Mark Viduka

Mark Anthony Viduka () (born October 9, 1975 in Melbourne) is an Australian striker of Croatian descent, who has signed for Newcastle United F.C. in the FA Premier League and also plays for the Australia national football (soccer) team. He is known for his strong physical presence and hold-up play.

Club career

Melbourne Knights

Viduka started his career in Australia with Melbourne Knights in 1993, and became an Australian international in June of the following year. In his two seasons with the Melbourne Knights he was top goal scorer in the National Soccer League and was twice awarded the Johnny Warren Medal for National Soccer League Player of the Year in 1993/94 and 1994/95. Viduka's time at the Melbourne Knights included one NSL title in season 1994/1995.

Dinamo Zagreb

In 1995 he moved to Croatia to play with NK Dinamo Zagreb, where he stayed for three years and made an appearance in the UEFA Cup. The grandstand at Knights' Stadium, home of the Melbourne Knights was renamed the Mark Viduka Stand in his honour and paid for with his transfer money.

Celtic

Celtic F.C. bought him in December 1998 for Pound sterling3.5 million. In the same month as his signing Celtic stunned Scottish football by announcing that a stressed-out Viduka had quit the club without kicking a ball for them. A week later Zagreb complained that they had not received their fee for the player. These issues were eventually resolved and Viduka made his first appearance in a Celtic shirt on 16th February 1999, scoring for the under-21 team as an over-age player in a 4–2 victory against Motherwell.He was voted Scottish Premier League Player of the Year after scoring 27 goals in his first full season at Celtic Park. He was regarded as a skilled player, able to hold the ball up well and bring other players into the game.

Leeds United

Leeds United manager David O'Leary signed Viduka just before the 2000-01 in English football for £6 million. At Leeds he was expected to line up in a three-pronged attack alongside Harry Kewell and Michael Bridges, but injuries to those two saw him form a partnership with Alan Smith in Leeds UEFA Champions League matches, while Robbie Keane also benefited in their FA Premier League matches together. In his first Elland Road season, Viduka scored 22 goals, including all four in a memorable 4–3 win over Liverpool F.C. at Elland Road. He signed a five-year deal in the summer of 2001.

In the 2002-03 in English football Viduka scored another 22 goals, however Leeds' off-pitch financial troubles prompted the club to sell key players, including Harry Kewell and Robbie Keane. This prompted speculation that Viduka would join the Leeds exodus with FC Barcelona confirming their interest in the Australian international along with Premiership clubs Liverpool F.C. and Manchester United F.C..

With the relegation of Leeds United to the Football League Championship, the sale of Viduka to Middlesbrough F.C. was completed.

Middlesbrough

Viduka's debut season at Middlesbrough was initially impressive, albeit frustrated by injuries. In the 2005-06 in English football however, Viduka was in sensational form in all competitions for Middlesbrough, reaching double figures early on in the season. He also played an important part in spearheading Middlesbrough's campaign in the UEFA Cup where they twice had to score four goals in a game to proceed. They eventually lost in the final to Spanish side Sevilla FC on 10 May 2006.

With his contract due to expire at the end of the 2006-07 in English football, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate expressed his interest in keeping Viduka. In August 2006, he was awarded the number 9 shirt at Middlesbrough, his preferred number at all his previous clubs. Following another successful season, in which he scored 19 goals, Viduka attracted interest from other clubs who were hoping to sign him on a free transfer as he became out-of-contract. However Southgate reiterated his wish to retain Viduka's services and revealed he would offer him a new contract. However, Viduka joined North East England rivals Newcastle United F.C. on a Free transfer (football) on 7 June 2007.

Newcastle United

In signing for Newcastle United, Viduka became manager Sam Allardyce's first signing at the club.

Viduka made his Newcastle début in a Premiership match at Bolton Wanderers F.C. on August 11 2007.

He scored his first goal for Newcastle on August 26 2007 against former club Middlesbrough.

International career

He has captained the Australia national football (soccer) team since September 2005, in place of the injured Craig Moore, the regular captain. Viduka thrived under Guus Hiddink's tenure as coach of the national squad and led Australia as it qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany over a two-leg qualifier against Uruguay, the first time in 32 years that Australia qualified to participate in the event. On May 21, 2006 he was named as the Australian captain for the World Cup.

He also led Australia's national team to their first World Cup Finals victory with a 3–1 win over Japan national football team in June 2006, as well as guiding them through an encounter with Brazil national football team, losing 2–0, and a controversial bout with Croatia national football team, ending with a 2–2 draw. He then led Australia into the second round, where they lost their round of 16 match to Italy national football team.

Viduka considered retiring from international competition after the 2006 World Cup, citing increasing family commitments as the primary reason. However, in September 2006 he confirmed that he would continue playing for Australia and intended to compete in the 2007 Asian Cup. In a friendly match against Singapore national football team a week before the start of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, Viduka scored two headed goals in a 3–0 victory for Australia, Harry Kewell scored the third. It was the second time he scored two goals in an international match, having previously done so against the Solomon Islands in 2005.

On Australia's first ever Asian Cup participation, Viduka captained the side and he scored their solitary goal against Iraq national football team, a game which they ultimately lost 1–3. In the next match he scored two goals against co-host team Thailand national football team, defeating them 4–0, other goals scored by Michael Beachamp and Harry Kewell and making them fall out of the remaining competition. At one stage he led the goalscoring at the Asian Cup tournament, although his team was eliminated in the quarter-finals in a penalty shootout against Japanese national football team.

Subsequent to that loss, question marks hang over whether Viduka will continue his international career.

Personal life

Viduka and his wife, Ivana, have two sons: Joseph (born 2002) and Lucas (born September 2006).

Viduka had a song written about him by English singer/songwriter and Middlesbrough fan, Alistair Griffin (who also previously co-wrote the football song recorded by Terry Venables). The song lyrics were written to the tune of Leonard Cohen "Hallelujah (song)".

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate embraced the tune as a way of raising money for his chosen charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. Leonard Cohen has now given permission for the song to be released as a charity download single.

Viduka is a fan of Australian rules football and supports Collingwood Football Club.

Viduka has a cousin relations with Luka Modrić, Viduka's father and Modrić's mother are first cousins.