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Reuters

Chelsea described Frank Lampard as “one of the very greatest players to have represented the club” after England’s 2014 World Cup vice-captain brought the curtain down on an outstanding 13-year Stamford Bridge career.
“Any Chelsea supporter who has had the good fortune to watch ’Super Frank’ Lampard in full flow will know we have never seen his like in our midfield before and we will be very blessed to again see his equal,” the club said in a statement on Monday.
The midfielder, who turns 36 on June 20, announced earlier in the day that he was leaving the 2012 European champions.
“Frank Lampard’s momentous career as a Chelsea player will end when his contract expires at the end of this month,” the club said.

“Lampard has not yet announced his destination but all at Chelsea wish him every success for the future. He leaves with our enormous gratitude for the major part he played over 13 years packed with unforgettable victories, trophies lifted and records set.
“He blazed a trail during his long Chelsea career. Only Ron Harris and Peter Bonetti played more than his 648 games and Lampard famously leads our all-time scoring chart,” the club added.
“His goal touch allied with all-round quality and fantastic stamina helped change the way football views the modern central midfield player.”
Chelsea said the former West Ham United player’s consistency set him apart from the rest.

“Lampard’s brilliance was not just limited to the deluge of goals he netted over his years at Stamford Bridge - 211 in total at an average of over 16 a season - nor was it confined to the significance of so many of those strikes,” the statement read.
“What really stands him out as one of the all-time greats was his extraordinary consistency.
“He netted 20 or more goals for five consecutive seasons and according to statistics compiled for Premier League assists, he has supplied the second-highest figure in that competition’s history.
“He made a record-breaking 164 consecutive league appearances between 2001 and 2005, still the highest for an outfield player,” the statement continued.
“The facts may seem to speak for themselves but in truth they barely tell half the story. It is Lampard’s dedication to improvement throughout his career that is perhaps the most remarkable facet of his game.”

Lampard was voted FIFA’s 2005 World Player of the Year runner-up, the same year Chelsea ended a 50-year wait to become champions of England.
The England international also won the Premier League in 2006 and 2010, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice and the 2013 Europa League.

 

FRANK LAMPARD FACTFILE
Born June 21, 1978
Birthplace: Romford, England
 
1995: Joins West Ham as a trainee.
October - Loaned out to Swansea.
1996: Makes his full debut as a second-half substitute against Sheffield Wednesday at Upton Park in May.
1997: August - Nets his first senior goal in the 2-1 win over Barnsley at Oakwell.
1999: October - Makes full debut for England when he starts in the 2-1 friendly win over Belgium at Sunderland.
2001: May - Claims he wants to quit West Ham after boss Harry Redknapp and his father, Redknapp’s assistant, leave the club.
June 11 - Moves to Chelsea in an GBP11 million transfer.
September 19 - Sets new Premier League record for an outfield player of 114 consecutive appearances in Chelsea’s clash with Tottenham.
2005: April 28 - Voted Professional Footballers’ Association Fans’ Player of the Year.
April 30 - Scores twice against Bolton as Chelsea seal the Premier League title.
November 26 - Breaks record with 160th consecutive appearance in the Premier League.
November 28 - Second behind Barcelona’s Ronaldinho as European footballer of the year.
December 19 - Second behind Ronaldinho as FIFA’s world player of the Year.
December 28 - Run of consecutive Premier League matches ends at 164 as a virus rules him out of Chelsea’s away match against Manchester City.
2006: April 29 - Wins back-to-back Premiership titles after a 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
2007: February 25 - Wins League Cup with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium.
2009: January 17 - Captains Chelsea in his 400th appearance for the club.
May 30 - His 20th goal of the season is the winner in the FA Cup final, 2-1 over Everton.
2010: March 27 - Four goals in 7-1 rout of Aston Villa puts Lampard on 20 for a fifth straight season and 151 for Chelsea, third all-time.
May 15 - Helps Chelsea retain FA Cup with 1-0 victory over Portsmouth.
2011: November 12 - Captains England and scores only goal in 1-0 win over world champions Spain.
2012: February 25 - Having struggled to hold down a place for Chelsea, publicly admits to problems with Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas.
April 9 - Scores his 150th Premier League goal in 1-1 draw with Fulham.
May 19 - Captains Chelsea to victory in the Champions League final. Chelsea win 4-3 on penalties, Lampard scoring, after a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich.
2013: March 17 - Scores his 200th Chelsea goal against former club West Ham.
May 11 - Breaks Bobby Tambling’s Chelsea record of 202 goals as he scores twice at Aston Villa.
May 15 - Chelsea win the Europa League, beating Benfica 2-1 in Amsterdam.
2014: June 2 - Announces he will be leaving Chelsea after 13 years.


Chelsea salute legend Frank Lampard as he confirms he is leaving club

Frank Lampard played for Chelsea for more than 13 years. Photo: AFP

Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho holds aloft the Barclays Premiership trophy beside Frank Lampard and John Terry in 2005. Photo: AFP

Frank Lampard celebrates after winning the Europa League last season. Photo: AFP

Chelsea salute legend Frank Lampard as he confirms he is leaving club

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Midfielder will go down as one of club's all-time greats

Midfielder will go down as one of club's all-time greats