Chelsea

Frank Lampard – Chelsea Years

Lampard moved to Chelsea on 15th may 2001 for £11 Million, he started off slowly for Chelsea but found his form during the first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, many people at the beginning thought his transfer fee was over the top, however in later years it proved to be a bargain. Lampard’s premiership debut came in a match against Newcastle United in a 1-1 draw at the beginning of the 2001/02 premiership season. His season took a turn for the worse only in his fourth match at Chelsea, being sent off in a game against Tottenham, however to this date that was his only sending off of his excellent career. He found his form in the middle of the 2001-02 season, and played in all matches but one, scoring seven goals in all competitions.
After taking a season to settle at Chelsea, Lampard found his golden form once again in the 2002-03 season., he played in all league matches, scoring a further eight goals, his brilliant display’s helped Chelsea pip Liverpool to the fourth spot in the league and earn them selves a birth in the champions league for the following season. Once again he played in all of Chelsea’s matches during the 2003/04 season and was the first automatic choice in the Chelsea starting line up, despite a wealth of talent coming into the Chelsea squad. He was outstanding early on during the 2003/04 season; he was honoured as the Barclays Player of the month in September 2003 and the PFA Fans Player of the moth the following month. Chelsea’s league form dramatically improved, as they reached second place in the premiership and were outstanding in the champion’s league, reaching the semi-finals. Lampard played in 14 of their Champions league matches, scoring four vital goals for Chelsea. Lampard was the key member of Chelsea’s team in arguably their most successful season in their football history. Once again he starred in all 38 of Chelsea’s matches; scoring 13 goals in his midfield role and helping Chelsea win their first football league title in over 50 years. Chelsea won the league by a margin of twelve points and was unfortunately knocked out of the Champions league in the second round by Barcelona. Lampard’s heroic performances during the 2004/05 season earned him the award of English Footballer of the year and Football Writer’s Association Footballer of the Year in 2005.
His finest season in front of goal came during the 2005/06 season for Chelsea, a remarkable tally of twenty goals in fifty appearances for Chelsea was enough for him to be Chelsea’s top scorer for the season, and sixteen of the goals came in the premiership, helping them win the title for a second year running. His 16 goals during that season in the premiership was a record for a midfielder, he was one of the premierships leading goal scorers of the 2005/06 season. Many now regard Lampard as one of the best players in the world due to his dynamic performances on the football field.