The announcement that Lampard is leaving Chelsea prompts a look back at the very best.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard announced on Monday that he would be leaving Stamford Bridge when his current contract expires this summer, after 13 years with the club.
So CaughtOffside thought it was the ideal opportunity to rank the 10 greatest central midfielders in Premier League history.
10. Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal
If reports are to be believed then this Spaniard is on his way back to England from FC Barcelona this summer, but even if that doesn’t happen Fabregas makes the list for eight brilliant years with the Gunners.
9. Gary Speed, Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers
A true stalwart of the Premier League era, Speed starred for a number of sides and eventually notched up 534 league appearances – although never won the title.
8. Yaya Toure, Manchester City
This season the Ivory Coast international proved that he deserves to be on this list with 20 league goals in another title winning year for City – the second since Toure joined the club in 2010.
7. Claude Makelele, Chelsea
Perhaps one of the shrewdest signings of the modern era, Makelele joined the Blues from Real Madrid in 2003 and was one of the key reasons they won successive league titles in 2004 and 2005.
6. Xabi Alonso, Liverpool
A technically gifted midfielder with a superb range of passing, which eventually saw Madrid come knocking in 2009, but Alonso had already written himself into Reds folklore for his role in the Champions League triumph of 2005.
5. Frank Lampard, West Ham United and Chelsea
The highest scoring midfielder of the Premier League era with 170 goals, Lampard has won every trophy possible with the west Londoners and leaves the club as arguably their greatest ever player.
4. Roy Keane, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United
Joined United in 1994 from Forest and went onto symbolise what it meant to succeed during 11 years of trophy wins at Old Trafford, before a bust-up with then manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
3. Patrick Vieira, Arsenal and Manchester City
Just edging ahead of his great rival is a Frenchman who brought the same level of determination and desire to win to north London as Keane did to the Red Devils, helping Arsene Wenger’s side to three league titles.
2. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool
Like a few others on this list Gerrard has never lifted the Premier League trophy, but has helped the Reds to every other piece of silverware and is the epitome of a one club player having now spent 17 years at Anfield.
1. Paul Scholes, Manchester United
Yet just ahead of his fellow countryman is a player who’s quiet demenour off the pitch was matched by his utter class on it – which influenced a generation of midfielders including Barca legend Xavi.
SEE ALSO: The 50 best players at the 2014 World Cup.