Frank Lampard reveals Luke Shaw's unfamiliarity with who Tony Adams was helped decide it was time to retire from England duty

Shaw did not know who the legendary Arsenal and England defender was when speaking to Lampard during the recent World Cup

Jack de Menezes
Saturday 06 September 2014 12:00 BST
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Frank Lampard has revealed that Luke Shaw had no idea who Tony Adams was
Frank Lampard has revealed that Luke Shaw had no idea who Tony Adams was

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw may be the world’s most expensive teenager, following his £28m move from Southampton, but he does not know who Tony Adams is.

That’s the claim of his now-former international colleague Frank Lampard, who revealed that it was a conversation between the two that helped him come to the decision that the time was right to retire.

Speaking to The Sun, Lampard said that he brought up the former Arsenal and England captain’s name in a conversation with the 19-year-old defender during the World Cup, but realised that Shaw didn’t have a clue who he was talking about.

“I was having a chat with Luke Shaw and I mentioned Tony Adams and he didn’t seem to know who I was talking about,” said Lampard, who announced his retirement from the international team last month after he left Chelsea to join New York City FC.

Adams became Arsenal captain at the age of just 21, before going on to lead his country to the 1996 European Championships before regaining the armband from Alan Shearer in 2000. Adams also holds the honour of being the last player to score for England at the old Wembley Stadium, a record that he will never relinquish.

But despite 66 caps for the Three Lions and over 500 league appearances for the Gunners that included four English top flight titles and three FA Cup victories, Shaw was clueless to who the former centre-back was.

Lampard added: “I said: ‘Are you winding me up?’ And he said: ‘Who did he play for?’

“I knew then then it was time to retire.”

Shaw can be given some leniency in the fact that he was just five years old when Adams announced his international retirement ahead of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s arrival as England manager, although he may want to do some research if he is to follow in the steps of such England greats.

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