The iconic midfielder recently earned an eight year milestone at the football club, and the quantity of his time there more than matches the quality he has shown the Cardiff City faithful.

Whittingham has been somewhat of a fans favourite at the Cardiff City Stadium, but some have an alternative view on the midfielder.

The Nuneaton born footballer began his professional playing career at Aston Villa, where he was scouted playing for his local Sunday league side.

After brief spells at both Derby County and now Premier League side Burnley, Whittingham signed for the Bluebirds on a permanent basis for an estimated £350,000 fee back in January 2007, which will now seem like a steal for the Welsh club.

The thirty-year-old has scored over 70 goals from midfield, including a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory away at Sheffield United in the 2009-10 season.

However, some of the Bluebirds faithful have had their critics of the city number seven. Whittingham has been referred to being "lazy" and "poor" defensively. He may have a wand of a left foot and the vision of Andrea Pirlo, but some fans have been stressing as to what he offers on days that his usual killer passing or strikes out of nothing don't payoff.

Whittingham is a literal key to the Cardiff side, with him, you can unlock a defense with ease and you may not even notice it. Without him, you're pretty much lost, struggling to get through the back door and forcing yourself to break your way in.

He's a player that fans have hope for in a dead-ball situation. If he doesn't deliver, you know he's due to do something special.

It's easy to pinpoint what a player lacks on the pitch, especially in times of despair for a club that were backed for promotion at the start of the campaign, but find themselves 13th with just five games remaining in the Sky Bet Championship.

A comfort that Whittingham fans can take when the midfielder finally kicks the bucket is the promising product of youngster Joe Ralls.

Ralls, 21, has come up from the Cardiff City youth system and is finding a run of games alongside Whittingham in a midfield four.

Ralls, like Whittingham, also possesses vision and a wand of left boot. Maybe the only difference between the pair is that Ralls would have a better understanding in the defensive department, having played emergency left-back for the Welsh side on a numerous of occasions.

The Bluebirds will be hoping for a better campaign next season with the board confirm Russell Slade will remain in charge of the Welsh side next season.