1) Mark Viduka: Leeds United (2003/04)
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When Leeds United spent £6m to sign Mark Viduka, he was expected to team up with Harry Kewell and Michael Bridges but injuries to both players saw him pair up with Alan Smith up top. The partnership proved to be a fruitful one for the Australian forward who scored 17 league goals in his first season as The Whites finished fourth.
His most memorable performance came against Liverpool when he scored all four goals in a 4-3 win at Elland Road. Viduka was crucial to Leeds’ exploits in the league and he scored 22 goals in all competitions not once but twice with Leeds.
However, the club was mired in financial crisis with £80m in debts and it was the beginning of the end for the club in the Premier League. In his penultimate season with the club, Viduka’s goals made the difference between relegation and staying up as Peter Reid failed to make do with cheap replacements after letting top quality players leave for good money.
In the final season, Viduka was at it again – scoring crucial goals in the final months of the season to give the club a chance. But it was not enough and, in his final game, he scored the opening goal before getting sent off in what eventually became a 4-1 loss to Bolton Wanderers.
The result confirmed relegation and Viduka never played for Leeds again. He was sold soon after to Middlesbrough as Leeds’ financial troubles got worse.
