While the fans of football clubs in Europe are easily the most passionate and loyal supporters in any sport, the idea of club loyalty among players is one that has largely lost a lot of meaning in recent times.

While players in North American sports are expected to, and usually do, honour the contracts that they have signed without attempting to force their way elsewhere, it is common practice for a footballer to hold his club hostage in an attempt to force a transfer that he desires. In the past few years, high-profile players such as Gareth Bale, Fernando Torres, and Samir Nasri formally requested (and subsequently received) transfers to other teams, despite having multiple remaining years on their contract.

With this issue, as well as the increasing number of foreign players in each of Europe's leagues, it is extremely rare that a player spends his entire professional career with just one team, which is what makes the following four men so special. Each of these players should be instantly recognizable to anybody who has followed the Premier League, and each is rightfully considered a legend to the supporters of their respective clubs.

NOTE: Only two clubs are represented in this list. It's not a bias; not all clubs can have players like these.

Jamie Carragher: Liverpool, 1996 to 2013. 508 apps, 4 goals
Arguably one of the most underrated players in the history of the league, Carragher bowed out of football last spring as one of the most beloved players to have ever pulled on a Liverpool shirt. A tall, vocal and incredibly intelligent defender, he spent the early seasons of his career being shifted along the back line until cementing himself at the heart of Liverpool defence in 2004, the year that they would go on to win the Champions League, which is where he remained until his retirement. An unparalleled reader of the game, the sight of Liverpool's famous number 23 making a game saving interception or tackle was a weekly occurrence in the league, and the erratic nature of Liverpool's defense this season shows just how important a leader of his caliber can be.

Paul Scholes: Manchester United, 1993 to 2011; 2012 to 2013. 499 apps, 107 goals
Part of the legendary Man U youth class of 1992, central midfielder Scholes came up through the ranks alongside the likes of David Beckham and Gary Neville, pulling on the senior shirt a year later and never removing it again. Combining an incredible range of passing with a tenacious, sometime reckless tackling ability, Scholes was instrumental in Manchester United dominance over the last 20 years, helping himself to 11 Premier League titles along the way. After retiring from football at the end of the 2011 season, he spent a time as a coach before returning to the playing field five months later in the midst of an injury crisis in his midfield, and remained for Sir Alex Ferguson's final season, and one last title before hanging up his boots for good last spring.

Steven Gerrard: Liverpool, 1998 to present. 462 apps, 106 goals (and counting)
Of all the players who have come through the Premier League without experiencing the joys of winning it, there is one man that all supporters can agree deserves it above all others: Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool skipper is one of England's greatest ever players, and the fierce loyalty that he shows to the club that his father supported is nothing short of inspirational. Despite a famous flirtation with Chelsea in the wake of a snag in contract negotiations, Gerrard has been the driving force behind everything good that Liverpool has done in the last decade. Throughout his career, he has played as a right winger, central midfield and second striker, but one of his greatest attributes is the ability to perform equally well in all positions on the pitch. As a recent change in position seems to have revitalized the captain this season, there is no reason to suspect that he is going to slow down anytime soon.

Ryan Giggs: Manchester United, 1990 to present. 670 apps, 114 goals (and counting)
When discussing one-club men, there is no better example than Manchester United's seeming immortal winger Giggs. The former Wales national team captain is the last player remaining who played professional football before the Premier League itself had been founded, has scored in each of the league's 21 seasons and is widely considered the greatest player to never play at the World Cup. The fact that Giggs is still playing at 40 years old is the result of someone who dedicated their entire life to utmost physical professionalism, and he is deserving of every bit of praise thrown at him. His retirement, likely at the end of this season, will mark the end of an era that most fans are too young to even know existed.