It has been eight years since Leeds United had the privilege of watching Max Gradel whipping around Elland Road – eight, long arduous years.

The Ivory Coast international turned himself into a bit of a hero figure when he made the switch from Leicester City in 2009 – despite nearly costing them automatic promotion with a silly red card at home to Bristol Rovers.

But he didn’t – Leeds were promoted, and all was forgotten.

Rather, Max Gradel is one of those names people tend to remember for all the right reasons, even if they do not follow Leeds – he just sticks in the mind as a top-quality player.

This is a man who, despite a minor blip, helped Leeds United out of the doldrums of League One football – a realm of utter misery and dejection, a point of purgatory between the anonymous forth tier and the Premier League, that no reputable club, especially ones of Leeds’ stature, deserves to spend too long in.

Indeed, that achievement alone earned any player in the 2009/10 promotion side minor hero status.

But when you consider his quality performances throughout the campaign then he sits heads and shoulders above the rest (apart from Becchio – of course).

If Gradel’s League One heroics were not enough to convince some of the most stubborn fans of his quality, then his time in the Championship would certainly do the trick.

The Ivorian weaved and tricked his way into netting an impressive 18 times in 41 games and assisting a further five more that season, helping Leeds within touching distance of the playoff spots.

Gradel’s trickery, speed, agility and attacking ability was renowned around Elland Road, and it was not long before unwanted international attention dipped its grubby little hands and snatched him away from the grasps of his beloved fans.

St Etienne acquired his services in 2011 and following three fairly average seasons and a single rather brilliant one, in which he scored 17 goals in 31 games, he was back in Bournemouth.

No one truly appreciated him like Leeds – especially not Eddie Howe’s Cherries, and after just two inadequate seasons in the Premier League he was eventually moved on for an undisclosed fee to Ligue 1 side Toulouse.

Now 31-years-old Max Gradel is coming to the end of his career, and as sad as it may have been for Leeds fans losing him all those years ago, they can take solace in the fact that he probably enjoyed his happiest years in West Yorkshire.