4. "When you're confident you can be standing on the edge of the box, somebody kicks the ball, it hits your arse and goes in."

A perfect example of the Aussie's humble approach was his response to scoring four goals against Liverpool, still one of the greatest feats by an Australian sportsperson on the world stage.

Viduka had undergone a tough start to his Leeds career and then entered the 2000 Olympics suffering from injuries. After he returned to England though, he was suddenly unstoppable.

From 2000 to 2007, Viduka could score from anywhere, with anything.

3. "I'm a libra so I have to balance things."

This one really speaks for itself.

2. "I don't really like being emotional. Public displays of emotion, I don't really do that sort of stuff. I don't know why. I would like to be the type that doesn't worry about that."

It's hard to define a footballer as inherently full of contradictions as Viduka. By his own admission, his life was "football, football, football" yet he never seemed entirely thrilled about it. Australia's immortal number nine was capable of incredible skill and petulance in equal measure. He seemed absorbingly patriotic for not just one, but two nations, and yet simultaneously, totally uncaring.

In many ways, Viduka's career and the amount of publicity it generated gives us all a brief insight into an introverted personality type that's often overlooked.

These days, elite footballers in the public eye are as much brands as they people. Viduka's career spanned this shift in the world game and his summation, near the end of his football journey, suggests a footballer not entirely comfortable with his own position in it. 

1. "I didn’t tell anyone I was starting, so why tell people when I finish?"

We were shocked to discover that this is one of the least remembered of Viduka's quotes, because it's the one that's resonated with us far more than any other.

Controversially, Viduka never played for Australia after the 2007 Asian Cup although he continued to play at the highest level with Newcastle United.

Eventually, injuries began to take their toll and one of the most dominant strikers of his generation quietly disappeared. The antithesis of the swansong parades and Indian Superannuation League cameos that accompany the world's best today.

In one of very few interviews since retirement, Viduka offered the above explanation for why he never announced his departure. It's sharp-witted, forthright, impudent and unintentionally brilliant.

Just like the man himself.