Mike Dean predicted Sergio Aguero's title winning goal after seeing what QPR had done

View 2 Images

Mike Dean claims he knew something special was going to happen - before Sergio Aguero scored the most famous goal in Premier League history.

Former referee Dean was the man in the middle on that infamous afternoon in 2012, when Aguero won the title for Manchester City with the last kick of the game.

Aguero struck to seal a historic 3-2 home win over QPR at the Etihad. But Dean, or 'Mystic Mike' as he should be known, reckons the writing was on the wall once he saw QPR's Jamie Mackie celebrating the fact his side had avoided relegation, moments before Aguero struck.

Dean told The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet: "Once QPR found out they were safe, Jamie Mackie was on the pitch celebrating whilst the game was going on.

"City made it 2-2 and they just kicked it back to them. I was thinking, 'what's going on here, why are they giving the ball back to City straight away?'.

"You just knew something was going to happen. I don't think it will ever happen again - the way it was won. Literally the last kick of the season for the ball to go in the back of the net.

"The noise in the stadium was just scary in 2012. We finished the game, went into the changing room, stood by the corner flag and just watched the presentation. It was unbelievable."

Dean, who retired in 2022, reckons the relationship between officials and players has got worse since he hung up his whistle. He said: "You can butter them up as much as you like and say 'well done ref', whether you're agreeing or being sarcastic.

"There used to be a good rapport with players and referees when I was reffing. I think that's gone now. You watch games now, and there's not a lot of communication between the ref and players anymore.

"Before, you could talk and have a chat, decide, and you're still talking about the same decision a couple of minutes later to the players.

View 2 Images

"Now it's just - blow your whistle, make your decision, move on, next decision, move on. There's hardly any communication. I think that's lost in the game and it's gone the wrong way.

The way the game has gone now, there are different personalities. There used to be a lot more homegrown players throughout the Premier League and you could have a good rapport with them.

The way the game has gone now, there are different personalities. There used to be a lot more homegrown players throughout the Premier League and you could have a good rapport with them.

"You go back 10 years ago, I could name every single player in every 20 Premier League teams. But now, I've got no idea of half of them."

Dean was speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet (LINKED)