Frank Lampard

Lampard emerges as new global star

Lazio's Giuseppe Favalli (L) pursues Chelsea's Frank Lampard during their Champions League match at Stamford Stadium in London 22 October, 2003. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS

Chelsea's classy midfielder Frank Lampard continues to rack up the accolades as one of the best players in today's game and is now seen as fundamental to England's growing chances of winning their first World Cup since 1966.

He first came to prominence at West Ham where his uncle Harry Redknapp was manager and his father Frank Sr. was first team coach. But in 2001 Chelsea raised a few eyebrows by shelling out 11 million pounds (15.75 million euros) to take Lampard to Stamford Bridge.

His early days at the West London club were modest but he soon blossomed into one of the Premier League's most consistent and gifted midfielders as Chelsea's rise coincided with the massive fortune invested by new owner Roman Abramovich.

First called up to the England team in October 1999, he did not become a regular in the national squad until Swede Sven Goran Eriksson took over and eventually gave Lampard a starting role at Euro 2004 alongside David Beckham and Steven Gerrard.

The player himself has praised club coach Jose Mourinho for transforming him from a good player into a world star.

Records and distinctions

Chelsea striker Arjen Robben (C) holds the Barclay's Premiership trophy aloft as he rides on an open-top bus with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic (C front), Eidur Gudjohnsen (L), Frank Lampard (2nd R) and John Terry (2nd R front) and other teammates during a parade in west London 22 May 2005. Chelsea won the Premiership for the 2004/2005 season , their first league trophy in 50 years. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN

Chelsea reached the semi-finals of the 2004 Champions League and lifted their first English title for 50 years in 2005 with Lampard at the heart of both those challenges.

He was rewarded with England's player of the year award for 2005 and also came runner-up in both the European and world player of the year titles behind Barcelona's Ronaldinho.

England midfielder Frank Lampard (C) raises his arm after scoring against France, 13 June 2004 during their opening match at the European Nations football championships at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. France and England are competing in Group B with Switzerland and Croatia. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS

These accolades also reflected his role at Euro 2004 where Lampard was a standout in Portugal scoring 3 goals and earning a spot on the tournament's all-star squad after England's run to a quarter-final defeat to the hosts.

Lampard hit his peak in this period with glorious and important goals on both the domestic and European stages that have forced coaches, fans and pundits to sit up to take notice.

England's Frank Lampard celebrates scoring their second goal against Poland during the FIFA World Cup Group 6 qualifying football match at Old Trafford in Manchester 12 October 2005. Both teams have already qualified for The World Cup next year, but are playing to decide the group winner. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS

Racking up a record 164 consecutive Premiership games for Chelsea until December 2005 not only pays testament to his ruddy health but is also a record. Lampard is also known for his precision when spraying passes around the pitch and getting into the box himself to register a high goals per game ratio for a midfielder.

He scored the winner for England in the final qualifier against Poland which guaranteed the group leadership on their way to a seeding spot for the World Cup in Germany.

Nerves of steel also convinced Eriksson to make Lampard the England penalty taker after David Beckham looked shaky for the job and his worth to club and country is now priceless.