Fans, players and managers rejoice - Mike Dean is staying in the Premier League.
Despite announcing his retirement from refereeing at the end of the 2021/22 season, the 54-year-old has decided to stay within the game and will become a dedicated video assistant referee. The Mail report that Dean has signed a deal with top-flight chiefs which will see him exclusively operate at Stockley Park.
Using his vast knowledge of officiating to help his colleagues during Premier League matches, Dean has already experienced being a VAR for single games throughout the three years in which the division has employed the technology. Lee Mason, who hung up his whistle a year ago, is currently the only referee to solely work in the position.
Having spent 22 years as an on-field referee, the Wirral official took charge of his 560th game on the final day of last term, as Chelsea beat Watford 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Dean received a fitting send-off in west London but it'd already been suggested that his career in the game wasn't over yet.
Often provoking supporters, players and coaches alike with his unique approach to refereeing, the avid Tranmere Rovers fan will no-doubt go down as one English football's most notorious officials. Refereeing two FA Cup finals and one League Cup showpiece, Dean has issued the most yellow and red cards in Premier League history, as well as awarding the most penalties.
His move from the centre spot to Stockley Park is part of a major overhaul within the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) this summer. Mike Riley has stepped down as their chief and former Premier League referee Howard Webb, who most famously took charge of the World Cup and Champions League finals in 2010, has been tipped to replace him. Webb's contract with Major League Soccer, for which he works in a similar role, expires in December.
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Not only are Dean and Riley are uprooting, though, experienced officials Jonathan Moss and Martin Atkinson have also called time on refereeing in the Premier League. The pair will both move upstairs within the PGMOL, while Kevin Friend is also retiring for a newly-created position as manager of the Select Group 2 officials, who referee matches in the Championship.
Four new faces will be seen around the Premier League for the 22-23 campaign, including highly-rated referee Tom Bramall. The Sheffield-born official will be joined by assistants Natalie Aspinall, Nick Greenhalgh and Steve Meredith as newcomers to the top flight.
