Officielt: Frank Lampard stopper karrieren

Den engelske midtbane-legende, Frank Lampard, har i dag valgt at indstille fodboldkarrieren efter 21 år på banen med 1.019 kampe og imponerende 302 scoringer til følge.

Frank Lampard har rundet 38 år, og i dag kunne han meddele, at han indstiller fodboldkarrieren, der i det seneste halvandet år er blevet brugt i New York City.

Ved årsskiftet forlod Lampard klubben, og siden da har han funderet over fremtiden.

Englænderen er nået til den erkendelse, at det er bedst at stoppe karrieren nu.

“Efter 21 utrolige år har jeg besluttet, at det er det rette tidspunkt at stoppe som professionel fodboldspiller. Jeg har fået en række spændende tilbud om at spille videre, både i England og i udlandet, men i en alder af 38 år er det dét rigtige tidspunkt at åbne et nyt kapitel i mit liv,” skriver Frank Lampard på sin Instagram-profil.

Lampard tilføjer, at han vil tage trænerkurser hos den engelske fodboldforbund FA, hvorefter han vil gå efter en karriere udenfor grønsværen.

Frank Lampard kan se tilbage på en flot karriere, hvor han blandt andet tilbragte 13 år i Chelsea, hvor det i alt blev til 649 kampe for klubben.

Han var også med til at vinde tre engelske mesterskaber og én Champions League-titel med London-klubben.

Han nåede i alt 177 mål i Premier League, hvilket placerer ham på en fjerdeplads over de mest scorede i ligaen.

For det engelske landshold nåede Frank James Lampard at spille 106 A-landskampe og score 29 mål.

Totalt opnåede han 1.019 kampe med 302 scoringer til følge.

José Mourinho beskrev ham således i 2016:

“Én af mine bedste spillere nogensinde, én af de mest professionelle nogensinde. En Chelsea-legende og en legende i hele Premier League.”

Frank Lampards blåbog:

Klubber:

1995-2001: West Ham United
1995-1996: Swansea City (leje)
2001-2014: Chelsea
2014–2015: Manchester City
2015–2016: New York City

Landskampe for England: 106 (29)

Frank Lampards fulde besked på Instagram kan ses her:

After 21 incredible years, I have decided that now is the right time to finish my career as a professional footballer. Whilst I have received a number of exciting offers to continue playing at home and abroad, at 38 I feel now is the time to begin the next chapter in my life. I’m immensely proud of the trophies I’ve won, of representing my country over 100 times and of scoring more than 300 career goals. I have many people to thank. I thank my parents for instilling in me the values of hard work, dedication and professionalism, values which I have carried with me in everything that I do. I am forever grateful for the support of my family, my wife Christine and my two daughters Luna and Isla. What you have given me off the pitch has always been my strength on it. I love you all very much. Also, my friends and my own team that have always been there for me. I would like to thank the amazing team-mates, coaches, managers and backroom staff that I was privileged to work with. I’d also like to pay tribute to the clubs that I have represented. Firstly, West Ham United who gave me my debut in 1996. Thanks to the people there that believed in me at that young age. More recently Manchester City and NYCFC. I greatly enjoyed my last playing years at these two clubs and really appreciate the support I received from City Football Group and both clubs’ fans. Of course, the largest part of my heart belongs to Chelsea, a club which has given me so many great memories. I will never forget the opportunity they gave me and the success that we managed to achieve together. It is impossible to give thanks individually to all the people that helped and supported me in my 13 years playing there. All I can say is from the day I signed until now and going forward, I’m eternally grateful for everything and to everyone. Chelsea fans gave myself and my teammates such incredible support. Their passion and hunger drove me on personally to give my best year after year. I couldn’t have done it without them. Looking forward, I’m grateful to the FA for the opportunity to study for my coaching qualifications and I look forward to pursuing the off-field opportunities that this decision opens.

En video slået op af Frank Lampard (@franklampard) den 2. Feb 2017 kl. 2:56 PST