Mention Mark Viduka to most Celtic supporter and you are likely to get a frosty reply.
The strikers 18 months at Celtic came after the Three Amigos of Paolo di Canio, Jorge Cadete and Pierre van Hooijdonk but created as much headlines, controversy and bitterness in his departure.
Within 48 hours of signing Viduka, with his then partner Ivana, was on his way back to Australia suffering from stress which was nothing compared to the anxiety that Fergus McCann was feeling after splashing out £3m on the striker.
Bought by Dr Jo Venglos, Viduka excelled alongside Henrik Larsson, fell out with John Barnes and was sold by Martin O’Neill with Chris Sutton proving to be a more than capable replacement.
Not long after joining Leeds United Viduka remarked that he only had to play at 80% in the SPL which added to his infamy amongst some supporters.
The former Croatia Zagreb striker never came across as the sharpest and I’d give him the benefit of the doubt in that quote, he probably meant that the Premiership brought out more in his game.
Strangely after a decade in the UK Viduka only has one medal to show for his efforts, a CIS Cup win over Aberdeen secured with goals from Vidar Riseth and Tommy Johnson.
That win came six weeks after Celtic lost at home to Inverness Caley in the Scottish Cup with the Australian substituted at half-time following a heated row with John Barnes and Eric Black.
After spells at Middlesbrough and Newcastle Viduka turned his back on the game, rejecting offers from Fulham and the A-League to return to Melbourne where he keeps a low profile as a dad of three steering clear of a career in the media which many ex-pro’s fall for.
This week he gave a rare interview to the Herald Sun in Melbourne, discussing his career and why he is no longer involved in the game at any level.
HS: WHY ARE YOU KEEPING SUCH A LOW PROFILE?
MV: “I don’t like too much exposure. I don’t know why it is. Maybe it’s bred in me, because my dad always told me to be humble and don’t think you’re too good.
“Maybe he drummed it into me too much. It’s good to be humble, but it’s also a good thing to be proud of your achievements.
“I am proud, but it’s funny, because you’re disappointed with your non-achievements as well. I would have loved to have been a different character.
“I had plenty of offers to do sponsorships and TV commercials, but it’s just not in me. I would love to get that out of me, but I just don’t feel comfortable with it.
“There was something complex about me. If I tapped the ball in, I was happy scoring the goal, but I wasn’t happy because it had to be an unbelievably perfect goal. At training I hated when we had practice and there was no goalkeeper. I’d rather go home. It’s not a challenge.”
HS: WHY DID YOU STOP PLAYING AFTER NEWCASTLE?
MV: “I could have gone to Fulham and taken the money and stayed a year, but it’s not my cup of tea.
“The last year at Newcastle I spent most of the time in the physio room and hated it with a passion. I was angry all the time.
“I play because I love the game and was always passionate. I love the training and love the competition of trying to see how good you are against other players.
“If I sign for Fulham and can’t give them what I owe them professionally, then I might as well not do it.
“When you’re a kid all you think about is becoming a football player and that was basically my life.
“I loved it with all my heart and it’s very difficult to make a decision to stop doing it. It probably took me two or three years to start losing the enjoyment. Some people can keep doing their job, but with me it’s too obvious.”
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MH: WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
MV: “All my life my priority was football, football, football. I was just fully focused on that and when my kids were born that focus changed gradually.
“I had something in my life that changed my perspective. You experience something that is more important than win, lose or draw.
“We’ve got three little kids and they’re at a beautiful age that they need us . . . and we can watch them grow. That’s enjoyment for me.”
MH: THOUGHTS ON CELTIC?
MV: I have a very soft spot for Celtic. Celtic was a special club, the way the fans are towards the club and team. There’s been so many reports about how I hated Scotland. I loved Scotland. I really love the Scottish people. They are so friendly and they embraced me. I loved playing for Celtic and really enjoyed it.
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Great footballer but sadly he was not the full shilling. I remember Celtic playing in a cup game (final, i think) shortly after he arrived, he was injured or ineligible and wasn’t playing and all he could do up in the stand while the game was on was try to ride his then wife / girlfriend. To quote him:
“I don’t like too much exposure. I don’t know why it is. Maybe it’s bred in me, because my dad always told me to be humble and don’t think you’re too good”.
If he got the wooden spoon in the back of the legs on a few occasions when he was growing up that madness in his head might have been knocked out of him!
He was just alright, the thing I dont understand is why people look back on players- look forward to sunday where we will win 3 1 Stokes will open the score line.
Then Hooper then they will get one then Commons score the winner then we will win the treble hail hail
I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST BUT GLAD TO SEE THE BACK OF HIM AT THE TIME.
Greater player as he proved when he moved away from the frenetic SPL to a more sophisticated league and shone in the Champions League. Who could forget the class of each of his 4 goals against liverpool in the EPL.
Great player, great person but unfortunately Celtic didn’t have the coaches or players around him to see his best.
Wasn’t missed at Celtic, as the article said Sutton and then Hartson more than filled the void. Was by far more trouble than he was worth. I remember he spat at someone maybe a St. Mirren player??
Nice try guys, coming on here all misty eyed when talking about big marko, but be honest when asked about him the first thing that comes into your head is IVANA!!! lol
Great loss to the Celts that Ivana. lol HH