There has not been a more consistent goalscoring midfielder in Premier League history than Lampard, and he forged a truly magnificent career during 13 memorable years with Chelsea. The Englishman's career started at West Ham though, between 1995 and 2001, but although clearly a talented midfield player, many were surprised when the Blues stumped up £11m for the then 23-year-old. Lampard worked incredibly hard on improving his all-round game, however, and after a slightly slow start to life at Stamford Bridge, he suddenly went up several gears. For seven years in a row, starting in 2003/04, he scored a minimum of 15 goals in every season, and more often than not that tally was in the 20s. His ability to ghost into the box and score was unrivalled, and his passing, work-rate and general influence were admirable. The former England international ended up scoring 211 goals for Chelsea, making him the club's all-time leading scorer, in 648 appearances. He won three Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge, and having made a surprise summer move to Manchester City, he will be hoping to add to his collection this season. Lampard has not always been universally loved, but what he has achieved in the game should be respected.
