Roy Hodgson departed Selhurst Park with applause and chants of ‘one of our own’ in his ears and a hug from match-winner Wilfried Zaha but also beaten and, sadly, relegated from the Premier League for the first time ever.
After confirming this week that he will be retiring for the second time this was at least a fitting venue for one of Croydon-born Hodgson’s final matches.
But going down is no way for one of football’s most respected figures to bow out after a managerial career that began in 1976 and has taken him all around the world.