The last day of the Premier League season, as well as seeing the end of their stay for the three relegated clubs, saw a final farewell to some of its most celebrated and decorated performers. Newcastle's final day victory over West Ham saw them ensure survival at the expense of Steve Bruce's Hull, whose 0-0 draw at Manchester United was not enough to save them. Hull join QPR and Burnley in the Championship.
Goodbye Sam
The match at St James Park was to be Sam Allardyce's final game in charge of the Hammers after four years in charge, a spell that saw them regain and retain Premiership status.
Allardyce's contract was not renewed and Big Sam admitted that it was by mutual consent, saying that he "didn't want to stay." However, the West Ham manager was not the only person to be leaving the Premiership yesterday.
After last week's Anfield goodbye, Stevie G played his last game for Liverpool. It did not however prove to be the fairy-tale ending as Liverpool endured a 6-1 hammering at the hands of Stoke, who themselves enjoyed their best-ever Premier League finish. The one shining light in the game is that Gerrard, in a typical lung-busting run from midfield, was Liverpool's scorer so he can at least have the memory of scoring in his last game for his beloved home-town club.
After 17 years and 520 appearances, Gerrard finished with 120 goals and has left the club with his legendary status intact.
Frank Lampard
Lampard's Chelsea exit last year to the MLS may have raised an eyebrow, but the biggest surprise came when he was loaned back to the Premier League to play again in blue, this time for the lighter blue of Manchester City.
Despite playing a supporting role in this campaign, it was fitting that Lampard scored in his final game with a trademark finish from within the penalty area, proving that he still has the ability to time his runs. Lampard finished with 177 Premier League goals, the league's highest scoring midfielder, leaving him fourth on the all-time list behind recognised strikers Shearer, Rooney, and Cole.
He is also second behind Ryan Giggs in the number of assists.
Didier Drogba
There was
Now that these giants of Premier League history have left the centre stage, it is up to the new breed to fill their celebrated shoes.
With all of the wealth in the Premiership and La Liga, will there be another one-club devotee like Gerrard? Can anyone eclipse Lampard's goal return from midfield? Will there be another forward to bully and dominate defences like Drogba? It will be interesting to see who the Football writers will be talking about in a decade's time.