With the Premier League season coming to a close this weekend, we take a look at who we may be bidding farewell to for the last time.
Brad Friedel
The American keeper made his Premier League debut when his Spurs team-mate Harry Kane was just four, and has gone on to make almost 600 appearances in English football.
If Mauricio Pochettino grants him a sentimental outing against Everton this weekend Friedel, 44 today, will become the Premier League’s oldest ever player.
Steven Gerrard
After a dismal defeat to Crystal Palace at home, the 34-year-old will be hoping to end his 17-year Liverpool career with a win at Stoke City on Sunday.
Frank Lampard
You’d be forgiven for thinking Gerrard is the only free-scoring, legendary Premier League midfielder jetting off to America when the Premier League concludes this weekend.
Lampard’s departure may have been relatively muted after spending just one season at Manchester City, but the absence of Chelsea’s record scorer will be just as keenly felt in English football as Gerrard’s.
Rio Ferdinand
The 35-year-old may have already played his last Premier League match as he’s unlikely to feature for QPR against Leicester City following the recent passing of his wife Rebecca.
The centre-back plans to remain in football in some capacity, and has already started taking his coaching badges. However, in the short term it’s likely he’ll continue his relationship with BT Sport as a pundit.
David de Gea
Louis van Gaal’s post-match interview yesterday gave the clearest indication yet that Manchester United are set to lose their star keeper to Real Madrid this summer.
Van Gaal previously stated that United have a list of possible replacements but the club’s difficulties in replacing Peter Schmeichel highlight the struggle of earmarking a successor to a world-class goalkeeper.
Sylvain Distin
The 37-year-old - who holds the record for Premier League appearances by a foreign outfield player - is unlikely to get a send-off against Spurs this weekend after being marginalised by Everton boss Roberto Martinez this season.
The disgruntled Frenchman has threatened to tell the “truth” about his time under Martinez, after the pair allegedly fell out after Distin refused a move to West Ham in the winter transfer window.
Sam Allardyce
West Ham’s trip to Big Sam’s former club Newcastle United looks like it will mark the end of his four-year tenure with the Hammers.
Allardyce’s contract is up and, despite West Ham’s impressive early season form, both fans and the board seem to have lost patience with the 60-year-old. The likes of Slaven Bilic and Steve McClaren have been mooted as replacements but it’s unlikely Allardyce would remain out of work for long, having never been relegated as a manager.
Falcao
While the focus was on de Gea at Old Trafford yesterday, it also looked like Falcao was waving goodbye to United fans for the final time after an unsuccessful loan spell.
United are unlikely to exercise an option to sign the striker permanently although there were rumours that the loan may be extended until January of next year.
Yaya Toure
Despite getting a birthday cake from the club last week, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Toure will remain at Manchester City next season.
The Ivorian’s most likely destination is Inter Milan, to link up with former City boss Roberto Mancini.
QPR
While QPR regained their top flight status after their last sojourn in the Championship at the first time of asking, they were extremely fortuitous with a late Bobby Zamora goal stunning Derby in the play-off final.
However, the Championship is a notoriously difficult division to escape and they won’t find it as easy to win promotion this time around. A disastrous recruitment policy and a “Financial Fair Play” fine of up to £58 million loom large over the club, who also have to decide whether to stick with Chris Ramsey as manager.
It could be a while before we see The Hoops in the Premier League again.
Brad Friedel
The American keeper made his Premier League debut when his Spurs team-mate Harry Kane was just four, and has gone on to make almost 600 appearances in English football.
If Mauricio Pochettino grants him a sentimental outing against Everton this weekend Friedel, 44 today, will become the Premier League’s oldest ever player.
Steven Gerrard
It’s not improbable that Gerrard could return to the Premier League on loan from the MLS, but he seemed to rule out that option in an emotional farewell at Anfield on Saturday. ""
After a dismal defeat to Crystal Palace at home, the 34-year-old will be hoping to end his 17-year Liverpool career with a win at Stoke City on Sunday.
Frank Lampard
You’d be forgiven for thinking Gerrard is the only free-scoring, legendary Premier League midfielder jetting off to America when the Premier League concludes this weekend.
Lampard’s departure may have been relatively muted after spending just one season at Manchester City, but the absence of Chelsea’s record scorer will be just as keenly felt in English football as Gerrard’s.
Rio Ferdinand
The 35-year-old may have already played his last Premier League match as he’s unlikely to feature for QPR against Leicester City following the recent passing of his wife Rebecca.
The centre-back plans to remain in football in some capacity, and has already started taking his coaching badges. However, in the short term it’s likely he’ll continue his relationship with BT Sport as a pundit.
David de Gea
Louis van Gaal’s post-match interview yesterday gave the clearest indication yet that Manchester United are set to lose their star keeper to Real Madrid this summer.
Van Gaal previously stated that United have a list of possible replacements but the club’s difficulties in replacing Peter Schmeichel highlight the struggle of earmarking a successor to a world-class goalkeeper.
Sylvain Distin
The 37-year-old - who holds the record for Premier League appearances by a foreign outfield player - is unlikely to get a send-off against Spurs this weekend after being marginalised by Everton boss Roberto Martinez this season.
The disgruntled Frenchman has threatened to tell the “truth” about his time under Martinez, after the pair allegedly fell out after Distin refused a move to West Ham in the winter transfer window.
Sam Allardyce
West Ham’s trip to Big Sam’s former club Newcastle United looks like it will mark the end of his four-year tenure with the Hammers.
Allardyce’s contract is up and, despite West Ham’s impressive early season form, both fans and the board seem to have lost patience with the 60-year-old. The likes of Slaven Bilic and Steve McClaren have been mooted as replacements but it’s unlikely Allardyce would remain out of work for long, having never been relegated as a manager.
Falcao
While the focus was on de Gea at Old Trafford yesterday, it also looked like Falcao was waving goodbye to United fans for the final time after an unsuccessful loan spell.
United are unlikely to exercise an option to sign the striker permanently although there were rumours that the loan may be extended until January of next year.
Yaya Toure
Despite getting a birthday cake from the club last week, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Toure will remain at Manchester City next season.
The Ivorian’s most likely destination is Inter Milan, to link up with former City boss Roberto Mancini.
QPR
While QPR regained their top flight status after their last sojourn in the Championship at the first time of asking, they were extremely fortuitous with a late Bobby Zamora goal stunning Derby in the play-off final.
However, the Championship is a notoriously difficult division to escape and they won’t find it as easy to win promotion this time around. A disastrous recruitment policy and a “Financial Fair Play” fine of up to £58 million loom large over the club, who also have to decide whether to stick with Chris Ramsey as manager.
It could be a while before we see The Hoops in the Premier League again.