Chelsea’s hierarchy are still to declare whether John Terry will stay or go, but interim boss Guus Hiddink reckons the defender deserves a public farewell if he is leaving this summer.
Terry is out of contract at the end of this season and in January said he would not be extending his stay.
Chelsea insisted an offer may be forthcoming, but there has been no news on his future.
Terry had not anticipated the campaign ending in suspension and a finish of ninth place in the Barclays Premier League, at best.
Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were among the distinguished players who departed Stamford Bridge without a goodbye.
And some supporters are planning to protest at the likely departure of ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’ Terry at the final two games of a disappointing season.
“Whatever will happen, whether he stays, whether he goes – in the last option, he deserves a huge goodbye,” Hiddink said.
“(But) it’s never goodbye with those players, because I think in the near future, whatever happens, those players, after a period of going away and calming down, they can have a big impact in clubs.”
Terry made his 703rd – and, potentially, last – appearance for Chelsea in last Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Sunderland.
The 35-year-old, who made his debut in October 1998, was sent off for the second time this season and will serve a two-game ban.
Terry is out of Wednesday’s Premier League clash at Liverpool and Sunday’s fixture with champions Leicester, when a Stamford Bridge farewell was probable.
Hiddink, whose second caretaker spell ends on Sunday, reckons Terry could continue playing at the highest level, but the decision rests with Chelsea’s board and incoming head coach Antonio Conte.
“Whether it would’ve been the last game that’s not up to me,” Hiddink said.
“When I make a judgement on how he plays and his fitness on his age, he’s able to play, he’s able to continue.
“Where? What the near future is is up to the club, it’s not for me to make declarations on that.”
Hiddink says Conte can make his own decisions on the future of players, including Terry, and the Dutchman will not be offering advice unless he is asked.
“He and his assistants are watching,” Hiddink added.
“I think they’re clever enough and experienced enough to make their own judgements.”
Terry, whose previous sending-off this season came at West Brom in August, has missed some memorable moments with Chelsea through suspension.
He was banned for the 2012 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich but joined the celebrations in his full kit, a protocol dictated by UEFA.
Reports recently suggested Terry had hired Stamford Bridge for a private party.
He has been linked with a move to China, the Middle East and Major League Soccer, but given his reluctance to face Chelsea and their absence from Europe next season, he could also move to another European club.
Terry has been training this week, despite not being available for selection.
“When you come on the pitch for training after being sent off it’s not the most beautiful face,” Hiddink added.
“He started to lift up his morale and trained okay. Of course, not being there in the last two games is a blow for him and for us.”
Even if Chelsea beat Europa League finalists Liverpool and Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes, last season’s champions can finish no better than ninth. Two defeats and they could finish as low as 13th.
Hiddink won the FA Cup and lost one league game during his first interim spell in 2009 and the second has been less successful following his December arrival in place of the sacked Jose Mourinho.
Hiddink said: “When I talk about big words of disaster I think of bigger things in the world.
“But, okay, when we go into our closed football world, you might call it a football disaster, because Chelsea must be always at the top, as they are used to, and even better than that, always fighting for silverware.”
