Mark Schwarzer has been discussing Leeds United icon Mark Viduka’s career and presenter Jeff Stelling responded by saying Leeds fans will “go crazy” at the former goalkeeper’s verdict.
Back in the summer of 2000, David O’Leary convinced Leeds to splash £6m on Viduka after he scored 35 goals in 48 games for Celtic. He went on to spend the next four years at Elland Road, becoming an icon.
A huge 72 goals in 166 games for The Whites followed between 2000 and 2004, as Viduka threw himself into Leeds folklore. Like a four-goal display against Liverpool as Leeds came from behind to win 4-3.
Or, a winner against Arsenal that saw Leeds the last side to beat Arsene Wenger’s side before going on their Invincibles run. But his Australia teammate Mark Schwarzer has now made a claim about his career.
Schwarzer claims that Leeds icon Viduka never managed to realise his potential at Elland Road, and that prompted Jeff Stelling to react. Stelling predicted that Schwarzer’s comment will make Leeds fans “crazy”.
Stelling responds as Schwarzer makes Leeds claim about Viduka
Viduka won 43 caps for Australia with spells at Middlesbrough and then Newcastle after his Leeds exit in 2004, even Viduka once claimed he had the opportunity to join Milan for a fee of £38m from Leeds.
Instead, he finished his career in the North East and resides in Croatia. Schwarzer claimed on Stelling’s Footballers Greatest podcast that Viduka could and should have played for one of Europe’s big clubs.
“I don’t actually feel like he fulfilled his potential. He never played for a massive club,” Schwarzer said. Stelling replied: “Leeds fans are going to be going crazy now. ‘What do you mean?'”
Schwarzer continued: “One of the truly, massive European big hitters. Real Madrid, Barcelona. He could have easily played for one of those teams. That’s how good he was, he had everything. Incredible.”
What Thierry Henry recently said about Leeds icon Viduka
In analysis of Erling Haaland – son of former Leeds man Alf Inge Haaland, and boring in Yorkshire – Henry said that the Norway and Man City star struggled to hold the ball up in a game against Real Madrid.
The Frenchman said that Viduka’s ability to use his strength and shield off defenders was nothing on the likes of Viduka, Didier Drogba or Alan Shearer, suggesting Viduka was better than Haaland in one area.
Henry said, about Haaland: “I wasn’t a Drogba, I wasn’t a Viduka or a Shearer. I don’t think he’s that type of guy who will go and play like that but you need the bare minimum, being able to control that ball.”