MY ACCOUNT
The Premier League will say goodbye to a legend this summer after it was announced long-serving referee Mike Dean is retiring.
After 22 years featuring countless iconic — and controversial — moments the 53-year-old is hanging up his whistle.
As one of English football’s greatest showmen prepares to call it quits, we take a look back at some of the highlights of his remarkable career.
Sending records tumbling
A top-flight referee since the turn of the 21st century, Dean has had plenty of time to break several Premier League records.
He was the first official to take charge of 500 top-flight games, has dished out more than 2,000 yellow cards and also pointed to the spot more times than any other referee, awarding 164 penalties.
In the bad books
From giving Raheem Sterling a second booking for celebrating with the fans, to showing two red cards — both later rescinded — in successive games last year, Dean’s time in the middle has not been without controversy.
One of his lowest moments came in 2010, when he was temporarily demoted to the Championship following an incident-laden display in Manchester United’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Then-Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson described Dean and assistant Simon Beck’s showing as a “poor, poor performance”.
After the game, Ferguson said: “When I saw it was Mike Dean [taking charge] I did worry, I have to say.”
Ferguson would not be the last Premier League manager to criticise Dean, who has rubbed a few bosses up the wrong way down the years.
Meanwhile, former Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and QPR boss Neil Warnock joked he will not miss Dean.
He told talkSPORT: “[It’s] 10 years too late!
“He’s as good as anything. He has great games and I look at him and think that he doesn’t have to do what he does.
“He almost does things in a game to put himself out there when he doesn’t have to.”
The banter
Dean has been branded arrogant for his flamboyant approach to refereeing but he has entertained in a way no one else in his role ever has.
From celebrating playing an advantage leading to a goal for Tottenham in 2015 — and later reprising the celebration in a Sky Sports documentary about refereeing — to hiding the ball from Sergio Aguero after the Argentine had scored a hat-trick, Dean certainly seems to have enjoyed himself out on the pitch.
And that appears to have been the case from the very beginning. As news of the retirement broke, Wycombe tweeted a clip from the 90s of Dean looking like he is about to take off while playing advantage.
No-look bookings became his calling card, while his ire at being touched by players pleading their innocence never became boring. He is incomparable.
The man behind the whistle
Speaking to Sky Sports in 2020, Dean explained his love of being a referee.
He said: “You’ve got to enjoy yourself.
“I love the job, that kind of comes out [in] the way I referee. I can think of worse things to do for a living.
“It’s not really a job, it’s a hobby, but you’re getting paid for doing your hobby.”
And it is not the only hobby Dean has been spotted enjoying. Who could forget the sight of the Wirral-born official standing on a barrier, celebrating as his beloved Tranmere reached the League Two play-off final three years ago?
Going nowhere
Anyone who tells you they will be glad to see the back of Dean is lying. The Premier League will be a poorer place without him.
Only it might not be without him.
While Dean will not be on the field of play any more, he is reportedly in talks with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited to continue as a VAR official from next season.
Dean will not be able to steal the show from Stockley Park but the top flight looks set to carry on feeling his unmistakable presence a whole new way.
