The door had only just slammed shut and the ink on contracts barely dry on one of the most the chaotic winter transfer windows in recent times. Over £200million was spent by British sides this January as chairman sought to arm their managers without the best talent money could buy.
Instinctive strikers, midfielder architects and marauding defenders all changed hands in the great free market that has become a staple of English football.
The timing then of Manchester United's Gary Neville's retirement could hardly have been more ironic.
As the commoditization of players' services was once again crystallised, perhaps the most fundamental of all assets required of a footballer was devoid in the window's dealing's: passion.
Neville, having made over six hundred appearances for his boyhood club, decided to call it a day after bodily impairments had seen him slip to Sir Alex Ferguson's fourth choice right back.
The right back, winner of 8 Premier league titles and 1 Champions League as well as 3 FA Cups and 2 League Cups, said that during an illustrious career he had "fulfilled every dream I've ever had".
Aware, almost to the point of self deprecation, that he never possessed the skills of his peers from the famous 1991 Youth Cup winning side (an almost dynastic team that featured brother Phil, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs) Neville had to work hard to earn his place in United's first XI.
He earned his first England cap in 1995 and eighty four later had played in 5 five major international tournaments.
For club and country Neville epitomised wearing one's heart of his sleeve. Sometimes unapologetically.
Despite his success at club and national level, the right back will be partly, if not entirely in certain parts of the north west, thought of for his fervent loyalty and incandescent determination.
And although this proved to be his making it was also Neville's machiavellian flaw. Not many players, current or former, can claim to irritate, scrap that, infuriate beyond reasonable means, as many away fans as Neville.
For his pantomime goading of Liverpool fans after a late Old Trafford winner he is loathed on Merseyside. The blue half of the same city will no doubt recall when he kicked a ball into the Everton stands, earning a red card.
Mark Hughes, a team mate during Neville's early United day's, branded him a "lunatic" for his incitement of Manchester City fans despite the fact that he was a substitute for United that day.
United will therefore miss Neville the great inspirer if not, especially on current from, the performer. Not since Roy Keane has United had a player who instills the managers winning mentality, an ingrained affinity to succeed and a drive to knock down anyone who stands in their way. Qualities money cannot buy.
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