Jamie Redknapp, Chris Sutton and Nemanja Vidic reflect on the emotion of their final games

With Liverpool knocking Manchester City off the top spot, having lifted the Premier League trophy on Wednesday, Sportsmail columnists reflect on the emotion of their last games. 

Jamie Redknapp recalls the moment he realised it was going to be his final game and claims it was a ‘sad farewell to football’.   

Chris Sutton explains how an elbow from Nemanja Vidic ended his career, while Martin Keown felt he ‘had the perfect send-off at Arsenal‘.  

The greats reflect on the emotion of their last games following Liverpool lift the league trophy

Jamie Redknapp – Southampton 1 Man Utd 2, May 15, 2005 

This wasn’t the best way to bow out as Southampton’s 27-year stay in the top flight came to an end. I played the full 90 and it felt like someone was sticking a knife in my knee. Deep down I suspected this was going to be my final game. 

I was only 31 but my knee was in such a state. Nevertheless, I was desperate to help Southampton. How could I let this club get relegated without giving my all?

So I had an injection and committed to playing through the pain. But looking back, I shouldn’t have. 

My dad was asked a month later about me retiring and told reporters I had to stop or I might lose the ability to walk. That’s how bad it was. It was a sad farewell to football for me. 

Jamie Redknapp claims knee pain ended his career, saying it was sad farewell to football

Chris Sutton – Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 3, December 23, 2006

It’s rare for a player to get to say goodbye the way he’d like. My last hurrah came in an Aston Villa shirt against a Manchester United side who went on to win the title. 

We lost 3-0, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Paul Scholes scored that thunderous volley. This was in December and I’d only signed in October after an SOS call from Martin O’Neill. 

I was 33. But an elbow from Nemanja Vidic caught me in my right eye and it ended my career. 

There was nothing malicious in it and I’d had problems with my eyesight before but this brought back the blurred vision. I spoke to the doctors and that was it. It was far from the perfect ending.

Chris Sutton says an elbow from Nemanja Vidic ended his career as his sight went blurred

Martin Keown – Reading 1 Wolves 2, April 30, 2005

I’d had the perfect send-off at Arsenal. Aged 37, my last competitive game under Arsene Wenger was a 2-1 win over Leicester at Highbury in May 2004, the final fixture of our Invincibles season. On the way, the gaffer pulled me to the front of the coach. 

Wenger said some nice words and told the players this would be my final match. Two days later was my testimonial. I didn’t feel ready to retire so I joined Leicester for half a season, then moved to Reading. 

My final match was against Wolves in the Championship. There was no great fanfare or send-off. I’d had all that at Arsenal. It was just another game.

Martin Keown felt he had the perfect send-off at Arsenal despite ending his career at Reading

What Silva said…

‘When I look back at everything I have achieved, I could never have imagined it, even in my wildest dreams. I just want to say thank you to all the supporters, to the club, to the workers here at the club, because they have made my life much easier and I am grateful for that. I will be blue — blue for ever.’