Chelsea’s English defender John Terry gestures to the crowd as he is substituted off in the 26th minute during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in London on May 21, 2017. Terry will be leaving the club has been associated with for 22 years at the end of the season.

Chelsea legend John Terry’s final appearance at Stamford Bridge ended with his team-mates forming a guard of honour as he exited in the 26th minute of the Premier League clash with Sunderland.

The 36-year-old — the time of his premature departure chiming with his shirt number — looked visibly moved when he was replaced by Gary Cahill, who has also stepped in and skippered the team on the pitch to the title this season.

Terry — who leaves Chelsea at the end of this season after 22 years with them — also exited to a standing ovation from the fans who despite some off the pitch scandals is revered by them.

Terry, though, will return to the pitch after the match to lift the Premier League trophy, the 15th piece of silverware he has lifted and may get to also raise the FA Cup if Chelsea beat Arsenal next Saturday.

Former Tottenham, Barcelona and England striker Gary Lineker was quick to take to twitter to pay tribute to the central defender.

“John Terry’s magnificent Chelsea career ends after 26 minutes of his final match. A great defender. A real leader. And a winner,” tweeted Lineker.

Chelsea’s Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi celebrates with teammates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, west Midlands on May 12, 2017. Anthony Devlin / AFP

List of English league champions in the Premier League era after Chelsea won the title on Friday:

2016-17: Chelsea

2015-16: Leicester City

2014-15: Chelsea

2013-14: Manchester City

2012-13: Manchester United

2011–12: Manchester City

2010–11: Manchester United

2009–10: Chelsea

2008–09: Manchester United

2007–08: Manchester United

2006–07: Manchester United

2005–06: Chelsea

2004–05: Chelsea

2003–04: Arsenal

2002–03: Manchester United

2001–02: Arsenal

2000–01: Manchester United

1999–00: Manchester United

1998–99: Manchester United

1997–98: Arsenal

1996–97: Manchester United

1995–96: Manchester United

1994–95: Blackburn Rovers

1993–94: Manchester United

1992–93: Manchester United

Overall titles won by club

Manchester United: 20 (1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13)

Liverpool: 18 (1900–01, 1905–06, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1946–47, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90)

Arsenal: 13 (1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1970–71, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04)

Everton: 9 (1890–91, 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1984–85, 1986–87)

Aston Villa: 7 (1893–94, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–00, 1909–10, 1980–81)

Sunderland: 6 (1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1935–36)

Chelsea: 6 (1954–55, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014-15, 2016-17)

Manchester City: 4 (1936–37, 1967–68, 2011–12, 2013-14)

Newcastle United: 4 (1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1926–27)

Sheffield Wednesday: 4 (1902–03, 1903–04, 1928–29, 1929–30)

Leeds United: 3 (1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92)

Wolverhampton Wanderers: 3 (1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59)

Huddersfield Town: 3 (1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26)

Blackburn Rovers: 3 (1911–12, 1913–14, 1994–95)

Preston North End: 2 (1888–89, 1889–90)

Tottenham Hotspur: 2 (1950–51, 1960–61)

Derby County: 2 (1971–72, 1974–75)

Burnley: 2 (1920–21, 1959–60)

Portsmouth: 2 (1948–49, 1949–50)

Ipswich Town: 1 (1961–62)

Leicester City: 1 (2015-16)

Nottingham Forest: 1 (1977–78)

Sheffield United: 1 (1897–98)

West Bromwich Albion: 1 (1919–20)