Mike Dean isn't exactly the most popular figure in the Premier League, but it will still be a bit odd to see him hand up his whistle at the end of the season.
The referee will retire from on-pitch duties at the end of the current campaign, although he is still set to be a VAR official moving forward.
Dean has been involved in some memorable moments down through the years, often down to his own personality. It's fair to say that he doesn't lack confidence on the pitch despite dealing with some of the biggest names in world sport on a regular basis.
However, he wasn't always as brazen as he would become.
Speaking to the BBC, Dean recalled how he was a bit 'scared' to make decisions during his first few games in the Premier League when dealing with figures such as Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.
After '22 years at the top' Mike Dean is preparing to retire from refereeing at the end of the season.
Watch the full interview on Football Focus, Saturday 2 April, 12:00 BST on @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer and the BBC Sport app.#BBCFootball— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 1, 2022
I got in the Premier League in 2000 when I was 31, 32, and you had massive, big personality players the Keanes, people like that, Vieira, they were all around then," he told BBC Sport.
For me to come from the Football League to the Premier League and refereeing those players... from reffing League 1 and League 2 and the odd Championship game to the Premier League...
It was just a massive step, and I was probably in awe of them as well to be fair.
[I was] probably a bit nervous and a bit scared of making a decision...
I think the players I've refereed over the years, some don't like me and some do like me.
But when I've given players a bit of stick back, or given them a one-liner back, and they don't like it, then I will apologise five minutes later and say 'sorry for what I said before', and we move on and we shake hands.
But I think players like the way I ref, because they know they can give me some stuff and I can give it them back, and they can get away with it within the boundaries that are allowed.
Love him or hate him, it will be strange to have the Premier League without Mike Dean next assured.
At least you know he will still be able to screw over your team when operating out of Stockley Park.
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