Lampard to Consider Retirement from Football if England wins World Cup
Oladunjoye Opeyemi
Chelsea Midfielder, Frank Lampard has said he is focusing on England after leaving Chelsea and will retire if England win the World Cup.
The 35-year-old Blues legend played every minute of England’s games in last two World Cups and says it was a hard decision to end his Chelsea career after 13 years.
‘It’s difficult to get the words out and say that,’ said Lampard, who admitted he had found it odd listening down the phone to a statement prepared to confirm his exit from Stamford Bridge. ‘I thought I’d never see the day. It was strange when it was said out loud. It’s been such a huge part of my life.’
Lampard will remain a Chelsea player until his contract expires at the end of the month. Talks will continue with the new Major League Soccer franchise New York City and he will consider his options. In the meantime however, he intends to devote his energy to England and he will captain Roy Hodgson’s team on Wednesday night in the absence of Steven Gerrard.
It will be Lampard’s 104th international appearance, he said: ‘I’m very proud and happy to play for England. If we win the World Cup, then I’ll probably hang my boots up, I’m just enjoying every minute. Most players finish in their early 30s but I’ve had some of my most enjoyable England years over the last two years. I’m ready to use my experience. Whether I can arrive in the box 30 times a game, we’ll have to see; in Manaus definitely not.’
Lampard also explained that his decision to leave Chelsea had been settled over the course of last season, amid discussions with the club. ‘It was a mutual decision,’ he said.
‘’Chelsea have been fantastic with me, and that’s the way I wanted to go. I would have gone last year in a different way, but now I go away with a happy feeling and respect for the club and I hope it’s a two-way thing.
”I never thought I’d see the day. I was so entrenched in the life at Chelsea, it overtook my life. Munich, the Champions League final sticks out a mile for me. The first Premier League title was absolutely massive. Until I won the Champions League I would have always said that.
”But having won the big one, and shared it with team-mates I’d been with for a long time, fighting to win it and stumbling at the last hurdle, that night in Munich and two or three after it was the best moment in my footballing life.”
