Speaking to Bein Sports, the right-back said: "It's probably the people who see him on a day-to-day, who see the work that goes into it, the way he applies himself to the game, the respect he's got for the game is the true testament to what he's achieved.
"The goals, the assists and the numbers will always speak for themselves but when I'm hopefully old enough and lucky enough to have kids and grandkids, its not the goals and assists I'll talk about, it will be the way he applied himself and the inspiration he was to the players around him and the role model and leader he was.
"The most professional player I've been privileged enough to share the pitch with. The hardest working, the most dedicated to his craft. This hasn't just happened overnight for him, he's worked extremely hard and he reaps the rewards for it but he's someone who will go down in the history of the club, the league and probably football for what he's gone on to achieve."