So this week’s Pic of the Week is several pictures, so I’m kind of cheating. But honestly, it would be pretty hard to deny any of the members of England’s so-called “Golden Generation” the opportunity to grace this sacred space on the week they all called time on their (mostly) glittering careers. I mean, could you really pick just one?

Take for instance Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher (top right), who ended his 17 years at Anfield in front of a Kop that’s long sung his name. Across the channel, David Beckham’s PSG teammates (bottom left) gave him a proper sending off by quite literally tossing him off the pitch at the conclusion of the penultimate match of globe-trotting career. Michael Owen (top left) completed his five-year fade into footballing obscurity as he made a late cameo bow at the end of Stoke City’s 1-1 draw with Southampton. And Paul Scholes (bottom right) capped his final appearance in Manchester United red by receiving a yellow card for one last trademark horror tackle… making for possibly the most poetic retirement moment of all time.

So while they all had varying degrees of success as their careers intertwined and went their separate directions, one things is for certain: the world of football will be a very different place without them on the pitch.