The Most Unlikely Author? Famous Footballer Has Six Children’s Books In The Pipeline

We never realised he was an aspiring author…

Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard has signed a deal to write a series of children’s books.

The Chelsea player will publish the Frankie’s Magic Football series through Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Shrek animator Mike Jackson will illustrate the books.

Lampard revealed in a press release that he came up with the idea for the series while reading to his own daughters Luna and Isla, Digital Spy reports.

He added that the characters in the series are "loosely based on friends and team mates I've played with over the years".

Frank Lampard's first book will be called Frankie versus the Pirate Pillagers

Little, Brown editorial director Samantha Smith said: "It's crucial to get kids excited about reading at an early age, and Frank's vision for a series about friendship, football and fun will do just that.

"We think it's brilliant and we're sure readers, and parents, will agree."

The first of the books, titled Frankie versus the Pirate Pillagers, will debut on the bookshelves in June 2013, followed by Frankie versus the Rowdy Romans and Frankie versus the Mummy's Menace later in the year.

Two more as-yet-untitled tales will be published in early 2014.