Blues’ greatest ever player, Lampard is one of seven players, and the only midfielder, to have scored more than 150 goals in the Premier League, whilst he also recorded the fourth-most Premier League assists ever.
And when he was released by the club in 2014, most knew it was only a matter of time before Lampard returned to the club in some capacity.
It happened quicker than many expected, with the ex-England playmaker handed the reigns at Stamford Bridge last summer.
Before coronavirus brought football to an unprecedented halt, it had been a solid first season in charge for the fresh-faced manager, with the Blues sitting in a respectable fourth even without spending a penny in the last two transfer windows.
But what do those who played with and against Lampard say about his exceptional quality? talkSPORT.com takes a look…
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Harry Redknapp
In perhaps one of the biggest displays of trust and loyalty football has seen, Redknapp famously claimed his nephew Frank was destined for the top when a blunt question was asked about him as a youngster at West Ham.
“I’m telling you now, he [Lampard] will go right to the very top,” Redknapp said. “Right to the very top. ’Cos he’s got everything that is needed to be a top midfield player.
“His attitude is first-class. He’s got strength, he can play, he can pass and he can score goals. I couldn’t be more strong in how I feel about him.”
Redknapp always knew that his nephew was destined for the top when he worked with him at West Ham
Sir Alex Ferguson
Perhaps the biggest compliment of all, Sir Alex Ferguson said that he regrets failing to replace Roy Keane with the ‘phenomenal’ midfielder.
He said: “Lampard has been unbelievable. I don’t think a midfield player will be able to do that figure again. It’s quite phenomenal.
“Like Bryan Robson, he has had a great knack of timing his runs into the box at the right time. John Wark was another one at Ipswich. The other thing is I can’t remember Lampard ever being injured.
“When he’s not been playing it’s because they thought he was past it. The guy has had a great career. I must say we looked at him when he was at West Ham as a young player and I maybe regret not having done it. Where else could I get 200 goals?”
Phil Neville
“I think as a goalscoring midfielder, Frank was the best in Premier League history. You can’t take that away.”
Zinedine Zidane
Ahead of his 100th cap for England in 2013, the France and Real Madrid icon paid the ultimate compliment to Lampard, who was then playing in a Three Lions side that boasted the likes of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.
“The English player who changes things and who is really a leader is Lampard,” he said.
Zidane heaped praise on Lampard in the past
Lionel Messi
Ahead of Chelsea’s hotly-anticipated Champions League semi-final against Chelsea in 2009, Messi identified the English midfielder as the biggest threat from the Blues’ XI.
“We know they have a great squad that contains some of the best players in Europe, but I particularly admire Frank Lampard,” the Argentine said.
“To have a midfield player who consistently scores so many goals at the top level is a rare thing. It is something we need to look out for in the two matches. For sure, Frank is a big threat.”
Didier Drogba
No players in the history of the Premier League had a better goal-scoring partnership.
Lampard set up Drogba on 24 occasions, while the Ivorian repaid the favour 12 times to form the most devastating duo in the competition’s history.
“Frank is the best midfield player that I played with, the most intelligent and efficient,” Drogba said of his teammate.
Drogba and Lampard won a number of accolades as players at Chelsea and also formed the most devastating partnership in Premier League history
Steven Gerrard
Much was made about whether the two midfielders could play together but there was always mutual respect.
“Nobody deserves it [100 England caps] more than Frank. He’s been tremendous for club and country. He’s a top player.”
Jose Mourinho
Lampard was one of the symbols of the success that the Portuguese brought to the club when he arrived in 2004 and he often says he is the best manager he worked with.
“One of my best players ever, one of my best professionals ever, a Chelsea legend and a legend in the Premier League,” Mourinho said.
Mourinho has always said Lampard was one of the very best players he coached in his career
Pablo Zabaleta
It’s fair to say the Man City legend was impressed by their free transfer signing in 2014
“For me, what makes Frank Lampard special is how professional he is in training. You see him at training: He is the first to arrive on the training ground and the last to go home. He won everything with Chelsea, he’s a legend in football and he’s still playing like he’s 18 years old.”
John Terry
Brothers in arms on the pitch at Stamford Bridge, the two leaders drove Chelsea to success.
Terry said of Lampard: “You can only single out two players to play consistently well and to score goals over the course of the last 10-15 years and that is him and Ryan Giggs.
“It’s incredible, to see the number of goals he’s scored at such a high level as well – Champions League goals, Premier League goals – and the hunger. It’s incredible, season after season to do what he’s done.”
Even though he lays a claim to the title himself, Terry says Lampard is Chelsea’s best ever player
Gary Lineker
“A fine player, an outstanding finisher and a credit to the game of football.”
Eden Hazard
The Belgian’s time alongside Lampard was short but sweet and left a lasting impression.
He said: “Having the chance to spend two seasons alongside him, you just learn what an exemplary player and professional he is.
“You got the feeling that this was a player respected by everybody and everywhere – not just in the club but outside too.”
Frank Lampard played with Eden Hazard for two seasons at Chelsea towards the end of his career
Sven-Goran Eriksson
Having managed Lampard during his spell as England boss from 2001-2006, the Swedish boss believed Lampard’s commitment was second to none.
“He is one of the best midfielders in the world right now,” he said. “I can think of almost no weakness in his game. He has tremendous energy, a complete range of passing, he can tackle and he scores more goals than most strikers.
“Add to that his fitness and consistency, which have now created new records in England, and you can see how many assets he has as a player.”
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Gianfranco Zola
A Chelsea legend who also spent time on the pitch with Lampard, the Italian couldn’t be prouder.
“He’s been an outstanding player for Chelsea but also for the league. He’s an amazing player,” Zola said.
“I saw him when he first came to Chelsea and he was very young then and wasn’t the player he is now. But his attitude was fantastic. You could see he was going to become somebody important.
“I’m pleased to say he’s one of those guys who deserves everything he’s won.”
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