Frank Lampard has revealed he wants to haunt Premier League defenders for another eight years.
Chelsea midfielder aims to play on for some time yet
Frank Lampard has revealed he wants to haunt Premier League defenders for another eight years.
Lampard has seen Ryan Giggs announce he wants to continue playing for another year and highlighted Paolo Maldini who played until he was 40.
The England international will be 33 in June but has indicated that he has no immediate plans to halt his trademark goalscoring runs from midfield.
"The way my body feels I'm certainly enjoying my football as much as I ever have," he told
Champions magazine.
Late 30s
"I'm hoping I can stay at the top level until my late 30s at least and emulate Ryan Giggs and Paolo Maldini.
"Maldini played for Italy for many, many years and remained competitive at both club and international level.
"I guess there comes a time in your mid-to-late 30s when the question is, does your country still want you?
"Your ability to play 60 or 70 games a year changes - it's something you have to think about when the time comes.
"In England people are very set in their ways and the pundits think the minute you turn 30 you are on your way to becoming over the hill. That's a very dated idea."
Abroad
Lampard spurned the opportunity to play abroad during his trophy-laden career but wants to go into coaching or management when he hangs up his boots.
And working abroad in that capacity is not an opportunity that he would refuse.
He added: "As you get older you analyse the game a lot more and think about what you would do if you were the coach.
"Jose Mourinho opened my eyes - I have never seen a manager who wanted to create a sense of team spirit as much.
"If now I'm not getting the opportunity to play abroad, I would love the opportunity as a manager."
