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Friday, February 12, 2010
Heart give up on Dukes
Date: February 11th 2010
Author: Not Specified
From: SBS The World Game
Melbourne Heart’s director of football John Didulica has confirmed that the club has given up hope of tempting Mark Viduka to curtail his retirement and step out in the A-League for the newcomers next season.
The prospect of a Viduka return briefly loomed large in the minds of Heart officials after meetings between the former Socceroos captain, Didulica, Heart CEO Scott Munn and coach John van’t Schip before Christmas.
But reality has hit for the club, who wanted first refusal should the enigmatic 34-year-old striker choose to resurrect his career after nine months away from the game following his departure from Newcastle United at the end of last season.
“We only ever had informal talks with Mark about football in general,” Didulica told The World Game. “The nature of our discussions wasn’t solely about trying to get him to come back to the game, actually far from it.
“He’s given the last 18 years of his life to playing football and he’s entitled to take time out with family and decide which direction he ultimately wants to take. We are certainly not contemplating him signing for us.
“Whatever he decides to do is up to him. He’s earned that time and space and we were never in any position to push him into anything.
“We were happy he gave up his time to talk to us and give is impression on life at the top level of the game and we were thankful for that. He’s enjoying his time away from the game and we all respect that. Where he will be in six months or beyond, who can say?”
With Viduka resisting Heart’s entreaties, the club can now look elsewhere for striking talent with Didulica revealing that they will not necessarily seek a marquee capture and will instead concentrate on constructing a "marquee team, playing marquee football” when they ignite their rivalry with Melbourne Victory in 2010-11.
“Nobody has achieved that more effectively than Melbourne Victory,” he added. “When you strip away all the hype, what really is a marquee player? It’s really about how the team performs as a whole rather than a single individual.
“Our goal is to play effective, quality football – and whoever fits in with that is what we’re looking for.
“It’s not always about big names. Look how successful Carlos Hernandez has been for the Victory yet few people knew much about him before he came to Australia.
“You can win games and entertain fans without hitching your wagon to one person.”
Didulica insists the club is on track with its recruiting and will fill its five allotted visa spots after Van’t Schip’s recent foray to Europe yielded several targets, most of whom are coming off at their current clubs in May.
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/heart-give-up-on-dukes-288817
Author: Not Specified
From: SBS The World Game
Melbourne Heart’s director of football John Didulica has confirmed that the club has given up hope of tempting Mark Viduka to curtail his retirement and step out in the A-League for the newcomers next season.
The prospect of a Viduka return briefly loomed large in the minds of Heart officials after meetings between the former Socceroos captain, Didulica, Heart CEO Scott Munn and coach John van’t Schip before Christmas.
But reality has hit for the club, who wanted first refusal should the enigmatic 34-year-old striker choose to resurrect his career after nine months away from the game following his departure from Newcastle United at the end of last season.
“We only ever had informal talks with Mark about football in general,” Didulica told The World Game. “The nature of our discussions wasn’t solely about trying to get him to come back to the game, actually far from it.
“He’s given the last 18 years of his life to playing football and he’s entitled to take time out with family and decide which direction he ultimately wants to take. We are certainly not contemplating him signing for us.
“Whatever he decides to do is up to him. He’s earned that time and space and we were never in any position to push him into anything.
“We were happy he gave up his time to talk to us and give is impression on life at the top level of the game and we were thankful for that. He’s enjoying his time away from the game and we all respect that. Where he will be in six months or beyond, who can say?”
With Viduka resisting Heart’s entreaties, the club can now look elsewhere for striking talent with Didulica revealing that they will not necessarily seek a marquee capture and will instead concentrate on constructing a "marquee team, playing marquee football” when they ignite their rivalry with Melbourne Victory in 2010-11.
“Nobody has achieved that more effectively than Melbourne Victory,” he added. “When you strip away all the hype, what really is a marquee player? It’s really about how the team performs as a whole rather than a single individual.
“Our goal is to play effective, quality football – and whoever fits in with that is what we’re looking for.
“It’s not always about big names. Look how successful Carlos Hernandez has been for the Victory yet few people knew much about him before he came to Australia.
“You can win games and entertain fans without hitching your wagon to one person.”
Didulica insists the club is on track with its recruiting and will fill its five allotted visa spots after Van’t Schip’s recent foray to Europe yielded several targets, most of whom are coming off at their current clubs in May.
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/heart-give-up-on-dukes-288817
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