Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has credited former Tottenham Hotspur and England star Paul Gascoigne with inspiring him become a goalscoring midfielder.
Lampard is the highest-scoring midfielder in Premier League history, having hit 177 goals in 609 games for West Ham United, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
Discussing his greatest-ever Premier League goals in recently published video on the league's official YouTube channel, Lampard spoke of his admiration for Gascoigne, who made 112 appearances for Spurs between 1988 and 1991.
"I always wanted to be a goalscoring midfield player, I grew up with that," recalled the Englishman. "Paul Gascoigne was my hero, so to come at the end of my career and see those numbers, I'm pretty pleased and proud of them."
This isn't the first time Lampard has spoken of his love for Gazza, who since retiring from football in 2004 has battled with mental health problems, alcoholism, and financial troubles.
In February 2013, Gascoigne was placed in an intensive care unit in the United States, where he underwent treatment for alcohol dependency. His then-agent Terry Baker told BBC Radio Five Live at the time that "his life was in danger."
"Maybe no one can save him. I don't know. I really don't know," Baker said.
While appearing at The FA England Awards that same month, Lampard was asked about Gascoigne by a reporter on the red carpet.
He responded: "He was my idol. I always say it, I get it asked it a lot."
"I was lucky enough to be involved in Euro '96 with him as a kid," Lampard said. "He took me under his wing, and I was completely in awe of his character, how much he was joking around, and, more than that, the quality of the footballer he was."
"Whatever anyone says about Paul Gascoigne, he was my hero, and he will always be," he added.
Comments