Frank Lampard is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, a consistent performer with a goalscoring record that’s unparalleled for a midfield player.
Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer, the former England international has more goals than any other Premier League midfielder and also scored more long-range goals than any other.
In a career that spanned over two decades, Lampard became the complete midfielder, able to pass, score, and assist, and brought a level of professionalism to his game that made him stand head and shoulders above his contemporaries.
With such a long and illustrious career, it’s hard to choose which seasons in Frank Lampard’s career stood out above the rest.
We’ve put together a compilation of Lampard’s five best seasons to show just how truly special England and Chelsea midfielder Lampard really was.
Early Career and Rise to Prominence
Frank Lampard’s journey to becoming one of the Premier League’s greatest midfielders began at West Ham United, where he joined the youth academy at the tender age of 11. His talent was evident from a young age, and he quickly rose through the ranks, making his professional debut for the club in 1995. During his time at West Ham, Lampard established himself as a promising young midfielder, netting 24 goals in 148 appearances and showcasing his knack for scoring from midfield.
In 2001, Lampard made a pivotal move to Chelsea for a fee of £11 million, a decision that would mark the beginning of a highly successful period in his career. This transfer was a significant step up, and Lampard did not disappoint. He quickly became an integral part of the Chelsea squad, helping the team secure numerous honors, including three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the coveted UEFA Champions League.
Lampard’s rise to prominence was swift. He became a key player not only for Chelsea but also for the England national team. Making his debut for England in 1999, Lampard went on to earn 106 caps and score 29 goals for his country. His performances on the international stage were equally impressive, representing England at three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships. Notably, he was named in the Team of the Tournament at UEFA Euro 2004 and was voted England Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2005.
The 2004-05 season was particularly memorable for Lampard and Chelsea. He played a crucial role in the club’s Premier League title win, scoring 13 goals and providing 18 assists. This triumph was the first of three Premier League titles he would win with Chelsea, with the others coming in the 2005-06 and 2009-10 seasons. Lampard’s ability to score from midfield, combined with his vision and passing range, made him a standout player in the Premier League era.
Lampard’s success was not confined to his club career. His international career was equally distinguished, and he was a vital player for England in major tournaments. His tireless work rate, ability to control the tempo of the game, and exceptional goal-scoring ability from midfield earned him praise from fans and pundits alike.
In 2012, Lampard captained Chelsea to Europa League glory, scoring the winning goal in the final against Benfica. This achievement was a highlight of his illustrious career, and he continued to add to his trophy cabinet with another FA Cup win in 2012 and 2015.
Lampard’s legacy at Chelsea is undeniable. He remains one of the most beloved and respected players in the club’s history. His numerous honors and accolades are a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport, and he continues to be an inspiration to Chelsea fans around the world.
5. 2001/2002 Premier League Season
Embed from Getty Images| Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | 7 | 2 |
After a highly promising spell at West Ham United, Frank Lampard joined Chelsea in 2001 after developing misgivings about how West Ham had treated his father, Frank Lampard Snr. and his uncle, former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp.
Lampard instantly became a first-team starter at Chelsea, playing all 38 league games and scoring eight goals.
Lampard was an energetic and dynamic midfielder who was excellent in the box-to-box or advanced playmaker role.
With boundless energy and a keen eye for goal, Chelsea had brought in arguably the most promising midfielder in the country. Little did the club know they had signed a future star who would go on to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
While not the complete team by any stretch of the imagination, Chelsea finished a respectable sixth in the Premier League in 2001-02. The premier league table that season reflected their solid but unspectacular performance. Not yet inundated with Roman Abramovich’s Russian millions, the club hadn’t won the League title since 1955.
Lampard’s decision to move across London wasn’t the glory-seeking move you’d expect; the club was not considered a title contender.
4. 2014/2015 Season
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|---|---|---|
| 48 | 11 | 6 |
After surprisingly leaving Chelsea on a free transfer, Lampard signed for Manchester City in 2015, bringing much-needed experience to the midfield.
Ironically, Lampard’s first goal for the club would be against his former club Chelsea, and as a mark of respect, the former Chelsea legend refused to celebrate the goal.
It was while at Manchester City that Lampard made his 600th appearance in the Premier League, second only to Ryan Giggs of Manchester United for appearances in the English top division.
This milestone, while incredible in itself, is all the more remarkable as at the beginning of his career at West Ham, Harry Redknapp, Lampard’s manager and uncle had to vehemently defend his decision to include the young Lampard in his West Ham team.
The fans of the London club had doubts over the player’s talent and criticized Redknapp for playing his nephew and former West Ham player Frank Lampard Snr’s son based solely on his family connection.
Twenty years and 600 appearances later, Redknapp’s raging response, in which he declared Lampard to be one of the best prospects in English soccer, and a guaranteed future star, proved incredibly perceptive.
Now in the twilight of his playing career, Frank Lampard had confirmed himself to be one of the finest and most successful English players of all time.
3. 2005/2006 FA Cup Season
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| 50 | 20 | 12 |
Winning the league for the first time in 50 years in 2003-2004 was hard enough, but to then retain the league in the 2005-2006 season was an incredible feat.
Chelsea had quickly established themselves as one of the most formidable, most talented squads in the league, and at the heart of everything the club did was Frank Lampard. During his second season at Chelsea, Lampard’s significant performances included crucial goals and assists that greatly contributed to the team’s success.
Despite the influx of exciting foreign players thanks to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich’s rubles, Lampard stood out as the key player for Chelsea and was named the Football Writer’s Player Of The Year in 2005.
With 16 league goals and eight assists for the season, Lampard was a critical player as Chelsea retained their title.
Chelsea would retain the league by an impressive eight points, scoring 72 goals and conceding only 22. Lampard had established himself as the most well-rounded midfielder in the country, and his contributions hadn’t gone unnoticed.
The midfielder would end the season as runner-up for both the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards, losing out to Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho for both awards.
2. 2011/2012 Champions League Final Season
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| 49 | 16 | 10 |
The 2011-2012 season proved to be a milestone for Lampard and Chelsea, with the club winning the Champions League for the first time in its history.
Making it to the final had been something of a surprise for the club, and facing German giant Bayern Munich at the Bavarian club’s home stadium seemed like an impossible final hurdle.
After miraculously defeating Barcelona in the semi-finals, Chelsea, helped by Lampard supplying the ammunition from midfield, defeated Bayern Munich in the final on penalties. Lampard scored one of the penalties for Chelsea and went on to lift his first and only Champions League trophy.
As well as winning the Champions League, Lampard helped his club lift the FA Cup and was instrumental in the club’s progression to the final. A 35-yard free-kick and an assist in the 5-1 semi-final victory against Tottenham Hotspur showed Lampard’s continued importance to the club. This season also marked Chelsea’s FA Cup double, highlighting their success in both the Premier League and FA Cup.
The 2012 FA Cup victory would prove to be Lampard’s fourth and last FA Cup victory.
1. 2004/2005 Season
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|---|---|---|
| 58 | 19 | 21 |
In a genuinely standout season, Frank Lampard cemented himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League during the 2004-2005 season, helping Chelsea to their first Premier League title in fifty years.
Under manager Jose Mourinho, Chelsea became tough to beat, conceding only 15 goals all season.
A then-record points haul of 95 points secured Chelsea the title; incredibly, before the season had even started, manager Jose Mourinho had told the team that they would win the title at Bolton Wanderers in April.
Amazingly, Mourinho was proven correct, and two goals from the increasingly dominant Lampard finally saw Chelsea crowned as champions of England. This marked the first time Chelsea won the Premier League title.
Lampard would finish the season with 13 league goals, the Football Writers Award for the Footballer of the Year, and the Premier League Player of the Season Award.
Thanks to his incredible season, Lampard would also be nominated for both the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards, eventually finishing second to Ronaldinho in both categories.
A superb showing in the Champions League saw Chelsea make it to the semi-finals, where they would eventually lose to Liverpool. Lampard was instrumental in defeating both Barcelona and Bayern Munich on the way to the semis.
Scoring three goals against Bayern Munich, including a world-class volley, Lampard’s reputation on the world stage had grown enormously.
The Premier League trophy of 2004-05 was Lampard’s first-ever medal, though he would finish the season with another as Chelsea went on to lift the League Cup. Lampard also played a pivotal role in Chelsea winning their third Premier League title in the 2009-10 season.
That day, Chelsea’s rivals were Liverpool, who had beaten Chelsea to the Champions League final. Chelsea would eventually win 3-2 after extra time, giving Lampard his second winners medal of the season.
In a career strewn with superb performances and incredible goals, the 2004-2005 season has to go down as Frank Lampard’s most significant achievement as a soccer player.
Despite several fantastic performances for England throughout his career, it’s for his outstanding contribution to Chelsea, helping them transform into a global powerhouse, that Frank Lampard will be most remembered.
