However, Mark Viduka isn't like most footballers - the Wizard of Aus, as he was affectionally known, was the scourge of Premier League defenders during his time at Leeds United.
Viduka, who turns 49 on Wednesday (October 9), famously netted four against Liverpool in an epic 4-3 win. However, when it came time to hang up his boots, Viduka retreated to the hills north of the Croatian capital where he now runs a coffee shop.
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"I wasn’t obsessed with fame, at all," he told the Daily Mail. "I didn’t like it. I still don’t. I wasn’t obsessed with money, that came as a by-product." In 1995 he was just a teenager, though nonetheless made the leap from Melbourne Knights to Dinamo Zagreb and a country that was at war.
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But despite fighter jets and air-raid sirens becoming part of everyday life, Viduka was enamoured of his new surroundings which both his parents had called home.
Mark Viduka
Mark Viduka is enjoying retirement in Croatia
"I left Australia to sign for Croatia Zagreb aged 19 and fell in love with the lifestyle," he admitted. "And we’d always wanted to run a cafe, for fun really, one where everyone was welcome. So here we are. Listen, my missus does all the work, I just sit here and drink coffee!"
As well as his wife, Viduka lives in Croatia with his three teenage sons, who away from the business keep him occupied.
"Other than drink coffee, I play the guitar," he said. "My son, Oliver, is a drummer in a band. When one of his mates can’t make it, I jump in.
Mark Viduka
Mark Viduka now runs a coffee shop and plays in a band
"We use our basement. The neighbours aren’t very happy about it! Me and the boys love Arctic Monkeys. The lyrics, man, genius."
Viduka has come back into public consciousness since creating an Instagram account in 2021 - but fans might not recognise him at first glance. The ex-striker now looks like a new man in his retirement, sporting a fuller figure.
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