Cardiff striker Rickie Lambert turns 35 today, so first thing’s first, Happy Birthday from everyone here at Shoot! The former England international has had a career spanning multiple clubs, making his mark at Bristol Rovers, Southampton, Liverpool and many more.

However, the powerful striker, who was released from the Liverpool academy aged 15, will be most fondly remebered by fans on the south coast. Lambert is unquestionably regarded as a legend at St. Mary’s having been the driving force in the Saints rise from League One to the Premier League, excelling at every level, before earning recognition on the international stage.

Lambert made his name with his rise to the top flight with the Saints, however, he had already enjoyed a long career before making his switch the then League One side.

Now in the championship with Cardiff City, he is looking to return well from back problems and add to his four goals this term.

To celebrate his birthday, Shoot! are looking back at Rickie Lambert’s career in pictures…

Where it all began

Lambert began his professional career at Blackpool, however, having made just three league appearances for the club, he really kickstarted his career as a Macclesfield player.

The striker bagged eight goals in 44 appearances for the club, over a year long spell.

Goalscorer

Having left Macclesfield, Lambert then joined Stockport, scoring 18 goals in just under 100 appearances. However, it was at Rochdale where he really began to show his touch in front of goal.

Between 2005 and 2006 Lambert bagged 28 goals for the club in just 64 appearances, which earned him a move to the next stage of his career.

Main man

It was during his three year spell with Bristol Rovers that Lambert really made it onto the map, making over 140 appearances for the Pirates, scoring 55 goals.

The striker was the focal point of of a Bristol Rovers side which beat the club where he would go right to the top, Southampton, in the FA Cup and finished as the League One joint-top goalscorer with Simon Cox in his last season.

The start of something

At the start of the 2009-10 season Southampton manager Alan Pardew brought Lambert to the south coast for just over £1m and what a signing it turned out to be.

The then 27-year-old scored on his Saints debut, a 3-1 loss to Huddersfield, and that was just the start of an incredible rise.

Silverware

In his first season with the club, Lambert was on the scoresheet at Wembley Stadium when he won the first trophy of his career, the Johnstone’s Paint, in a 4-1 win over Carlisle.

The big time

Having driven Saints to successive promotions under the guise of Nigel Adkins, Lambert was now a Premier League striker.

Adkins’ side began their return to the top flight, after a seven year absence, with a trip to Manchester City and, of course, Lambert marked it with a goal.

Perfect start

Having proved, once again, that he could make a step up with ease, Lambert was handed his first England call-up by manager Roy Hodgson.

The striker’s first cap was off the bench against Scotland at Wembley and, in typical fashion, he made an instant impact, scoring with a header within minutes of coming on.

Dream move

Having impressed in the Premier League, and being taken to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with England, Lambert earned his dream move.

The striker returned to Liverpool, the club he had always supported and been released by as a teenager.

Winding down

Things didn’t quite go to plan for Lambert at Anfield. In 36 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ side the former Southampton man managed just three goals.

After it became clear that he was no longer part of the plans under Rodgers, the striker opted to keep his Premier League career going with West Brom.

Fresh start

The striker didn’t enjoy the best of times with the Baggies, managing just one goal in 26 appearances for the Midlands side.

Looking to keep his playing career going, Lambert looked for a fresh start and joined Championship side Cardiff City. The 35-year-old has scored four goals in 17 appearances for Neil Warnock’s side so far.

Legend

Whatever Rickie Lambert does from now on in football, he will forever be a legend at Southampton. With 115 goals in 230 appearances across three divisions for the club, wearing the heralded number seven shirt, it will be some time before a player has such a connection with the St. Mary’s fans once again.