5 eras that came to an end in the 2017/18 season
Football isn't just about winning trophies. Of course, it helps, but in the broader sense where football clubs are communities that come together, a certain sense of loyalty and fighting for the cause for years on end are also considered great facets that people tip their hat to.
The 2017/18 season saw some glorious eras finally come to an end. The last game - that last farewell - will always be a tear-jerker for fans, players, and managers alike.
We look at five great eras that came/will come to an end this month.
#1 Andres Iniesta's Barcelona exit
Before Pep Guardiola fine-tuned Andres Iniesta's talent, it was Louis van Gaal who saw potential in the young kid who came through La Masia and gave him a debut.
"You're going to retire me. This lad is going to retire us all." - Guardiola to Xavi
However, it was Guardiola who unlocked his true potential and Iniesta has since gone on to win 32 trophies with Barcelona. Not to mention, a World Cup and two Euros with Spain.
El Caballero Pálido (The Pale Knight) is easily one of the most-loved and respected players in Spain and the world. Not many players get a standing ovation at almost every ground in La Liga - not just because he scored the winning goal in the World Cup final, but also because he chose to share that moment with Dani Jarque - his friend that had passed away prior to the tournament.
Iniesta isn't retiring yet, though. He is only leaving Barcelona - possibly for a move to Asia. Being the respectable gentleman that he is, he chose not to play for another club in Europe - lest he faces his former side at some point.
Spanish football owes him a lot. Once the FIFA World Cup concludes, he will be missed when the 2018/19 season gets underway.