Frank Lampard

Frank James Lampard (born 20 June 1978) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chelsea and at international level for the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for both his club side and national side. He plays most often as a box-to-box midfielder and has also enjoyed spells in a more advanced attacking midfield. He is considered to be one of the best footballers in the world. Lampard began his career at West Ham United, his father's former club. He had secured a place in the first team by the 1997–98 season, and the following year helped the team finish 5th in the Premier League, their highest ever Premier League placing. In 2001, he moved to rival London club Chelsea for £11 million. Lampard's Premier League debut with Chelsea came on 19 August 2001 in a 1–1 draw with Newcastle United. Lampard's 2007–08 season was riddled with injury, managing to play 40 matches, 24 of which in the league-the fewest he had played in a season since 1996–97. On 16 February 2008, Lampard became the eighth Chelsea player to score 100 goals for the club in a 3–1 FA Cup fifth-round win over Huddersfield Town. After the final whistle, Lampard removed his jersey and flashed a T-shirt to the Chelsea fans with "100 Not Out, They Are All For You, Thanks" printed across the front. In the Premier League match with Liverpoool he scored a penalty in a 1–1 draw at Anfield. He scored four goals in a 6–1 rout of Derby County on 12 March. Then in the Champions League quarter-final second leg he scored the winning goal against Fenerbahçe in the 87th minute as Chelsea won 3–2 on aggregate. On 30 April, Lampard, grieving the loss of his mother a week earlier, decided to play in the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, who were eliminated on 4–3 aggregate as he took an emotional penalty in the 98th minute of extra-time, which he scored confidently. In the final against Manchester United, he scored an equalising goal in the 45th minute, as Michael Essien's deflected shot found him as he went to the box with his late trade-mark run, he scored with a left foot finish. The match ended 1–1 after extra-time and Chelsea lost 6–5 on penalties. He was later named UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year. Lampard attended Brentwood School between 1989 and 1994, finishing with eleven GCSEs, including an A in Latin.