England midfielder, Frank Lampard among Chelsea greats with 500th appearance for the Blues
Chelsea midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Frank-Lampard-c14097 is on his way to reach yet another milestone as he prepares to make his 500th appearance for Chelsea tonight in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, against English Premier League rivals, Manchester United.
The 32-year-old http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 International will join the likes of Chelsea legends, Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti, and John Hollins. Lampard revealed he was honoured to have his name included with the Blues legends. While speaking to reporters he said, “It's very
humbling - a group I didn't think I'd get into when I came here 10 years ago. They're the big names people that talk about from years gone by.”
Frank Lampard started his career with West Ham United and after managing to secure a place in the first team, led the side to their highest ever Premier League finish. In 2001 he transferred to London side, Chelsea for a fee of £11 million, and since then
has been indispensible for the Blues.
The attacking midfielder not only has a knack for setting up goals but also scoring them. He was an important part of Jose Mourinho’s squad that went on to claim back to back English Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006.
He was well rewarded for his efforts at the club; in 2008 he signed a new contract with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786, making him the highest paid player in the Premier League. During troubling times, it was Lampard, who made sure his side did not end without silverware, and
scored the winning goal in the FA Cup Final against Everton.
The subsequent season has been the Chelsea midfielder’s best so far, he went on to score 22 goals and provided a total of 17 assists, as the Blues claimed their first ever double - Premier League and FA Cup. Even though he has not been able to match last
season’s goal tally, having scored only 9 goals in 22 appearances, he is still an important part of Ancelotti’s squad.
The Chelsea Vice-Captain is already considered one of the greatest English footballers of all time, and despite being 32 years old, Lampard shows no signs of slowing down. He continued, “I'm not thinking of the end. Thirty-two now is not what it was 10 years
ago. Hopefully I can perform well into my thirties. The Giggses, Maldinis, Scholeses have all gone on and played well into their later 30s. I would love to be able to do that.”
He has been awarded the Chelsea Player of the Year award three times, and is amongst the club’s three all time high goal scorer with 166 goals. Lampard is currently the highest goal scoring midfielder in the English Premier League, with 35 league goals.
Unlike most players, Lampard has recreated his form for country with 21 goals in 85 appearances for England.
Having already been knocked out of the FA Cup and Carling Cup early on in the season, and sitting at fourth place on the Premier League table, the Champions League is Chelsea’s only chance at silverware. The Blues will be depending on Lampard to step up
on his 500th appearance, and help them win the coveted trophy Chelsea has not been able to win as yet.
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