Alex Salmond has hinted at a return to frontline Scottish politics as Holyrood backed the devolution of major new tax and spending powers.
The former First Minister said he was leaving devolved politics “for now” during his farewell speech to the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Salmond who currently sits as an MSP in Aberdeenshire East is standing down at this election to sit solely as an MP.
He has previously left to take a seat in Westminster only to return to the Scottish Parliament.
One MSP branded him the “Muhammed Ali of Scottish politics” for his repeated comebacks.
The comments came as MSPs gave their assent for the UK Parliament to pass the Scotland Bill, which will hand greater control over areas including income tax, VAT and welfare to the Scottish Parliament.
Welcoming the new powers, Mr Salmond said: “There is a broad consensus on the need for this parliament to assume greater responsibility for the governance of Scotland.
“And we are definitely stronger so much stronger as a result.”
He added: “There is no greater honour in public life than to be a member of this Parliament.
“There is no greater task than to mould the public purpose of Scotland.
“There no greater cause to serve than that of the people of this country.
“And so, with that it is goodbye from me for now.”
Mr Salmond served the fledgling Scottish Parliament between 1999 and 2001, before departing for Westminster and then returning to lead the SNP to its first minority government in 2007, a landslide in 2011 and then the independence referendum in 2014.
He has held a dual role as MSP for Aberdeenshire East and MP for Gordon since the general election in 2015.
North East MSP Alex Johnstone said: “I suffered slightly from dj vu as I listened to Mr Salmond make his final remarks as did some other members, I am sure because we have heard him do that before.
“What worried me most was that he finished his speech by saying goodbye ‘for now’, so it is possible that he may be planning, in his role as the Muhammad Ali of Scottish politics, to make that second comeback.
“Let us watch this space.”