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Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

Last Updated on June 29, 2020

LB presents the Full Story of a football genius best known by the Nickname; ‘V-Bomber’. Our Mark Viduka Childhood Story plus Untold Biography Facts brings to you full account of notable events from his childhood time till date. Analysis involves his life story before fame, family life and many OFF and ON-Pitch little known facts about him. Now without further adieu, lets Begin.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Early Life

Mark Anthony Viduka was born on October 9, 1975 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by Joe Viduka (father) and Rose Viduka (mother). He is of Croatian Heritage and has strong roots to his origin country. Despite strong affiliations with him home land (modern day Croatia), his parents made sure Mark stayed and grow up in Melbourne, Australia.

Joseph and Anna Rose had fled from communist Yugoslavia in the early 1960s before meeting and marrying in Australia. The former footballer (Joe Viduka) returned back to pursue his political dreams. Mark’s father was was a former footballer who had strong political influence in the Yugoslavia government. Thus, the migration and building up a family in Australia was meant to shed them from political witch hunt. He later went back to Yugoslavia.

Mark Viduka his son was born in Australia just a year after the Yugoslavia government started their breakup process. Occasionally, his father traveled to and fro not just to see his son in Australia, but to teach him the necessary antics in football. As a kid, young Mark would wait for his Dad to return from Croatia. Upon his return, he played football with his son. As a little fat boy, he was shy and didn’t say much, but he listened. His dad told him bits and pieces about his real homeland, Croatia.

Mark Viduka grew up living and learning football from his dad. He loved up to his goals of fulfilling his father’s dreams. At some point, he had to battle between the choice of playing for Australia or Croatia.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Croatia or Australian Team

The Croatian War of Independence from Yugoslavia was fought from 1991 to 1995. Mark Viduka, a teenager was at the top of his game during this period. After the war, the new country could not still stand on its own feet. People still associated it with Yugoslavia. Their new president wanted to make the name of Croatia separate and said was possible through football. This was the beginning of a severe hunt for teenage footballers both home and abroad.

Fortunately, all Reports which came to the president’s table mentioned one name- ‘Mark Viduka‘. The new president was told how good Mark Viduka was, he knew of his Croatian background and he wanted him to come help the new country realize their dream.

“You will be a symbol to all Croatians,” he told Mark, ” You are one of our own people who we hope will return to rebuild our country.”

What could the teenager have said? Although raised in St Albans, just outside Melbourne, Croatia was in Viduka’s blood. , but Croatia was their homeland. The Mark’s first language was Croatian because that was what his parents spoke in their home, and Anna Rose cooked only Croatian food while in Australia.

Unfortunately, Mark choose his second home, Australia. Between 1993 – 1995, he made 20 appearance for their under 20 side and scored 37 goals. Croatia still got the players they needed to make them popular. His only relationship with his former homeland was his induction into the Croatian Soccer Association of Australia Hall of Fame

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-A Quiet and Humble Lifestyle

Viduka loves the quiet scenery. Having peace of mind and quiet qualities is always seen as a vital part of his life.

Every day that he can since retirement, Mark Viduka takes Tara, his rottweiler, for a walk on the hills surrounding his Australian home. He is softly spoken till date.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Family Life

In the early 1970s his mother, Rose, a Ukrainian-Croat migrant, met his father Joe, a football-mad Croat, in Melbourne. His father Joe was from Croatia, from where he emigrated to Australia in the 1960s. His father is currently alive while his mom, Rose Viduka died July 2014. Mark Viduka is the older brother of Diane Viduka was born on April 27, 1983 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

She is an actress, known for Looking for Alibrandi (2000), Offspring (2010) and Neighbours (1985).

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Relationship Life

He is married to Ivana Husidic (his long term girlfriend) in a secret wedding he organised in 2002 while still in Leeds United. Viduka choose Dubrovnik, an ancient city in Southern Corotia for the wedding venue. He got married to a former Croatian Model.

Both have three sons together: Joseph (born November 2002), Lucas (born September 2006) and Oliver (born May 2008).

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-His Personality

This is what he Mark Viduka said about his person – “For most of my career I’ve been very lucky to have avoided major injuries. 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. I don’t really like being emotional. Public displays of emotion, I don’t really do that sort of stuff. I don’t know why. I would like to be the type that doesn’t worry about that. I am a Libra so I have to balance things. Leading my country out at the World Cup was something I’ll never forget.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Career in Summary

Viduka burst on to the scene age 18 and dominated, winning the golden boot and Johnny Warren medal in two straight years before moving to Dinamo Zagreb.

He captained the Australian national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Mark Anthony Viduka is a former Australian football player who played as a centre forward. He captained the Australian national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany to the last 16. He holds the record of most goals scored by an Australian in the prestigious UEFA Champions League competition with four.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Harry Kewell and Tim Cahil Partnership

They are the 3 best Australian footballer with Viduka topping the list. Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell made global headlines as attacking partners for Leeds United and there is little splitting them.

Their respective paths to the top were contrasting, with Viduka making a name for himself at home before departing for Europe, while Kewell left as a teen in search of a pro contract.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Among the FIFA 15 Australian Ultimate Team Legends

They are the greatest Australian players in the history of the country’s soccer. Sometimes it is difficult to mention the best among the three. FIFA 15 stats shows such close margins. Harry Kewell dominates here.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-A Song

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’s “Hallelujah”. Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate embraced the tune as a way of raising money for his chosen charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. Leonard Cohen gave permission for the song to be released as a charity download single. Viduka has been a member of Melbourne City FC since its inaugural season.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-A Cousin to Luka Modric

Viduka, a former Leeds United player is the cousin of current Madrid midfield stalwart Luka Modric. Although, you may wonder how the two are related, considering Viduka is an Australian but the fact of the matter is that the player is of Croatian origin and his family had moved to Australia in the 60’s.

Viduka played as a centre forward and captained Australia in the 2006 World Cup which was held in Germany. Modric, on the other hand, was never quite the leader kinds but is quite easily one of the best midfielders of his generation. Of the two, Modric is certainly the better player, however, at the same time Viduka is one of the greatest Australian footballers.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Hates Publicity

Since 2009, the enigmatic former English Premier League star and Socceroos captain has avoided the spotlight. He rarely comments on the A-League or the Socceroos. He didn’t even bother to announce his retirement from the game. He maintains that all his transfer fees remained undisclosed. All he wants is his wife and children.

Mark Viduka Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts-Coaching his Sons

As his father did for him, now Viduka is coaching his own sons at Knights.

“You know, Melbourne is my home,” he said after being inducted into the Croatian Soccer Association of Australia Hall of Fame. “I’ve lived most of my adult life away from my home and whenever I come back I just fit straight in.”