Date: February 9th 2010
Author: Not Specified
From: SBS The World Game

Former Socceroo Josip Skoko has confirmed he is almost certain to finish his career in Australia with A-League expansion club Melbourne Heart, and very possibly alongside his long-time friend and former Australia skipper Mark Viduka.

It’s believed Skoko, 34, has been offered - and has in principal accepted - a two-season deal with the ambitious Heart, whose coach John van’t Schip watched the midfielder in action for his current club Hajduk Split in Croatia in November.

Van’t Schip held preliminary talks with him there before the former Genk, Genclerbirligi and Wigan playmaker returned to Australia to hold further discussions with Heart director of football John Didulica in Melbourne over Christmas.

When asked whether a deal had been done, Skoko told The World Game: “It’s not fully done yet but it’s looking that it could go that way. I had a good chat with John van’t Schip and I’ve worked under some Dutch coaches in my time and I have a lot of time for the way they approach the game.

“The Heart is an exciting project. I’m out of contract soon (in May) and it would be good to follow a new direction, especially something back at home.”

He also revealed that both he and Viduka, whose relationship began at the AIS as teenagers and blossomed with the national teams, had discussed the possibly of being reunited as teammates at the Heart.

“We talked about it a lot when I was back at Christmas and it’s definitely a possibility. As everybody knows, Mark is back in Melbourne now with his family and he’s still open to playing again," he added.

Van’t Schip has already sounded out the enigmatic 34-year-old former Celtic, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Newcastle hitman on the prospect of resurrecting his career as the Heart’s marquee man after an absence from the game that already stretches nine months.

And Skoko believes a return is not out of the question.
“Everybody knows that Dukes has his own mindset and nobody knows what his next move will be,” he added. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he decided to have a run with the Heart but then it wouldn’t surprise either if he called it quits either.

“Nothing is out of the question for him. Mark is keen to learn what the Heart, or any other club, has to offer. He’s open to suggestions.

“It would be great to play alongside him again – it would be a bonus for both of us.”
Skoko insists that Viduka’s potency will not have been eroded, despite his long lay-off.
“Once you are a great player you don’t just lose it,” he added. “No doubt he would need to get back some fitness but having a player of his calibre in the A-League can only help the game grow in Australia. I think people would flock to see him.”

Skoko has been overseas for 15 years and is hungry for a homecoming, and intrigued by the prospect of the A-League’s first city derby.

“That rivalry could be something special,” he added. “It will be good for the competition and should create a great buzz in Melbourne. It looks like the Heart are determined to make a huge impression and that’s good for the city."

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/skoko-viduka-set-for-reunion-287961