Archie's Anger Over FourFourTwo List

VICTORY and Socceroos striker Archie Thompson has blasted FourFourTwo magazine's list of the Top 25 Australian footballers of all time for leaving out Mark Viduka.

We published our controversial list of the greatest players in the nation's history in our current issue on sale now.

But Thompson has been infuriated by the selection panel's decision to leave out Newcastle United hitman Viduka.

He told Melbourne's Herald-Sun newspaper: "I'd have him in the top 10, top five for me.

"He's probably been one of the best players for a long time. To hear that, it's an absolute disgrace. The guy's an absolute legend. He's probably my No. 1."

Viduka was left out after a split between the magazine's judges over his record for his country.

With just 11 goals from 43 appearances, he is far from our most successful goalscorer.

But he played a key role as a target man for Australia in the World Cup and at the Asian Cup.

"He's been at top clubs in the UK and performed at that level and has always been there for Australian teams," Thompson added.

"For me, he's someone I've always looked up to as a player, and to not have him in there is a disgrace, really."

Former Socceroo Ange Postecoglou also believes Viduka should have been included.

“It was a surprise to not see him in there,” Postecoglou told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Mark would be in my top five, never mind top 25.”

However Postecoglou was happy to see some of his contemporaries on the list.

“I think Oscar Crino was ahead of his generation. It was a different era back then, a much more physical game. Oscar really stood out," said the former national youth coach who is now a Fox Sports commentator.

“And Robbie Slater proved he could do it in a couple of different leagues.

“I would also have had Paul Okon in there. He had an injury-riddled career but when he was at the top of his game, he'd be in my top 25.”

FourFourTwo editor-in-chief Paul Hansford didn't vote for Viduka, but he is prepared to change his view if the public response is overwhelming in Viduka's favour.

Hansford did not believe Viduka's record with the Socceroos was good enough, and also said he could have done more in club football.

"Mark really polarised people," Hansford said.

"Football is a game of opinions and I'll be really interested to see how people fight Mark's corner."

See the full list in the latest issue - and if you disagree with the choices, leave your comments below and give us your best argument for including Viduka...and who you would leave out to fit him in and why.

Top 25 (Alphabetical order)
John Aloisi, Graham Arnold, Ray Baartz, Mark Bosnich, Tim Cahill, Oscar Crino, Alan Davidson, Frank Farina, Craig Johnston, Harry Kewell, John Kosmina, Jimmy Mackay, Joe Marston, Damian Mori, Jimmy Rooney, Mark Schwarzer, Robbie Slater, Alex Tobin, Tony Vidmar, Paul Wade, Johnny Warren, Harry Williams, Peter Wilson, Charlie Yankos, Ned Zelic.