Saturday 4 March 2017 10:05, UK
Frank Lampard says he gave everything during his playing career and is now keeping his options open in retirement.
The Chelsea legend called time on his playing days last month following a 21-year professional career in which he also had spells with West Ham, Swansea, Manchester City and finally Major League Soccer side New York City FC.
Lampard spent 13 years with Chelsea, making 648 appearances and scoring a club-record 211 goals, and won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Champions League and Europa League. He also earned 106 caps for England.
The 38-year-old believes he chose the right moment to retire and is now trying new things as he plots his next career move.
"I'm enjoying retirement. I gave everything in my career, I didn't leave anything on the table and I know that, I'm comfortable with that so it was the right time for me to bow out and now it's the next stage," he told Soccer Saturday at the Willow Foundation's London Football Awards.
"I'm enjoying having time with the family, thinking about different things and what I'm going to do next. I'll always be in football because it's my life but I'll see how it goes. It's a nice interim period for me now to do some different stuff.
"There's not much that I miss and I don't mean that in a bad way. I'll have fleeting moments but I feel like I've given everything like I said before and I feel appreciative of what I did do.
"I don't miss the routine at the moment. When you get to your mid to late 30s and you're surrounded by the young ones who are on social media all the time and you're starting to think differently to them, you kind of realise that it's time to move on."
Lampard will be a guest pundit on Monday Night Football when Chelsea travel to West Ham but he is also considering a move into coaching, although he is unsure whether he will return to the Blues in the future.
"I don't know [if I will coach at Chelsea]. Chelsea are helping me now with my badges and I'm thankful for that. As we all know, the badges are a process, it's not an overnight thing so that will take some time," he added.
"I'll do some TV bits in that time to keep myself involved and I'm interested in that side of things. It leaves my options open and when you finish, I think it's important to not make a rash decision right away.
"You have look at the world, step outside the bubble of a footballer, and make the right decision. Fortunately enough, I have options so it's about taking the right one."
Chelsea head into Monday's game at the London Stadium with a healthy lead at the top of the Premier League and Lampard was full of praise for his former side.
"I think they are a great team. I have huge respect for the manager. He's made small changes, subtle changes really," he said.
"Obviously bringing in playing like N'Golo Kante and David Luiz, who have been fantastic, you're mostly looking at the players who were there last year. He's found a new system, with the work rate, their ethics on the pitch, they're quality in the way they play, I've been absolutely delighted to see it.
"I don't like to tempt fate but I can't see them being caught with the lead they've got and the way they are playing.
"Go through the team from goalkeeper to striker and there isn't someone who is below par. It's the same 11, 12 or 13 guys playing most weeks, who are performing to a top level and that's what you want. It's what wins you titles."
See how Lampard fares as a pundit when he makes a special appearance on Monday Night Football live on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm.
