Skip to main content

Lampard mulls MLS move after Chelsea career ends

By WTOP Staff

ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Preparing for the World Cup with England in Miami, Frank Lampard is considering whether to return to the United States to see out his playing career.

The midfielder turns 36 later this month and is considering whether to join a Major League Soccer club after confirming the end of his illustrious 13-year Chelsea career this week. But any decision about his future employer will be on hold until England returns from Brazil.

“The American thing is an option, I make no bones about that,” Lampard said Tuesday. “I’m looking at different options, but the main thing is I want to carry on playing. I feel very fit and fresh and I’m enjoying it so … I’d love to play for a few more years. I can’t tell you where that is now and that is something to be parked at the minute.”

Although a wrench to leave the club where he established himself as one of the midfield greats, Lampard is relieved.

“It’s a weight off my shoulders to an extent,” said Lampard, who scored a Chelsea record 211 goals in 648 appearances.

The priority now is England, and Lampard will assume the captain’s armband in the penultimate warm-up match on Wednesday against Ecuador when Steven Gerrard is rested. Lampard didn’t feature in Friday’s 3-0 victory over Peru at Wembley Stadium and also wasn’t deployed from the bench in the previous international against Denmark in March.

“It doesn’t bother me thinking about being a cover player or a starter,” Lampard said at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens where England will take on Ecuador. “I will do my best to start a game, but I am very respectful of the manager.

“I do see my role here in a broader sense — as I think all the experienced players should have — of helping things going in the right direction. We’ve been here before, we’ve been here when it hasn’t been so great.”

That experience has been gained by playing at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

“I’m certainly along for the ride … it’s a fantastic ride,” Lampard said.

And one he didn’t expect at such an advanced stage in his career.

“If we go and win it, I’ll probably hang my boots up,” Lampard said of his international career. “I don’t like to say it. I love playing. It’s kind of obvious it comes in the end … most players finish with England in their low 30s at the most. I’ve had some of my most enjoyable England years in the back-end, in the last two years.

“I’ve enjoyed and appreciated what I’ve got. When you’re young you don’t always appreciate being in the squad, the ambiance around the squad. That’s why I won’t write myself off yet.”

Lampard is yet to win anything with England to join the collection of winners’ medals he amassed with Chelsea since joining from West Ham in 2001. He won the Premier League three times, the Champions League and Europa League once each, four FA Cups and two League Cups, but didn’t agree to a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

“Chelsea have been fantastic with me throughout my career and it was mutual,” Lampard said. “And that’s the way I wanted to go. I maybe would have gone away last year in a different way, but now I go with a very happy feeling and respect for the club.”

___

Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote