Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterDuring two trophy-laden spells at Chelsea, David Luiz turned out for the club almost 250 times, helping the Blues win the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.But shortly after signing a new contract in 2019 and just weeks after he started in Chelseas 4-1 Europa League final win over Arsenal, the Brazilian defender signed for the Gunners in an �8million deal.The reason for making this bold move across the capital with the ink on his new deal still wet was a simple one - the hiring of his former teammate Frank Lampard as Chelsea boss.Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 ListLuiz on why Lampards Chelsea wasnt for himLuiz has recently turned 30 when Lampard, fresh from a stint on charge of Derby County, was handed the Stamford Bridge top job, but age was not a factor for Luiz, who is still playing as a 39-year-old for Cypriot side Pafos.I was already over 30 and had renewed my contract with Chelsea, Luiz tells FourFourTwo. No-one had ever broken the club policy of renewing for two years after the age of 30, and I renewed for two years. You may like Ruud Gullit lifts the lid on his days managing one of England's feistiest midfielders Why Arsenal move for Chelsea's Josh Acheampong makes sense, following Xabi Alonso comments I have no regrets about turning down Liverpool and Manchester United. I needed that Bolton experience in my life Youri Djorkaeff on his 2002 Bolton move Then after two months, I went to Arsenal. It was down to the decision to bring Frank Lampard in as manager. In pre-season, I already could see the way he was going to play wasnt going to leave me happy.At that age, I thought I want to enjoy the game in the way I play it, so it was better to leave.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.For Luiz, this was a decision made as a matter of principle.There are two kinds of workers in life, he continues. Those who work to protect themselves and the job, and those who want to do something different. In any company, 90 per cent protect the job, but I want to be part of the 10 per cent.It would have been easy to have stayed quietly at Chelsea, but Im not like that. So I sat down with Frank Lampard and said I want to leave the way youre going to play wont be good for me, and the way Id play in your system wont be good for you either.A year after playing his final match for Chelsea against Arsenal in the Europa League final, there was another twist of fate for Luiz.Life is so funny later that season, the FA Cup final was between Arsenal and Chelsea. I leave, telling the manager I dont think his philosophy would suit me, that maybe it wouldnt work to win anything, then at the end of the season the final is against him.So if I won, in theory I was right. If I lost, I wasnt. Thank God, we managed to win, and I was very respectful in the way I behaved, not celebrating, and respecting the history I built at Chelsea.TOPICSDavid LuizPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromMarcus Alves
