Frank Lampard Snr has revealed how close son, Frank Jr, was close to former Chelsea managers Claudio Ranieri and Jose Mourinho.

Lampard was coaxed to Chelsea from West Ham by Ranieri and Lampard Snr told the Daily Mail: "Young Frank learned a lot from him. He learned not only to time his forward runs but to ration them to retain the element of surprise.

"The time was right. His father and his uncle had been shown the door, so Frank had to move on. It was lucky Chelsea came in the day before he was due to sign for Leeds United.

"First he had the benefit of Ranieri's wisdom. Then came Jose Mourinho. If the Special One had become manager of England he would have had no trouble using Frank and Stevie G in his team."

Frank Snr confirms the incredible rapport Mourinho establishes with his leading players: "Jose talked with Frank all the time. He made him more mature, he kept going over the detail of his game and improved him, he encouraged him to realise how great he could be. They still talk on the phone all the time. In human terms he became like a second father to him."