Roy Hodgson has paid tribute to Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as the former England duo prepare to draw their Premier League careers to a close.
On Sunday - the final day of the season - Gerrard's Liverpool travel to Stoke City, while Lampard and his Manchester City team-mates will entertain Southampton before they head off to new adventures in the United States Major League.
Steven Gerrard heads to LA Galaxy when he leaves Liverpool
Both have been huge influences in the Premier League for almost 20 years. 34-year-old Gerrard, who will join LA Galaxy, made his Reds debut in 1998, while New York City-bound Lampard's first-team bow came for West Ham United two years earlier.
Meanwhile, they have racked up a total of 220 England caps between them, and the Three Lions boss says their contribution to the game in this country has been "outstanding".
“Their effect on English football over 18 years has been quite incredible," said Hodgson, "But I’d rather speak personally.
"What they’ve done for me during my time as England manager has been quite fantastic, not only on the field as players and in training as players but also as leaders and characters, they’ve both been outstanding.
"They’ve been real role models for the rest of the players, they’ve had a natural authority due to the fact they are such good players.
Lampard and Gerrard were regular fixtures together in England's midfield
"They have used their authority in the right way to encourage the younger players to make certain that their strong ethos, which as a coaching staff we share, is spread out amongst all the players."
He continued: "I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done. I really hope they enjoy their American adventures. I think they will.
"It will give an extra string to their bow. They will come back even stronger individuals and leaders than they already are. We will see an awful lot of benefits going forward with those two players.
"I can’t imagine a long–term future in English football without major contributions from Gerrard and Lampard. So I wish them well and I thank them for all the work they’ve done for the country while I’ve been manager."
Lampard joins New York City when he departs from Manchester
Hodgson also beleives they can have a part to play in coaching or management when they do return from the other side of the Atlantic.
And while he believes their former clubs will be their first port of call, he says their international experience could also see them figuring in the England set-up once again.
"I’m sure the first people who will try to get hold of them when they return will be Liverpool and Chelsea," said Hodgson.
"But who’s to say they can’t be members in an English set-up as well? They certainly know England.
"They’ve both had over 100 caps. But it’s not only their playing ability, it’s their leadership qualities. They’re both leaders."
