When future lists are made of the best foreign players to have ever graced the top flight in England, it is certain to include such famous names as Eric Cantona, Dennis Bergkamp, Jurgen Klinsmann, Gianfranco Zola and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But there is one player who has come to these shores and redefined a position, and who arguably has had the biggest impact on the way football fans in England understand the defensive midfield spot.

Claude Makelele slipped out of English football this week, joining Paris St Germain to see out what will likely be the remaining two years of his footballing career.

Part of the lure of returning to France was that PSG also offered the former Chelsea midfielder a role on the coaching staff when he hangs up his boots, and for a player who has redefined the holding midfield role it is fair to say he will have plenty to teach the up-and-coming players of the future.

Makelele’s departure from Real Madrid to Chelsea in 2003 signalled the start of the failure of the Galactico policy at the Bernabeu. Without their “water carrier”, players like Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo were simply not as effective.

In the same summer the La Liga giants purchased David Beckham and, until Fabio Capello returned to the club, they were destined not to pick up any silverware without Makelele. Zidane put it best when he questioned Real president Florentino Perez that summer: “Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?"

The arrival of the Zaire-born holding midfielder came weeks after Roman Abramovich had taken over at Chelsea. In retrospect, the £16.8million  transfer fee will probably be the best money Red Rom will ever spend at Stamford Bridge.

Claudio Ranieri described Makelele as the “battery” of his team, but despite improvement under the “Tinker Man” it was Jose Mourinho who would most benefit from having the Frenchman in his team.

In England, Makelele won everything possible - two league championships, the Carling Cup and the FA Cup. His final season saw him come a penalty kick away from winning the Champions League and, even though he is 35, he put in one of the best performances of anyone on the pitch during that slippery night in Moscow.

But it isn't so much the medals he has won that signal just what a brilliant footballer he is. He illustrated to the watching English public just how important a player in his position could be. This is highlighted by the fact that his position is now known as the “Makelele role” and almost every team now plays with a holding midfielder, whilst some even play with two.

The fortunes paid in recent times for players like Michael Carrick and Lassana Diarra and the expected £18m or so Liverpool will spend on Gareth Barry is proof of just how important this position has become.

It would be fair to say that the Chelsea defence grabbed many records with Makelele in the team, thanks to his brilliant way of breaking up attacks and playing the right ball to start a Chelsea break. And even players of the class of Frank Lampard and Michael Essien seem to have benefited with playing alongside the former Nantes, Marseille and Celta Vigo midfielder.

A couple of days ago, Jamie Redknapp put it perfectly in the Daily Mail: “At 5ft 7in, he was very small, with tiny legs, but he could cover the ground and read danger. He would win the ball, give it to someone who could advance, then shuffle back quickly to his post. It can be a thankless, horrible task with little glory - but he changed modern midfield play and became a master of his craft.”

With all the various transfer sagas going on, and because the new broom of Phil Scolari has taken over at Chelsea, Makelele has slipped out of English football. No doubt, when the season starts everyone will sit up and notice that the player who worked tirelessly for the team cause has returned to France.