Leeds United - on this day: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink makes contentious Elland Road exit

The day...

August 4, 1999

The event...

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink joins Atletico Madrid from Leeds United.

The story...

It is 21 years to the day since former Leeds United striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made his controversial departure from the club.

Hasselbaink's stay with the Whites was short but his impact at Elland Road was certainly sweet as he scored 42 goals in just 87 appearances across all competitions.

The Dutch striker joined the club's ranks in 1997 for a fee of £2million from Portuguese outfit Boavista.

Hasselbaink found the back of the net on his debut against Arsenal but struggled to get to grips with life in the Premier League under head coach George Graham as he bagged five goals before Christmas.

Following the festive period, though, he found his feet in West Yorkshire ending the campaign with 16 goals.

His second season in LS11 continued in much the same vein as he scored 18 goals in 36 league appearances, making him a joint-winner of the Premier League's Golden Boot alongside Michael Owen and Dwight Yorke.

Hasselbaink's time at the club was to come to an end amid rumours of a contract dispute and breakdown in relationship with new boss David O'Leary - who had replaced Graham halfway through the 1998-99 campaign.

He was sold to La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid in a deal with £10million by chairman Peter Ridsdale with O'Leary claiming Hasselbaink's contract demands were far more than what the club could afford.

Hasselbaink later reflected on his disappointing departure at Leeds following his retirement, admitting it was a bitter was to leave.

"David (O'Leary) was totally different (to Graham), it's always difficult for an assistant to take over once the manager has left," he said.

"You would go quicker to an assistant to talk about certain things, a good assistant is somebody who keeps everybody together. Then all of a sudden he is the boss.

"I don't think I was David's cup of tea, you would have to ask him (why). Don't get me wrong, I was playing and I did well but I think he didn't see me in his long-term future at the club.

"We were in contract talks and it was not like he did his best to keep me.

"The things that went around when I left - he could have prevented all of those things. But it wasn't.

"I left with a bitter taste in my mouth."