Mike Dean has opened up on his maverick personality on the pitch, insisting players appreciate that he is not a 'robotic' referee ahead of his record 500th Premier League game.

Dean - described as 'one of a kind' by Sportsmail's refereeing expert Mark Clattenburg - is the first to hit the milestone with him taking charge of Arsenal against Sheffield United at the Emirates.

Clattenburg insists the Premier League would be a worse place without the 51-year-old from the Wirral, who is often described as the 'gift that keeps on giving' by fans.

Mike Dean will become the first referee to officiate 500 games in the Premier League

Dean is often described as 'the gift that keeps on giving' by fans of the referee from the Wirral

There are even compilations of his funny moments on YouTube, from the times he has let the ball run through his legs to his no-look cautions and puzzled looks at players.

Most recently he was caught on camera asking an assistant 'who the f*** is that?' after an unknown man shook his hand ahead of Southampton against Tottenham on New Year's Day.

Telling Sportsmail about his style on the pitch, Dean said: 'For me, the players respond to the way I am and over the years have accepted my style and personality.

'I've never been a 'robotic' referee. I try to be approachable and explain decisions briefly to players if they ask. The communication we have with them is really important.

Dean drops his yellow card as he cautions a Tottenham player on New Year's Day

Dean pretends to keep the match ball from Sergio Aguero after his hat-trick against Chelsea

Talking of Mike Dean on the final day, quick reminder of him dining out on the greatest ever Premier League moment.#CelebrityRefspic.twitter.com/5mBYEmk348 — Celebrity Refs (@CelebrityRefs) May 12, 2019

'I don't have an issue with the odd bad publicity I get as it's all part of the game we love.

'I speak to a few referees after games on the way home, but I try not to worry about decisions - good or bad, I make every decision to the best of my ability.'

Dean, having refereed in the Premier League since the year 2000, counts former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the best but toughest manager he dealt with.

Dean grimaces as he walks through the bubbles at West Ham's London Stadium in 2017

The most memorable match he officiated was Manchester City's 2012 last-gasp, title-clinching victory over Queen's Park Rangers at the Etihad Stadium, courtesy of Sergio Aguero's winner.

Yet Dean was almost given a decision to make, when QPR defender Taye Taiwo lunged in on the Argentinian seconds before he made it 3-2 in stoppage time.

On that game, Dean said: 'With what was at stake and to be trusted to referee such an important game on the final day of the season and with the ending, it will live long in the memory.

Dean sends off Joey Barton in Manchester City's famous final day victory over QPR

Dean admits that Sir Alex Ferguson is the best but toughest manager he's had to deal with

The only thing more dangerous than touching Mike Dean is touching his cards.#CelebrityRefs



(via @TheThomas_)https://t.co/rIu10H1kfr — Celebrity Refs (@CelebrityRefs) February 18, 2016

'As a refereeing team, we didn't know what was happening in other games but you could sense that City needed a winner to win the title and when Aguero went through on goal, there was only going to be one outcome.'

In an exclusive column for Sportsmail, Clattenburg has suggested Dean's next career move might be in golf, as the Tranmere Rovers fan currently caddies on the women's tour.

On match No 500 - Martin Atkinson is the next nearest on 397 - Dean added: 'When I first got onto the Premier League in 2000 there wasn't a specific goal on amount of games I wanted to do.

'The retirement age of a referee was 48 back in 2000, but today, luckily, we don't have an age limit.

Dean is a Tranmere fan and was spotted at their League Two play-off semi-final last year

'The game this weekend will be a special one of course, but there is still a match to officiate so my focus will be on that.

'My wife Karam, eldest daughter Zara and my grandson Harvey will all be there to watch, as will a very good friend of mine, Dave Somers, a former SFA referee who will travel down from Scotland.

'My other daughter Brittany won't be coming as her priority will be watching Tranmere, as always!'