Manager was told he wasn’t good enough for Leeds United by Mark Viduka, ‘he was very dishonest’

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Mark Viduka was a Leeds United legend so Whites fans won’t be pleased what a manager did to the Australian during his Leeds tenure.

Daniel Farke would love a personality and a player like Viduka in his current Leeds squad, as the 6’2 clinical finisher was a revelation at Elland Road.

The Aussie was a nightmare for defenders, and his 72 goals in 166 games for Leeds explains that.

His love for the Whites was there to see, as Viduka claimed his best goal came at Leeds with his famous goal against Arsenal in 2003 topping the lot.

Despite having a successful time, it didn’t stop off-field antics getting in his way, and a former Leeds boss ultimately led to the striker’s exit in 2004.

Mark Viduka told Peter Reid he wasn’t good enough for Leeds United

Peter Reid became the manager of Leeds in 2003 and didn’t exactly set the world alight.

It wasn’t any fault of his own with Leeds going through financial difficulties at the time, but their football on the pitch wasn’t much better.

Despite this, he guided Leeds to a respectable mid-table finish but ultimately got the Whites relegated in 2004, which led to him leaving, and Leeds not returning to the top flight for 17 years.

This wasn’t Reid’s only negative though, as he and Viduka never really saw eye to eye, which is a stark contrast from what Viduka thinks about fellow Aussie Ange Postecoglou.

Viduka made his feelings clear on Reid in an interview with ESPN in 2020 claiming he was ‘very dishonest’ and made him a ‘scapegoat’.

“When Peter Reid came in, I had no problem at all with him,” Viduka said.

“Later on, my biggest problem with him was he realised the situation, and he was looking for a scapegoat. That scapegoat was me.

“My biggest problem with him is that he was very dishonest towards me.

“To be honest, I don’t think he had the capacity to be the (Leeds) coach at the time.”

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Viduka submitted transfer request at Leeds because of Reid

The pair seemed to have many bust-ups during their time together at Elland Road.

Reid’s personality clearly clashed with the striker, and Viduka didn’t seem to like anything the former Whites boss had to say, and may add reason to why Mark Schwarzer said Viduka didn’t fulfil his potential.

Despite scoring 11 goals for Reid, disagreements took over, as Reid revealed their arguments, but wanted to keep Viduka despite the Australian handing in a transfer request because of the feud.

Reid said in a press conference in 2003: “Mark’s still very much part of my plans for the season.

“Words were said, but disagreements with players are part and parcel of a manager’s job.”

Things never got patched up though, and Viduka made the move from Yorkshire to Middlesbrough, as the grudge continues to live long in the memory of Viduka.