Australia's Mark Viduka Set To Retire - Report

It appears to be the end of the road for the V-Bomber after a decorated career...

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The long-running transfer saga involving Mark Viduka could be permanently over, with reports now claiming the 33-year-old has decided quit football altogether.

Sportal claims that sources close to the player have said he is set to retire and look for “a new start in life”.

His decision to bring to an end a 17-year career should not come as a surprise, given his conspicuous reluctance to sign with an English Premier League club during the off-season despite interest in his services.

It was then that the Newcastle United striker – who would go on to fight a losing battle against relegation with his club – rejected the Dutchman’s overtures to join his Socceroos camp for the first time.

Viduka has been in the international wilderness since captaining Australia during their ill-fated 2007 Asian Cup campaign, with injury problems having hampered his club career over the past two years.

Having never regained the sort of fitness levels that he attained during Guus Hiddink’s reign as manager of the Socceroos – when he produced his finest ever form on the international stage – he now appears set to spend time with his wife Ivana and their three children, current sailing in his yacht off the Croatian coast.

Despite his indecision and failure to commit himself to the cause of his national team less than 12 months out from the 2010 World Cup, Verbeek has always stressed that he will leave the door open for Viduka to return to the fold if he finds a club, form and fitness.

Verbeek will continue to groom the likes of Josh Kennedy and Scott McDonald in his absence, though that will be nothing out of the ordinary for the former South Korea boss – he has never had the opportunity to use Viduka at any point during his tenure as Socceroos boss.