Mark Viduka

Supposedly very happy doing it too. Think he's doing fine @Liam Scales.


Still got an Ozzie attitude too: “Listen, my missus does all the work, I just sit here and drink coffee.”

https://www.givemesport.com/leeds-newcastle-celtic-viduka-run-coffee-shop-play-guitar-sons-band/

People do however forget being a top level athlete is about as stressful as it can be. Competition as fierce as it gets, constant instability/doubts and your career can end at virtually any point, with in the case of most high level footballers a lifestyle that's not going to be sustainable and in a lot of cases no idea what they'll do next. You are at the top but can topple at any moment.

First world problems no doubt, but still something most of us will never get near dealing with.

 

I meant during his career back in the 90’s with us

 

Ah OK. He certainly stated that several time. Not sure it went unnoticed at all in all honesty. What makes you say that?

The strain of being a footballer in a different country is a definite factor, but a lot of it is really hard to avoid and certain personality types will struggle more. I don't think Viduka is your average footballer type.

Not sure how it can be avoided totally as the answer for a lot of these types of scenarios is to find an alternative. i.e. play in an environment that is less stressful or less different. Which for most players means staying were they are, not taking the bigger move.

Viduka talks of his times at Celtic pretty positively, which surprised me a bit as he boiled my * when he was here. Maybe I was part of the problem

 

Back then it was just labelled an attitude problem and nothing else. Where he was playing, however loved he was by the crowd or pressure to perform wasn’t ever the issue for him. His head was either in it or not, he’s talked about his mental issues in interviews now. Back then though? It wasn’t mental health even considered.

It was poor mentality, lazy and/or *.


I’ve always wondered what would have happened if Henrik and Lambert didn’t get injured that season. Barnes was so far out of his depth but with Henrik, Viduka, Lubo, Lambert there we were scudding teams. Two world class players injured, he was exposed. But Viduka still, he was insanely good. He’s 2nd only to Larsson up front in my time, better than Sutton.