English referee Mike Dean is one of the most famous referees in football, largely for the frequency in which the 50-year-old official makes headlines or becomes the centre of attention. In short, when Mike Dean is refereeing he seems to have an innate ability to find the camera.
Dean, who has a history of going viral for various hijinks or examples of unusual behavior while refereeing (See Mike Dean funny YouTube compilation), did so again on Monday evening -- this time in a game he wasn't even officiating!
- 'Off you pop!': The best of Dean's 100 Prem red cards
With a day off, Dean took in the second leg of the League Two semifinal playoff between Forest Green and Tranmere Rovers from the stands at New Lawn in Gloucestershire and we will let the video below tell you the rest.
🎉🏟 - MIKE DEAN AND TRANMERE ARE HEADING TO WEMBLEY!
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 13, 2019
The Premier League referee cannot hide his excitement at The New Lawn as his side secure their place in the play-off final! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZCrOur7xbn
Yes, that is Dean celebrating his hometown team Tranmere's win on aggregate, which sees Rovers advance to the League Two playoff final at Wembley on May 25. Tranmere, who just climbed back into League Two last season, will be seeking a second consecutive promotion. Based on the energy and passion he showed here, we'd anticipate Dean making the trip to London to cheer them on in two weeks.
Dean, who is from Wirral, England, became the first Premier League official to hand out 100 red cards in April and regularly has become an internet/viral video sensation in the social media age. One thing is for sure: It is never boring when Mike Dean is involved, and as Monday night showed, that now includes games he attends as a supporter.
