KEVIN DE BRUYNE’S Etihad farewell ended with cheers, tears… and an eternal place in Manchester City history.
Minutes after the end of KDB’s final home game, City revealed he will become the latest legend honoured with a statue at the stadium.
An emotional De Bruyne, 33, said: “It means I will always be here.”
De Bruyne will become the seventh all-time great after Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee, Colin Bell, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva.
Chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak also unveiled a giant mosaic of KDB before the game and revealed he will also have a street named after him which links the academy to the first-team centre.
But the midfield magician could not mark his goodbye with a goal against Bournemouth — and missed a sitter that he admitted son Mason will never let him forget.
De Bruyne, also watched by wife Michele, youngest son Rome and daughter Suri, joked: “It was a terrible miss! There are no excuses. My son is going to be very hard on me.”
City’s 3-1 win was incidental alongside De Bruyne’s send-off.
His own personal post-match light show came after a guard of honour from the City team and was followed by video messages from former team-mates like Aguero, Kompany and one from his family that had even Pep Guardiola in tears.
There were also gifts from the club presented by Dr John Bell, son of City superstar Colin, and his widow Marie.
De Bruyne, who has won 19 major honours, admitted: “I want to bring joy to people, play offensive football, be creative and have fun.
“We had a lot of fun in these ten years and created something incredible to take this club better than where it was.
“It all feels a bit weird. It’s been an unbelievable ride, an absolute pleasure.
“Who can have 50,00 people waiting to say goodbye? It’s indescribable and thank you very much.”
Boss Guardiola added: “It’s a sad day, he will be missed.
“A lovely day for him and delighted we achieved the victory which is of massive importance for the last step.
“I’m pretty sure when Kevin arrived here he was not a Manchester City fan — but also now he will be for ever because of the connection between all the people and him.”
But, while KDB fluffed his lines on his big night – but still ended up taking the plaudits.
The Belgian maestro missed a first half sitter as he bowed out of his beloved Etihad by helping his team to one more vital win.
It all feels a bit weird. It’s been an unbelievable ride, an absolute pleasure.
Kevin de Bruyne
Omar Marmoush, Bernardo Silva and Nico Gonzalez got the goals which put City on the brink of a 15th straight season in the Champions League.
But it was all about KDB on what was a night of red hair, red faces and two red cards.
It was always going to be an emotional night as the City faithful said goodbye to one of their all-time favourites – yet amid it all there was an important game to win.
Their dismal draw at Southampton 10 days ago left them needing four points from their last two matches to be sure of Champions League football next season.
A home game with Bournemouth is normally a guaranteed win for Guardiola’s men – it was seven in a row against the Cherries before this.
But these are not normal times for City as Saturday’s FA Cup final showed.
So there was plenty riding on KDB’s 142nd and final home league appearance on what has become his playground over the last decade.
Guardiola had said he hoped his players could use the emotion of the occasion to their advantage and in the early stages they did.
Mateo Kovacic had already gone close when they took the lead in sensational fashion in the 14th minute.
Omar Marmoush takes a pass from Gvardiol – advances from near his own half before unleashing a 30 yard stunner into the top corner.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was on his line but had no chance as it kissed the top of the post on its way in.
That was some way to make up the penalty miss at Wembley on Saturday – his eighth goal for the club was the best by some margin.
Nobody can argue the Egyptian has perked up City since he arrived in January and his emergence will make the departure of KDB easier to swallow.
De Bruyne almost provided one last assist for his old partner in crime Erling Haaland but for once the Norwegian could not apply the finishing touch.
A lovely move down the left saw Marmoush slide the ball across goal but De Bruyne somehow failed to convert – hitting the bar from six yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Guardiola had his head in his hands – so did De Bruyne’s family up in their box. Nobody could quite believe it.
And for a while the party inside the stadium went a little flat – with the crowd stunned into silence.
Bournemouth – who began the night still with an outside chance of claiming European football – almost took advantage.
A cross from the left from Marcus Tavernier fell into the path of Evanilson but his shot beat his fellow Brazilian Ederson but thumped against the post.
They got away with one and made the most of their reprieve.
A cross from Mathens Nunes was only half cleared and Ilkay Gundogan turned the ball into the path of Bernardo Silva who turned in from close range.
It was not dissimilar to his strike against Real Madrid here two years ago – and had City fans dreaming of more Champions League nights here.
De Bruyne wasn’t involved but was probably the most relieved man in the stadium – as it felt like a proper send off again.
The visitors had a lot to do in the second half if they were going to be party poopers but this City team give you chances.
Antoine Semenyo weaved his way along the edge of the box before firing his shot narrowly over the bar.
And their hopes of getting back into it were lifted when a terrible pass from Josko Gvardiol put Evanilson in on goal.
Gvardiol’s fellow Croatian Kovacic pulled back the Brazilian and could have no complaints when Thomas Bramall pulled out the red card.
It left Guardiola kicking his seat in the dug-out in frustration – and also ended KDB’s special night abruptly.
He was replaced by defensive midfielder Nico as City had no option but to shore things up.
The end had come a few minutes earlier than expected but needless to say he left the field to a huge – and richly deserved standing ovation.
For years to come, he will be remembered as the club’s most successful player ever, having picked up 19 pieces of silverware in his glittering 10 year stay.
The Cherries’ man advantage only lasted a couple of minutes as Lewis Cook jumped in wildly on the City sub near the half way line – and he followed Kovacic down the tunnel.
De Bruyne’s send off was loud but the cheer which greeted the return of Rodri ran it close.
The Ballon D’Or winner returned as a sub for Haaland with seven minutes to go – after eight months out with a cruciate ligament injury.
They have missed him enormously while he has been rehabilitating – what a huge lift it will be to have him back.
Yet it was one of the men bought to replace him – Nico – who capped things off, taking a pass from Nunes in his stride and curling home a beauty.
A loose back pass from Nunes wrong-footed Ruben Dias and sub Daniel Jebbison’s effort just had enough on it to beat Ederson – but it was little more than a consolation.
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