The best player of all time for each Premier League team

Chelsea: Frank Lampard

There were several strong candidates to be named Chelsea’s greatest player of all time, but Frank Lampard gets the nod. Lampard has made the fourth most appearances in club history, and played for the club during by far the most successful period in their history. The midfielder played for Chelsea for 13 seasons, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, a Europa League and a Champions League, and his 211 goals are the most in Blues history.

That’s a remarkable achievement for a midfielder, and testament to the unique nature of Lampard’s game. His 177 Premier League goals rank fourth all-time. The next midfielder on the list is Steven Gerrard, down in 17th place.

Lampard was part of a whole generation of Chelsea players who deserve consideration for a spot on this list, including Didier Drogba and John Terry. While Terry played for the club longer, made more appearances and captained the sides for which Lampard starred, Lampard was the more talented player, his goalscoring exploits from midfield completely unique.

As for Drogba, he may have been a better player than Lampard overall, not to mention he inspired Chelsea to the first European title in club history, but he can’t match Lampard for longevity. His 254 appearances are almost half what Lampard managed, and while he’ll always be a hero at Stamford Bridge, the size and longevity of Lampard’s contribution makes him deserving of a spot on this list.