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Lampard officially begins tenure with NYCFC

Frank Lampard NYCFC Training 0701

 

By MICHAEL PENG

PURCHASE, N.Y. — There weren’t any special treatments nor fanfare for Frank Lampard Wednesday, just a short round of applause from his coaches and teammates to officially welcome him to the club before they all quickly got down to business.

Lampard then threw on an orange pinnie over his new sky blue shirt — this time of MLS variety — and finally took part in soccer-related activities with New York City FC for the first time during the club’s training session Wednesday at SUNY Purchase.

“We’ve been waiting and waiting as you all already know, as well as everyone involved with the club,” defender Shay Facey said. “Fans and everyone has been really excited. Today he’s here, and I’m sure a lot of the guys after training will be talking to him and getting as much out of him as they can.”

Lampard, though unavailable to the media Wednesday, participated in 8-on-8 and possession-keeping drills with his new teammates throughout the session. And to no one’s surprise, it appeared to be a seamless transition.

“There’s no ego in Frank,” Facey said. “He’s a really nice guy, and I think that’s what took him probably so far in his career is because he’s never had much bad things said about him. He’s a really nice guy as well as a world-class footballer, so it’s easy to come in and blend with our lads. He’s just open to whatever.”

Lampard has been around New York since the conclusion of the Premier League and his tenure with Manchester City, and during that time, the 37-year-old Englishman has made the effort to get to know his new teammates, as well as attending several home matches. That type of familiarity he has slowly built went over well Wednesday, as he was constantly communicating with the players during practice.

“We’ve had the chance to meet him a little bit earlier, so it kind of helps that you’ve already had an established relationship,” midfielder Tommy McNamara said. “He’s just another guy out there, and it’s great to see that, and he already knows everybody’s names and how he just interacts like one of the guys.”

Facey, who is on loan from Manchester City, is one of the guys Lampard already knows from their time together with the English side. The 20-year-old said the veteran leadership and experience Lampard brings is something that can really boost the team.

“I’d see him each day going to training, and we would chat on again,” Facey said. “He’d give me a tip or two even though he’s not playing my position, just give me more confidence and belief and all that kind of stuff. I’m sure it’ll help everyone else here, so everyone is looking forward to it.”

Lampard won’t be eligible for NYCFC’s upcoming match at Montreal Impact on Saturday just yet, but he will surely be expected to make his debut on the pitch at Yankee Stadium when the expansion club hosts Toronto FC on July 12.

Comments

  1. “Lampard then threw on an orange pinnie over his new sky blue shirt — this time of MLS variety”

    I know it’s the same jersey, but if you look closely, you can see that the MLS one is Liter.

    Reply
    • Hopefully Lampard’s entrance from the bullpen rivals Kenny Power’s in his debut for the Charros. Real American/Hulk Hogan theme music and all.

      Reply
  2. Most interesting thing is that the warm up shirt that i’ve pronounced penny this whole time is actually spelled pinnie. My mind is blown

    Reply
  3. Does make for an interesting-looking diamond.

    NYCFC already had some interesting-looking young midfielders in Mix Diskeruud, Thomas McNamara, Poku, and Sebastian Velasquez. Toss in Lampard at the top of the diamond and Pirlo on the base…well, on paper that’s by a mile the best midfield in MLS.

    Of course, that does beg the question who’s actually going to defend for the Manchester Yankees, but hey, it won’t be boring, anyhow.

    Reply
      • A midfield with Pirlo, Lampard, and Diskerud won’t be the among best in MLS ever. You must not watch any games outside of Seattle.

      • Actually, I would ask you if you’ve ever watched any games, ever.

        Although I would amend this to: IF Pirlo and Lampard have taken their Geritol, and aren’t feeling arthritic, achy, sluggish, or are having a Depends moment that particular day. Counting on 37-year-old midfielders to continue to patrol the middle is…well, iffy, I will admit.

        But when those guys are ON…oh, my. Few teams on either side of the pond have ever had such luxuries.

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