Carragher: Hormat Saya untuk Frank Lampard

Carragher: Hormat Saya untuk Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard saat berseragam Chelsea (c) zimbio

Bola.net - - Mantan pemain Liverpool, Jamie Carragher, menyampaikan rasa hormatnya pada Frank Lampard setelah pemain legenda tersebut memutuskan pensiun.

Lampard memutuskan pensiun dari sepakbola profesional pada usianya yang 38 tahun setelah meninggalkan New York City FC akhir tahun lalu.

Lampard pernah membela Chelsea selama 13 tahun di mana ia pernah menjuarai 11 trofi termasuk tiga gelar Premier League, empat kali FA Cup, Liga Champions dan Liga Europa.

Ketika Lampard dan Carragher masih sama-sama bermain di Premier League, dua pemain ini tentu saja pernah saling berseteru di atas lapangan. Keduanya sekarang sudah pensiun dan sekarang Carragher akhirnya harus mengatakan bahwa Lampard merupakan pemain hebat yang pernah ada di dalam sejarah sepakbola.

"Setelah terjadi perseteruan dengan Chelsea dan Frank Lampard sekarang sudah pensiun, akhirnya saya harus mengakui hormat saya padanya dan dia adalah pemain hebat," kata Carragher pada Sky Sports setelah mendengar kabar pensiun Lampard.

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

Selama masih aktif bermain, Lampard pernah berkarir dengan sejumlah klub mulai dari West Ham, Chelsea, Manchester City dan di New York City FC.