Gradel: Mark-Alain (Max)
2009-Current
(Player Details)
Winger
Born: Abidjan, Ivory Coast: 30/11/1989
Debut v Norwich City (h) (Substitute): 19-10-2009
5’11” 11st 0lb (2009)
A young and tricky winger, Gradel progressed through the Leicester City Academy ranks to
the Foxes’ first team squad. He was one of seven Leicester under-eighteen-year-olds that won
the FA Premier League Academy title, who signed professional forms on 5th May 2007. He was
immediately loaned to Bournemouth for the 2007-08 season to gain first team experience. He
made his debut in the first game of the season at Nottingham Forest on 11th August 2007 and
was a huge success on the South Coast despite the Cherries ending the season in the
relegation places. Initially loaned for just one month, he had scored once in four starts
and clearly impressed as his loan spell was extended to the end of the year. Unfortunately,
in October 2007 the winger had to return to France due to the tragic death of his mother. He
made his comeback with the South Coast team in the F.A. Cup win over Barrow on 20th November
2007 but returned to Leicester at the end of the agreed loan. Bournemouth had been pleased
with Gradel’s contribution to the team and sought and received a further extension to the
loan period and it was duly extended to the end of the season. He also continued talks with
Leicester City which resulted in his City contract being extended to from the end of the
2007-08 season to June 2011. When his loan period came to an end at the close of the season
he had scored nine League goals in thirty-four appearances of which three had been from the
bench. He also scored once in two F.A. Cup starts and started one League Cup game and one
Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match. He made his Leicester debut on 9th August 2008, the opening
day of the 2008-2009 campaign, in the 2-0 win over MK Dons at the Walkers Stadium. He soon
became a fans' favourite. In recognition to his elevation to the Foxes’ first team his
contract was extended for a further year on 14th August 2008. It was not until 14th January
2009 that he found the net for the first time for Leicester in the F.A. Cup tie at Crystal
Palace but his first League goal for the Foxes soon followed at MK Dons on 28th February
2008, a free-kick which won the Supporters Club ‘Goal of the Year’ award. At the end of his
first season he had scored once in sixteen starts and eleven substitute appearances in the
League, once in two F.A. Cup starts, and made one start and one game from the bench in the
League Cup and one start in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as Leicester became League One
Champions. With the signings of Dany N’Guessan and Paul Gallagher, Gradel found himself out
of favour and on 18th October 2009 he was loaned to League One Leeds United for a month and
made his debut as a substitute the following night against Norwich City at Elland Road,
replacing Robert Snodgrass with ten minutes to go. He soon became popular with the Leeds fans
and made his move permanent in January 2010. He was mainly used as an attacking option from
the bench, scoring some vital goals, but on occasions his temprement let him down and after
being sent off in the final game of the season against Bristol Rovers, he will have to sit
out the first four games of the new season.