Profile

Maxi Rodriguez is a classy winger who provided fans with some great memories during his two and a half years at the club.

The Argentine was brought to Anfield by Rafael Benitez in January 2010, and though he was not always a regular starter, his sharp football brain was certainly appreciated on the Kop, where his name rang out more than most.

Maxi first came to prominence in his homeland with Newell's Old Boys before moving to Europe in 2001, initially on loan at Spanish Second Division side Real Oviedo before a permanent transfer to La Liga's Espanyol.

During three seasons in Catalonia he scored 26 goals in 110 matches and also made his full international debut in a friendly match against Japan in 2003.

At the start of the 2005-06 season, the forward made a big-money switch to Atletico before making a significant impact on his country's World Cup campaign in Germany.

A brace in a 6-0 rout of Serbia and Montenegro was followed by a stunning extra-time winner against Mexico in the last 16. Argentina were eliminated by the hosts in the next round, but when the competition was over, a poll conducted by FIFA saw the left-footed strike crowned as the best goal of the tournament.

Maxi hit top form again in 2007-08, helping Atletico to fourth place in La Liga, thus securing Champions League football for the first time in seven seasons.

The Spanish outfit were named in the same group as Liverpool on their return to Europe's premier competition and it was Maxi who scored the opener in his side's 1-1 draw at Anfield. They would go on to reach the last 16 of the competition and would once again take fourth place in La Liga.

The playmaker's contribution to Los Colchoneros' success was significant, but despite featuring in Atletico's 2-1 win over the Reds in a pre-season friendly during the summer of 2009, it was clear he needed a new challenge.

With his contract nearing an end, Maxi was brought to Anfield for a bargain fee.

His Liverpool debut came as a second-half substitute against Stoke City on January 16, 2010, with a first full start arriving just over a week later away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Maxi quickly won over the Kop and his form during 17 appearances - including a goal against Burnley - helped earn a place in Diego Maradona's World Cup squad for South Africa, where he featured heavily before another quarter-final exit at the hands of Germany.

The following campaign was most memorable from a personal point of view for scoring consecutive hat-tricks against Fulham and Birmingham City.

In the close season of 2011 he switched from No.17 to a more prominent No.11 and there followed another season he will remember for goals, including two against Chelsea and a double at Ewood Park. Maxi also collected a medal following our Carling Cup triumph before saying goodbye to England by rejoining Newell's Old Boys in the summer of 2012.