Mark de Vries joined Leicester City in January 2005 - becoming then manager Craig Levein's first signing alongside fellow former Hearts player Alan Maybury.

Mark was born in Surinam, but when he was six months old his mother took him to live in Den Helder in the Netherlands. The towering striker played youth football for WGW Den Helder and then progressed to the senior game with Hollandia of Hoorn.

In 1994, Mark was recruited by FC Volendam where he gained four seasons experience at the top level in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Mark spent season 1998-99 in the French Second Division with Chamois Niortais and then the Dutch First Division club Dordrecht '90 acquired his services in 1999. In his second season with the club, Mark really started to hit the goal trail scoring 11 times in 2000-2001 and 16 times the following season.

De Vries played a massive part in helping Hearts to reach the League Cup semi-final in February 2003 and also to secure 3rd place in the Premier League and UEFA Cup football in successive seasons.

The striker made his debut for the Foxes in their 2-2 FA Cup third round draw with Blackpool at the Walkers Stadium.

He was employed as a lone striker in the FA Cup fifth round clash against Charlton in 2005, and was instrumental in City's progress to the quarter finals. He was a Cup hero again the next year, scoring the last minute winner to beat Spurs in a memorable third round clash.

Following the departure of Craig Levein, de Vries returned to Holland to join Division One side Heerenveen on loan until the end of the 2005-06 season. He then joined Den Haag in August 2006 on a season long loan deal.

De Vries was placed on the transfer list by former manager Martin Allen on Thursday, June 7.

He started the first game of the 2007-08 Championship season against Blackpool and went on to make eight appearances before joining Leeds United on loan in October 2007.

De Vries left the Foxes on January 25 2008 by mutual consent.

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