Frank Lampard, a former Chelsea midfielder, has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Following a public vote, Lampard joins Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, and Roy Keane in the top-flight history books.
After a 20-year career that included stops at West Ham and Manchester City, the former Blues midfielder has been awarded the league’s highest individual honour.
Frank Lampard’s Playing Career
Lampard started his career at West Ham United in 1995, where he stayed for six years before joining Chelsea for £11 million.
The former England international went on to win three league titles and the Player of the Year award in 2004-05, as well as becoming the Blues’ all-time leading scorer.
Lampard played for Manchester City for a brief period in 2014 before retiring from the game after a stint with New York City FC in the MLS. He retired from the Premier League as the highest-scoring midfielder in the competition’s history, with 177 goals.
A midfielder widely regarded as one of the best of his generation, viewed as a hero among @ChelseaFC fans and respected across the footballing divide
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 19, 2021
🔵 Frank Lampard is inducted to the #PLHallOfFame pic.twitter.com/EBZYOdVGjD
How many players will be added to the 2021 class?
Last month, Newcastle legend Shearer and ex-Arsenal striker Henry were named as the only two automatic inductees into the Hall of Fame, but the class of 2021 will include a total of eight players.
After a fan vote from an all-star shortlist containing 23 of the best players in Premier League history, Cantona, Keane, and Lampard are the first of the remaining six men to make the cut.
Nominees who have yet to be chosen
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, and Rio Ferdinand are among the remaining nominees who will be announced by the end of the week.
Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Vieira, and Ian Wright round out the illustrious group.
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