Manchester Citywill lose the services of their dependable captain next season after Bernardo Silva announced he will leave the club when his contract expires this summer.
While manager Pep Guardiola has led the club to an unprecedented period of success during his 10-year tenure, midfielder Silva - his most trusted lieutenant - has been beside him every step of the way.
"My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys [the fans] could feel proud and well represented on the pitch," said the 31-year-old Portugal international. "I hope you felt that every single game.
"I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life. "
When the skipper climbed the steps at Wembley Stadium following City's brilliant Carabao Cup final win overArsenallast month, it was the 19th piece of silverware he had lifted since joining the club from Monaco in 2017.
Silva could end his time at City by collecting another domestic treble, with the side still in contention for the Premier League and facing Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals next Saturday.
He may not quite have the standing of past City icons such as Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany or David Silva, but his achievements will undoubtedly sit alongside theirs when he does make his exit from Etihad Stadium this summer.
'Infectious, clever and cute'
There is a clear understanding and mutual respect between Guardiola and Silva, and one of the key reasons why he was handed the armband at the start of this season following the departure of De Bruyne on a free transfer.
Guardiola professed his "love" for Silva earlier this season, saying he had a "weakness" for the player and enthusing how he was "always there" - even during the lows of last season when the team finished third in the Premier League and failed to win a major trophy for the first time in nearly a decade.
Silvatold BBC Sportin December that Guardiola has been a "massive" influence on his career and his boss has a "special affection for me" having played under him for nine years and enjoyed a trophy-laden era.
The Portuguese has player 451 matches in all competitions for City to sit inside the club's all-time top 10 appearance makers, scoring 76 goals and providing 77 assists.
All of those games have come under Guardiola - no player has been selected more times by the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.
Silva has managed only three goals and five assists this season, but has played in more Premier League games than any other City player and it is his leadership qualities and reliability that Guardiola rates so highly.
He has clocked up a team-high 315. 3km distance travelled during those games due to his hardworking nature, while Silva's carrying ability has allowed him to notch a total of 5,325m with the ball at his feet, a number unmatched by any team-mate.
Of top-flight players who have played more than 1,200 minutes this season, only four average more distance covered per 90 minutes than his 12. 2km.
Even when Silva was sent off for a deliberate handball to prevent a goal against Real Madrid in their Champions League last-16 tie, which effectively ended any hope of a comeback in the second leg, Guardiola did not attach blame to the player for the action, saying it was "instinctive".
Former City midfielder Michael Brown said Silva was a "brilliant player" and described his performance againstArsenalin the Carabao Cup final as "infectious, clever and cute".
He added on City TV: "He comes alive - when it feels dead he makes things happen. Bernardo doesn't always do something special but he is just there, he is a team player and someone you would always pick.
"He is someone who says, 'I'll drop in at left-back, I'll go on the right and create problems later on'. He has a bit of everything to his game and is unselfish. That is what is different, he is not necessarily a match-winner. "
Could England's Anderson be a replacement?
In September,Silva said he knows "exactly" what he is going to do when his deal comes to an end, but he has not yet revealed his next club.
City are understood to be interested in signingNottingham Forestmidfielder Elliot Anderson in the summer, so could the England international - who looks set to go to the World Cup this summer - be the answer?
Anderson's work-rate has seen him cover the most distance of any Premier League player this season with 353. 4km, while the 23-year-old also impressively leads the top-flight metrics for most touches of the ball (2844), possession won the most times (296), most fouls won (69) and most duels won (258).
Former City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips said: "You don't replace Silva, he is in many ways irreplaceable. He doesn't have a position, he is everywhere. "
The club's former women's captain Steph Houghton added: "There is nobody that can do what he does. With Bernardo, he is a different kind of leader to Kompany or Fernandinho.
"A lot of it is through performances and about him leading the boys in doing certain things. You can't fault his effort every single time he pulls on aManchester Cityshirt.
"No matter where he is playing, he gives absolutely everything. "
Tactical analysis: City's coach on the pitch
At this point in the season, Silva is undroppable. His experience, tactical understanding and positional versatility make him Guardiola's coach on the pitch, capable of adapting his role to ensure City can tweak their tactics game to game.
A big part of his role this season has been assisting the team's build-up. Although City's new signings are capable, in a league where man-marking is more common this season, Silva has been seen dropping extremely deep.
In the 1-0 win atLeedsin February, Silva and Rodri dropped in as central defenders. This moved the centre-backs out of areas that are harder to play in under pressure, catching the opposition off-guard. Both midfielders excelled on the ball here and helped City progress up the pitch.
His role out of possession has been paramount to City's revival in the second part of the season too. The game againstLiverpoolin November showcased the City captain's tactical understanding of how and when to press.
City cut off passing lanes to Virgil van Dijk, forcing the ball to Ibrahima Konate, the weaker ofLiverpool's two ball-playing centre-backs.
Phil Foden pressed Konate when the ball went out to him and Silva was tasked with deciding which of the midfielders to press, Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister, something he did intelligently.
Liverpoolmade tweaks of their own by dropping Gravenberch into the right of what later became a back three. It was Silva here who amended City's press, negatingLiverpool's change.
Foden continued to press the right centre-back, Gravenberch, while Silva switched between pressing Mac Allister and Konate, who was now positioned in the middle of the back three.
It's easy for the small details to be missed by fans but Silva's contributions are indispensable for his manager.
"He doesn't score too many goals or is not involved in all the assists but he gives us something that is not in the stats, and a lot of things that are incredibly valuable to us," said Guardiola back in November.
"[He is] absolutely one of the best players I have ever trained in my career. "
