Of all the players to line out for Leeds over the last decade and a half in the Championship and League One, few have built up a following like Rui Marques.
The Angolan endured an uneasy start to life at Elland Road but by the time he departed in 2010, he was a bona fide cult hero in west Yorkshire.
But in the decade since, Leeds fans have barely heard from Marques, with many wondering what he is up to now.
Beginnings at Leeds
Marques began his senior career in Switzerland with FC Baden having come up through the ranks at Portuguese giants Benfica.
At the turn of the century, he left for Germany to sign with SSV Ulm. After one season in Ulm, he joined Hertha Berlin but his time in the German capital was short-lived as he was sent out on loan to VfB Stuttgart without ever making a single appearance at Hertha.
Things were better at Stuttgart for Marques. He was signed on a permanent basis in 2001 and won the Intertoto Cup the following season. In 2004, after three and a half years at the club, he returned to Portugal with Maritimo but was released by the Madeira side after just one season.
After becoming a free agent, the centre-back joined Leeds just ahead of his 28th birthday after impressing manager Kevin Blackwell during a trial at the club.
The Angolan had also been offered a contract by Ipswich Town but preferred a move to Elland Road, though he struggled for game-time during his first season and a half in Yorkshire.
Despite the distinction of being one of just two Leeds players to make an appearance at the 2006 World Cup, Marques had to wait until January 2007 for his first proper run in the Whites’ first team.
The defender was given more chances to shine, though he could not prevent Leeds’ slide down into League One.
He stayed at Elland Road after relegation, earning two Africa Cup of Nations call ups for Angola during his time playing in League One.
In 2010, Leeds finally achieved promotion back to the Championship and decided not to extend Marques’ contract. Now just shy of turning 33, the centre-back was forced to retire due to injuries.
Post-playing career
Marques has remained mostly silent since hanging up his boots a decade ago but recently resurfaced to give an interview to the BBC.
In a discussion mostly focusing on his time at Elland Road as well as his thoughts on the current side under Marcelo Bielsa, Marques offered some insight into his personal life.
The 42-year-old confirmed his two children are nearly grown-up, with his daughter now 19 while his son is 17 years old.
After bouncing around a few unnamed projects in the intervening years, the former Leeds defender says he is still involved in the sport.
Marques took up a role finding young talent in Portugal with an agency known as Wasserman, a job he began in January 2019 according to his LinkedIn profile.
He says he enjoys the work, telling BBC Radio Leeds : "It’s nice because obviously you make up part of the game.
"You’re still working in football. This is something that we wish as players when we finish our career that we can be part of football.
"This is nice and special. It is a big challenge to try and find young talented players and if you see them succeed then you are happy as well because you found these players."
