While footballers and managers grab all the hype and fame, the officials often get left behind. Despite holding the power of turning a team’s fortunes upside-down, you’ll rarely hear referees be household names.
However, a few have managed to breach that barrier, the likes of Pierluigi Collina and Marcus Merk come to mind. Another addition to that list is English Referee Mike Dean, and unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons.
The 53-year-old has officiated in the top flight for 22 years now, and yesterday, news about his upcoming retirement broke out. Going by reports, Dean is all set to hang up the whistle this season, a year later than his planned retirement last year.
Dean, quite literally, holds more popularity than certain footballers, however, his name is sure to live on in infamy.
Known for questionable decisions, brandishing cards left and right, strolling about with a swagger unlike his contemporaries, the list goes on, but sadly does not get any better.
He’s perhaps one of the only referees to have a chant dedicated to him, rest assured, the chant has no intentions of singing his praises.
Naturally, Twitter was on point with the reaction when the news emerged –
📝 – Mike Dean is set to step down as a referee at the end of the season. He will instead be a video assistant referee. [@TeleFootball] pic.twitter.com/Me3q67wnBJ
Absolutely buzzing about Mike Dean retiring. A vile narcissistic cheat and the epitome of the atrocious officiating in this country. Scum. pic.twitter.com/a0Q6HL5UzV
🤪 Tottenham have benefitted from the most red cards given out by Mike Dean in the Premier League since the 2009/10 season (8 to their opponents) pic.twitter.com/2uwUCT3nQy
