It was an aptly bittersweet farewell for the Australian international who, despite some superb goalscoring feats, never totally convinced the Elland Road faithful.

Viduka is almost certain to be sold in the close-season and few Leeds fans will weep at the prospect.

A striker of rare class but questionable temperament, the 28-year-old Viduka came to symbolise the indulgence that has brought the proud Yorkshire club to their current state: relegated and broke.

His reported wages of 65,000 pounds ($115,300) a week make Viduka a soft target for those Leeds fans shocked by the incredible decline of a club who were contesting the Champions League semi-finals three years ago.

The fact that his six-million-pound transfer in 2000 was financed by a leasing agreement that means in-debt Leeds will not receive the full amount of any fee for his sale does not help either.

Nor did the undisciplined end to Viduka's season, featuring two red cards in his final five appearances.

Against Bolton he put Leeds in front with a penalty, got sent off after two needless yellow cards for use of the elbow and watched from the sidelines as his depleted team collapsed to a 4-1 defeat that effectively sent them down.

CROATIAN ROOTS

It proved to be his last game for Leeds this season due to a back injury and he is already back in Australia.

If Viduka's disciplinary record leaves something to be desired, his goalscoring record, at every club he has represented, is outstanding.

Tall, muscular but unusually deft, the burly Australian is capable of undoing the tightest defence.

The son of Croatian immigrants, he came to prominence with hometown club Melbourne Knights as a teenager in Australia before an emotional move to Croatia Zagreb in 1995.

Off the pitch Viduka traced his roots and on it he was prolific, scoring 40 times in 76 league starts.

He netted 30 goals in 36 league starts at Scottish club Celtic and managed 59 goals in 126 league starts for Leeds.

Last season he was the toast of Leeds after his 14 goals in their final 10 games effectively saved them from relegation.

This season seven strikes in their final 10 games represented another fine contribution but this time it proved insufficient and many Leeds fans will be glad to see the back of a player whose commitment to their cause they often doubted.

The Australian is unfortunate in that his Leeds strike partner Alan Smith is a local-born fighter who gives the impression he would die for the club.

Metallica-fan Viduka, though, is not helped by his habit of attracting negative feedback.

NO VILLAIN

A row with then Leeds boss Peter Reid last November led to his exile from the first team, with the Australian claiming he had been made a scapegoat for the team's poor results.

Viduka's already unhappy season was badly disrupted in January when he returned to Australia to be with his sick father.

In February he and Leeds were humiliated after he refused to travel to Venezuela for an Australia friendly. In response, Australia invoked a FIFA rule banning him from playing for five days and a fit Viduka had to sit out an important game against Manchester United the following Saturday.

It was another unnecessary distraction in a disastrous campaign at Elland Road.

However, given his goal record, Viduka is unlikely to be short of suitors in the transfer market and former Leeds manager Eddie Gray, who stepped down on Monday, believes those who vilify Viduka have missed the point.

"I don't look upon him as a villain, and neither should anybody else," said Gray.

"It is sad when players leave football clubs. He's been a good player for our club, a great goalscorer and I am sure the supporters will have many happy memories of him, none more so than when he scored four against Liverpool (in November 2000).

"If he moves to another club I'm sure he will be an asset to them."