Frank Lampard Signed A New Contract In 2008 Becoming The Highest Paid Premier
From his debut onwards he was ever-present in the Chelsea first team, setting a record 164 consecutive Premier League appearances. He signed a new contract in 2008, becoming the highest paid Premier League footballer at that time, and scored in his first Champions League Final that same year. He was top scorer for England in their successful 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign with five goals, and played in the 2006 World Cup. Lampard joined West Ham United when his father was the assistant coach, entering as an apprentice in the youth team in 1994 and signing a professional contract the following year. He went on loan to Swansea City in October 1995, debuting in his team’s victory 2-0 over Bradford City and scoring his first career goal in a match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Lampard played nine times for Swansea before returning to West Ham in January 1996, debuting for the team against Coventry City at the end of that month. Chelsea finished 2nd in the 2003-04 Premier League behind unbeaten Arsenal and he was named in the 2004 PFA Team of the Year as he reached double figures in league goals (10) for the first time in his career, in addition to four goals in fourteen UEFA Champions League matches, as Chelsea advanced to the semi-finals.
