One Moment in Time: When emotional Lampard said goodbye to City

City host Coventry on Saturday with our former midfielder, Frank Lampard, returning to the Etihad as boss of the Sky Blues.

In the latest instalment of our popular One Moment in Time feature, we look back at Lampard’s final time playing for City as he bid farewell to Manchester and, also, the Premier League.

Frank Lampard may have made his name with Chelsea but he’s still much-loved in these parts thanks to his one season in Manchester with City.

It was the 2014/15 campaign under Manuel Pellegrini and saw the man known as ‘Super Frank’ make 38 appearances and score eight goals.

In total, across his career which also took in West Ham and Chelsea, he hit 609 Premier League appearances, putting him No.4 in the history of the competition – behind only Ryan Giggs (632), Gareth Barry (653) and James Milner (658).

His farewell to both City and, indeed, the Premier League at the end of that season was, he admitted, an emotional day.

He was made captain by boss Pellegrini for the final day home clash with Southampton.

And, unsurprisingly, the midfield marvel scored the opener in the 2-0 win, with Sergio Aguero bagging the second as City finished second behind Chelsea in the Premier League.

Lampard, who went on to play for our sister club New York City FC in the USA, side-footed home from 10 yards after meeting Milner’s cross.

It was his 177th goal in the Premier League and still has him No.7 on the list of all-time scorers in the division, behind only Aguero (184), Andrew Cole (187), Mohamed Salah (193), Wayne Rooney (208), Harry Kane (213) and Alan Shearer (260).

Incidentally, that’s 57 ahead of the nearest non-forward in Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (120).

In front of 45,919 appreciative fans, Lampard was replaced by Jesus Navas after 75 minutes and received a standing ovation.

He then delivered a speech to the crowd before being thrust into the air multiple times by players and staff in a sign of huge affection for the Premier League legend.

Lampard, discussing that moment with mancity.com back in 2024, insists he didn’t expect any of it but says it ‘finished off a really special year’ for him.

“It couldn’t have gone much better,” the midfielder said of his Etihad send-off.

“It was an emotional day when I look back. Being made captain was a great honour.

“For the crowd to show me so much respect, to score the goal which felt like fate for me, it was a really nice personal send-off for me.

“To then be presented with a signed shirt, which I still have as a picture in my house, was emotional.

“I wasn’t a Man City player all my career or a large part of my career so I didn’t expect anything from it. To be lifted up at the end, it finished off a really special year for me on a personal note.

“And the Etihad crowd? Their warmth towards me surprised me. But I was so pleasantly surprised by it all. They were fantastic.

“How exciting a signing was I coming in at 36? It’s not a progressive signing.

“But I’d like to think they saw my desire, my industry, my work ethic and when I came out on the pitch, I’m not a flashy person, I just try and impact games.

“I did feel their warmth. I felt it on and off the pitch too. I lived pretty central, in Deansgate, and I saw a lot of fans out and about and they were so kind and gracious with me. That made me feel good.”