Frank Lampard Putuskan untuk Pensiun

Bola.net - - New York City FC menjadi klub terakhir yang dibela oleh Frank Lampard. Legenda Chelsea ini telah memutuskan untuk pensiun sebagai pemain sepakbola pada bulan Februari 2017 ini.

Lampard memulai karir sepakbolanya dengan bergabung di akademi sepakbola West Ham. Setelah sempat masuk ke tim senior beberapa musim, Lampard memilih pindah ke Chelsea dan menikmati kebersamaan selama 13 tahun dengan berbagai capaian.

Sebelum pensiun di New York City, top skorer sepanjang masa Chelsea ini sempat membela Manchester City dengan status pemain pinjaman.

"Setelah melewati 21 tahun yang luar bisa, saya telah memutuskan bahwa sekarang adalah waktu yang tepat untuk mengakhiri karir saya sebagai pemain sepakbola profesional," tulis Lampard di akun instagram miliknya.

"Saya menerima beberapa tawaran yang cukup menarik untuk terus bermain di rumah dan di luar negeri. Pada usia 38 tahun, saya merasa saat ini adalah waktu untuk memulai bab berikutnya dalam hidup saya. Saya bangga dengan trofi yang saya menangkan, mewakili negara lebih dari 100 laga dan mencetak lebih dari 300 gol sepanjang karir," sambungnya.

After 21 incredible years, I have decided that now is the right time to finish my career as a professional footballer. Whilst I have received a number of exciting offers to continue playing at home and abroad, at 38 I feel now is the time to begin the next chapter in my life. I’m immensely proud of the trophies I’ve won, of representing my country over 100 times and of scoring more than 300 career goals. I have many people to thank. I thank my parents for instilling in me the values of hard work, dedication and professionalism, values which I have carried with me in everything that I do. I am forever grateful for the support of my family, my wife Christine and my two daughters Luna and Isla. What you have given me off the pitch has always been my strength on it. I love you all very much. Also, my friends and my own team that have always been there for me. I would like to thank the amazing team-mates, coaches, managers and backroom staff that I was privileged to work with. I’d also like to pay tribute to the clubs that I have represented. Firstly, West Ham United who gave me my debut in 1996. Thanks to the people there that believed in me at that young age. More recently Manchester City and NYCFC. I greatly enjoyed my last playing years at these two clubs and really appreciate the support I received from City Football Group and both clubs’ fans. Of course, the largest part of my heart belongs to Chelsea, a club which has given me so many great memories. I will never forget the opportunity they gave me and the success that we managed to achieve together. It is impossible to give thanks individually to all the people that helped and supported me in my 13 years playing there. All I can say is from the day I signed until now and going forward, I'm eternally grateful for everything and to everyone. Chelsea fans gave myself and my teammates such incredible support. Their passion and hunger drove me on personally to give my best year after year. I couldn't have done it without them. Looking forward, I'm grateful to the FA for the opportunity to study for my coaching qualifications and I look forward to pursuing the off-field opportunities that this decision opens.

A video posted by Frank Lampard (@franklampard) on Feb 2, 2017 at 2:56am PST

Sepanjang karirnya di Premier League, Lampard telah bermain pada 607 pertandingan. Masuk dalam jajaran pemain dengan penampilan terbanyak. Catatan Lampard semakin hebat karena ia mencetak 177 gol dan 102 assist.