Australian football great Josip Skoko will present the Mark Viduka Medal to the best player in the Westfield FFA Cup Final 2015 as part of the post match ceremony on Saturday night.
Skoko will present the medal to the player adjudged the best in the Westfield FFA Cup Final 2015. Viduka will not be in the country to present the medal himself, however Skoko is a more than fitting person to present the medal on behalf of one of his close friends and former Socceroos team mates.
From the time he left North Geelong for Europe through to his final year at Melbourne Heart in 2011, Skoko had a decorated playing career.
The midfielder made 52 appearances for the Socceroos and scored nine goals, arguably the most memorable being when he scored the winner in a friendly against Greece in front of a crowd of over 95,000 at the MCG in 2006.
Skoko made four appearances in the FA Cup during his time with Wigan Athletic, while he also played in Cup competitions in Croatia, Belgium and Turkey, as well as featuring in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup.
The Mark Viduka Medal is awarded to the player adjudged to be best afield in the Westfield FFA Cup Final 2015.
The voting process for Saturday night’s Final will comprise a panel of three judges – Socceroos Head Coach Ange Postecoglou, FFA Head of National Performance Luke Casserly and Skoko, who will allocate votes on a 3-2-1 basis.
Adelaide United’s Spanish striker Sergio Cirio was the recipient of the inaugural Mark Viduka Medal last year.
Tickets to the Westfield FFA Cup Final 2015 are still available. Click here for details. The match will be broadcast LIVE and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 505.
Josip Skoko Profile
Born: 10 December 1975 (Mount Gambier, SA)
Position: Midfielder
Club History:
1994-1995 North Geelong Warriors (Victoria)
1995-1999 Hadjuk Split (Croatia)
1999-2003 Racing Genk (Belgium)
2003-2005 Gençlerbirliği (Turkey)
2005-2008 Wigan Athletic (England)
2005/06 Stoke City – on loan (England)
2008-2010 Hadjuk Split (Croatia)
2010-2011 Melbourne Heart (Australia)
Representative Honours:
Socceroos ‘A’ internationals – 52 apps, 9 goals (1997-2007, cap number 429)
Australian U23 (Olyroos) 2000 Sydney Olympics
Young Socceroos (U20) 1995 U20 World Cup Finals
Additional Information:
Made his Socceroos debut as a sub against Macedonia in 1997
Played four matches in the FA Cup for Wigan Athletic – twice against Leeds and then against Manchester City (Jan 2006), and against Sunderland (Jan 2008)
Played in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup
Scored the winner for the Socceroos in the 1-0 win over Greece at the MCG in 2006
Came on as a substitute in the qualifier against Uruguay in the result that sealed Australia’s spot in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
