Max Gradel

Max-Alain Gradel (born 30 November 1987) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Turkish Süper Lig club Gaziantep and the Ivory Coast national team.

Gradel scored the winning goal for Leeds in the 89th minute against Leyton Orient after coming off the bench for Leeds.

He made his first start in the league for Leeds against Oldham.

He provided two assists in the same game for Neil Kilkenny's and Luciano Becchio's goals.

Gradel scored three minutes after coming on for Leeds as a substitute in the West Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town.

After moving to the UK from Paris, France, in 2004, Gradel attended Lewisham College Football Academy under the tutelage of then Head Coach Aaron Jacob, who was one of his early mentors.

He attended the Bon Giourno Cup in the Netherlands, and the team went on to win the trophy, conceding no goals, with Gradel scoring 11 of 17.

He was due to attend the Dallas Cup with the team but was offered a Pro contract and made the decision not to go.

"Everything started at Lewisham College," says Gradel.

"We were all good players in the Football Academy; I think I made it a bit by chance.

Gradel began playing football in the Ivory Coast when he was two years old.

After leaving Lewisham College, Gradel was offered trials with Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham United and Leicester City and spent four months with Arsenal before signing with Leicester.

From there he moved to Leeds United where he played regularly for the Championship side.

Gradel was given a squad number for the 2007–08 season.

On 5 May 2007, he signed his first professional contract with Leicester along with seven other players, including Eric Odhiambo, Andy King and Carl Pentney.

On 6 August 2007, Leicester City manager Martin Allen made Gradel and Conrad Logan available for loan for the forthcoming season.

Three days later, Gradel joined AFC Bournemouth on an initial one-month loan, which was extended for the season on transfer deadline day (31 August).

However, he was unable to play as many games with the Cherries as he had hoped due to the death of his mother in early October.

As a result, he was told by Bournemouth manager Kevin Bond that he could take all the time he needed to return to England.

He returned to Leicester early on 3 January 2008, although Bond stated he wanted to take him back to Bournemouth on loan again, a move which was completed for the rest of the season on 11 January.

Gradel's form at Bournemouth earned him a new three-year deal at Leicester, which he signed on 6 February.

He made his league debut for Leicester against Milton Keynes Dons on 9 August 2008, setting up a goal as Leicester won 2–0 at the Walkers Stadium.

He scored his first senior goal in a 2–1 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace on 14 January 2009, and his first league goal in a 2–2 draw against MK Dons on 28 February, scoring an equalising free-kick at injury time.

His free kick away at MK Dons won the Goal of the Season award at the Leicester City Supporters Club Awards on 23 April.

Gradel made 32 appearances in all competitions as Leicester secured their promotion as league champions.

In the following season however, Gradel made just one substitute appearance in the League Cup.

On 19 October 2009, Gradel joined Leeds United on loan for a month.

He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Norwich City that same evening.

Gradel scored his first goal for Leeds on 31 October against Yeovil Town within minutes after coming on as a substitute, which prompted chants from the crowd of "Grayson sign him up".

Leeds manager Simon Grayson said he wanted to extend Gradel's loan move beyond the initial month.

Gradel himself stated he would like to extend the loan deal at Leeds and even hinted he would be happy to move to Leeds on a permanent deal.

Leicester refused Leeds permission to play Gradel in their FA Cup game against Oldham Athletic.

Gradel started his first game for Leeds in the 3–1 win against Grimsby Town, contributing to Leeds' first goal as his cross was diverted by Olly Lancashire into his own net.

The game would have been the last of Gradel's initial one-month loan.

Gradel received his first call-up to the Ivory Coast national team in November 2010.

The loan was extended to 2 January 2010 on 13 November.

He made his debut for the national side on 5 June 2011.

On 30 April 2011, Gradel won both the Fans Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards at Leeds.

On 14 August, Gradel signed a new contract that would last until June 2012.

In June 2018, he joined French club Toulouse.