Well respected in Europe, particularly in Belgium where he was a star at Standard Liege, "Viddy" played in four European leagues as well as the Japanese J-League.

During this time he represented the Socceroos with distinction in two World Cup campaigns. Vidmar's total of 18 goals from 53 appearances proof of his impact for the green and gold.

Ahead of the new A-League season with the Reds, he spoke with The Socceroo magazine recently about his playing career...

Viddy, you first moved to Europe as a player in 1991. How did you transition from Aussie club football to Belgian?

"It was quite difficult. It probably took me six months to get used to the conditions, training and a different culture. I'd come from semi-pro football to all of a sudden double-sessions every day.

"In Belgium they do a fair bit of running including every Tuesday morning a 7km run in the forest regardless of the weather. But like everything, you get used to it.

"I got ten goals in my first season with KV Kortijik who ended up getting relegated and I joined KSV Waragem the following season.

What was the turning point for you?

"I remember coming home for the Christmas break and when I returned to Belgium it felt like the start of the second season. So the break helped.

"There were a few times in that first year I was dropped and told to play in the reserves. But it was a lucky break when I got called up on the very last day before the winter break. I came on at half-time, changed the game by scoring and from there it sort of changed for me.

After Waragem you signed for the much bigger Standard Liege, which must've been a thrill. Tell us more...

"I had wanted to make the move during my second season at Waragem but I'm not sure if there was some funny business between the agent and the club. And there were World Cup qualifiers for the Socceroos. But I ended up at Standard Liege as the coach Robert Waseige wanted to sign me.

"We had a fantastic season and a very good team. Marc Wilmots, Patrick Vervoort and so many internationals with experience. Waseige got the best out of the players.

"We even had a Belgian decathlete as our fitness coach. I was the fittest and strongest I've ever been.

After spells with Dutch giants Feyenoord and Sion in Switzerland you ended up at Tenerife, although it was a bit of a roller-coaster, wasn't it?

"We had a coach every three months. I actually had a pretty decent first year and I thought that would be a good introduction to Spanish football. So I was keyed up for that second year but unfortunately, four days into pre-season the coach Victor Fernandez told me I was no longer a required player.

"He knew he had the job six weeks before the previous season ended, so I had an argument with him saying basically 'why didn't you tell me this earlier in the summer' as most clubs had their squads already settled.

"I had US$1m on my head too and after four days of pre-season most clubs had their teams. So it was hard for me to move.

Eventually things got better?

"Well, he got sacked three months later and Artur Jorge took over but he got the sack three months later.

"Then a young Spanish coach called Juan Manuel Lillo came in and he was the one who sat me down and asked me what's going on. He said he needed match fit players but I said I'm here if you need me.

"He brought me off the bench on a couple of occasions. So it was a pretty tough season even though I finally ended up on the park but it's the sort of season that makes you a bit tougher and resilient.

"I don't have any regrets on my career. It was the path that was presented to me. Sometimes you get frozen out. But overall, I loved my career in Europe.

You delayed your return home with a two-year stint at J-League outfit Hiroshima. Why the move and how was the shift to Japanese footy?

"I was 32 at that stage and I was going to come home but the opportunity came when Eddie Thomson [Hiroshima's Aussie coach] rang me. Knowing my situation in Spain he convinced me of playing in the J-League.

"The people in Japan were fantastic as were my club Sanfrecce and you know it was quite refreshing after coming from the dog eat dog, harsh reality, back-stabbing world of European football to a much nicer, calm, systematic approach of Japanese football.

"It was really refreshing. But I had a few difficult moments, such as getting used to the heat and humidity in summer.

And there were a number of Aussies already there?

"Yeah, Tony Popovic, Hayden Foxe, Tommy Sermanni were all there too so that made it even easier. Japanese players were tactically a bit naive but you can't take away their players' commitment and drive. And now their league has come on heaps with clubs like Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka ... they're on a different level.

You debuted for the Socceroos in 1991. Any recollections?

"Very vague. Maybe we were wearing tight shorts and tight kits!

Many speak of your goal for Australia against Maradona's Argentina in 1993. Any recollections of that?

"The whole lead up was fantastic. One of the world powers was coming to town lead by Maradona. He wasn't in his prime but he certainly was very good in those two games. In a little way we probably didn't believe in ourselves because back then you look at two teams lined up and you would never think you could win.

Did you think you could win?

"Personally, I always went out there with the mentality that you could win. But not many people would've thought we were a chance. As for Maradona, there may've been a few tangles with him but to be honest, I haven't even watched the game. It's sitting there in the library somewhere. Maybe I'll show my grandkids.

1997 was a fascinating year because it seemed you played more times for the green and gold than you did at club level. And you scored eight times in 16 national team games...

"It was interesting because my club would say, 'you're not even playing for your club regularly and you're getting called up for your national team?' And I just told them that's how it is.

"Then when I'd come back they'd be surprised when I told them I played and scored. And I thought maybe they'd give me a shot but they probably treated Australia as a backwater.

"And just playing games was so important for me at that time to get match fit. Those games give me a bit of life - just training every day, you need an outlet on the weekend.

"And I wasn't able to do that but the Socceroos gave me that opportunity and I absolutely loved it.