Dario Vidosic slams Wellington Phoenix after he and his father were dragged ‘through the mud’

NEW Melbourne City signing Dario Vidosic has lit the fuse for an explosive clash with Wellington Phoenix by slamming his former club for putting his family’s name through the mud.

Dario Vidosic battles for the ball with Osama Malik.

NEW Melbourne City signing Dario Vidosic has lit the fuse for an explosive clash with Wellington Phoenix by slamming his former club for putting his family’s name through the mud.

Vidosic and his dad, assistant coach Rado Vidosic were controversially ushered out of Wellington a fortnight ago amid reports in the New Zealand press that coach Darije Kalezic had been undermined.

The attacker revealed they were blindsided, with his dad sacked via SMS after returning from road trips to Brisbane and Perth.

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“It threw Christmas into disarray. It was a stressful time trying to piece everything together,’’ Vidosic said.

“It was a surprise for us both when it all happened coming back from a one-week trip. A few things were said in the media, undermining and players reacting to that in regards to my father and directed at myself too.

“What was most disappointing was that our name was put through the mud.

Dario Vidosic celebrates a goal against Adelaide United.

“We’re not those sort of people, my father didn’t raise me like that. We’re both football-loving people, hard workers. My father came to Australia with nothing and raised me to be in a certain way.

“My father was texted and told that the coach said that they couldn’t work together. There’s a truth to that in that their playing philosophies were very different – (Kalezic) is very defensive, my father is more attacking. And that’s fine, they still worked together, were always in meetings together.’’

Vidosic Snr has forged a reputation as one of the A-League’s shrewdest lieutenants, serving under Ange Postecoglou, Graham Arnold and Kevin Muscat.

Capped 23 times by the Socceroos, Vidosic fumed at reports that he wasn’t performing to his maximum.

Rado Vidosic shakes hands with Adelaide coach Marco Kurz.

“It’s disappointing that my father’s been made out to be a scapegoat with a lack of results. I don’t want to turn it into a (slanging match), but if we look at the facts, if I was undermining I wouldn’t be performing the way I was,’’ he said.

“Against the Roar I was named captain, which was an honour. I had a good performance. It’s not something a player who’s undermining the coach would do (play well). We didn’t come to Wellington to do that.

“Mostly I feel for my father. He loves football, he’s worked with the best coaches, has great relationships.’’

Vidosic admits he’s got a point to prove, but was confident of making an impact.

“I know there’s the whole thing about the changing of clubs and all these things that have gone along with my signing here,’’ Vidosic said.

“For me it’s a bit of a blessing in disguise to come to a fantastic club, somewhere I can develop.”

Originally published as Dario Vidosic slams Wellington Phoenix after he and his father were dragged ‘through the mud’