Frankie's promise
I had kept this moment of sharing, this belated “thank you” for the moment when a great career came to an end. My first meeting with him was in September 2001 in Sofia, just a month after he had begun his glorious journey at Stamford Bridge following his transfer from West Ham. Later, on two more occasions over the next five years – in 2006 and 2011, also in Sofia – I had the chance to be close to him again, if only for a moment or two.
During our last meeting – in the autumn of 2011 – one of the greatest footballers of our time, and certainly the greatest in the history of English Chelsea, vividly showed me what it truly means, above all, to be a giant as a human being.
Half an hour after the Euro 2012 qualifier between Bulgaria and England (0:3), Lampard, dressed in a suit as island tradition dictates, stood on the steps in front of the main entrance of “Vasil Levski.” He scanned the gathered crowd, and after hearing someone call out “Frankie” in response to his halftime words, he headed toward the mixed zone.
Most reporters, including those from Sky Sports, were surprised, as Frank usually avoids speaking to the media. In this case, however, his appearance had a different purpose. Standing in front of me with a smile, Lampard opened his jacket, pulled out the shirt he had worn just minutes earlier, and gave it to me, saying: “This is for you, my friend!” Thank you, Frank Lampard!
I had kept this moment of sharing, this belated “thank you” for the moment when a great career came to an end. My first meeting with him was in September 2001 in Sofia, just a month after he had begun his glorious journey at Stamford Bridge following his transfer from West Ham. Later, on two more occasions over the next five years – in 2006 and 2011, also in Sofia – I had the chance to be close to him again, if only for a moment or two.
During our last meeting – in the autumn of 2011 – one of the greatest footballers of our time, and certainly the greatest in the history of English Chelsea, vividly showed me what it truly means, above all, to be a giant as a human being.
Half an hour after the Euro 2012 qualifier between Bulgaria and England (0:3), Lampard, dressed in a suit as island tradition dictates, stood on the steps in front of the main entrance of “Vasil Levski.” He scanned the gathered crowd, and after hearing someone call out “Frankie” in response to his halftime words, he headed toward the mixed zone.
Most reporters, including those from Sky Sports, were surprised, as Frank usually avoids speaking to the media. In this case, however, his appearance had a different purpose. Standing in front of me with a smile, Lampard opened his jacket, pulled out the shirt he had worn just minutes earlier, and gave it to me, saying: “This is for you, my friend!” Thank you, Frank Lampard!
