Lampard thrilled with new deal

Frank Lampard today expressed his love for Chelsea and his gratitude towards owner Roman Abramovich after signing a new one-year contract to extend his 12-year stay at Stamford Bridge.

After a season of uncertainty over the midfielder’s future, the Blues today confirmed Lampard will remain at Stamford Bridge next season.

Lampard, who will be 35 next month and captained Chelsea in last night’s Europa League final win over Benfica, will stay on for a 13th campaign after the impasse over his future came to an end.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Lampard said on www.chelseafc.com.

“I’m absolutely delighted. Everybody knows I always maintained the dream was to stay at Chelsea. We’ve been talking for ages and even though it went on for quite a period it was always amicable.

“I want to thank Mr Abramovich for everything he’s done in making the dream a reality.

“I love this club, the staff, the players and especially the supporters, who have treated me fantastically since the day I arrived.

“The thought of helping the club to more success in the forthcoming years is all I ever wanted.”

The England midfielder joined from West Ham in 2001 for £11million and built a reputation as a goalscoring midfielder of the highest calibre.

Confirmation of his new deal caps a stunning week for Lampard, who last Saturday scored twice in the Barclays Premier League win over Aston Villa to surpass Bobby Tambling’s 43-year-old mark as Chelsea record goalscorer.

Lampard has scored 17 times this season to take his total Chelsea tally to 203 goals.

He follows England left-back Ashley Cole in signing a contract extension and his stay will likely heighten speculation that former boss Jose Mourinho is in line for a return to Stamford Bridge as successor to interim boss Rafael Benitez.

Lampard blossomed under Mourinho, who is currently head coach of Real Madrid, and has praised the Portuguese as the world’s leading manager in recent weeks.

Chelsea captain John Terry, another member of the spine of the team under Mourinho, will be the next to face contract discussions, with the defender this summer entering the final 12 months of his current deal.

With Terry injured, Lampard was the Chelsea skipper in a second successive European final last night. He was also captain when Terry was suspended for the 2012 Champions League showpiece in Munich.

Lampard led by example in Amsterdam and twice came close to scoring his 204th goal for the Blues before lifting the trophy alongside Terry.

The triumph in Holland saw Lampard – Chelsea’s third-highest appearance maker with more than 600 to his name – claim the one club trophy missing from his collection.

Lampard had won the Champions League, the Premier League title on three occasions, the FA Cup four times and the League Cup twice prior to the Europa League triumph.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: “Frank has been an important player for Chelsea Football Club for a long time and has played a significant part in the club’s success.

“We have been talking to him since the end of last year and our discussions have been entirely positive throughout.

“We are delighted we are now announcing an extension to his contract which will keep him at the club until 2014.”

Lampard’s new deal is another bright moment for the Blues at the end of another turbulent season, which saw them become the first holders to exit the Champions League before Christmas.

A revival was completed last night as Chelsea became the first team to hold the Champions League and Europa League titles simultaneously, at least until the May 25 Wembley final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Lampard will not be too downbeat when he watches Chelsea’s successors crowned as he plots glory next season, with their Champions League return all-but confirmed ahead of Sunday’s final game of the Premier League season against Everton.

“Every team wants to be in a Champions League final,” he said.

“It’s the elite in club competition in Europe. But we can watch the final this year with enjoyment knowing that we have been successful this year.

“You can’t have it your own way every year and they are two great clubs who deserve to be in it. Hopefully Chelsea as a club can have a look at doing even better next year.”