In this, his 20th season as a professional, Mark Schwarzer has had to field a number of questions regarding his future in the game – the wording may vary but his answer remains consistent.
Behind every successful team stands a great goalkeeper and here at Craven Cottage, Schwarzer has been one of the foundations from which our recent achievements have been built. Much has been said and written in regards to the Australian’s contribution, and fans will need little reminding of the part he has played since arriving on a free transfer from Middlesbrough in July 2008.
Few demonstrate such a calculated reading of the game, while fewer still preside over their box with more authority and conviction. The 38-year-old is a ‘keeper who instils belief in all those he plays with and unease in those he plays against.
Two decades in the game and 14 seasons in English football stand him out as one of the Barclays Premier League’s finest, and the good news for Fulham is that he has no plans to call time on his distinguished career just yet.
“It’s a question that I have been asked a lot,” reveals Mark. “But every time I explain how I hold no thoughts on retiring just yet. I feel as good as I ever have done, I work hard and I’m performing – which for me is the ultimate consideration.
“As long as I am playing well week-in-week-out and the Manager is playing me then I’ll be around for a while to come. I have signed a contract that keeps me at Fulham until the end of next season, and potentially there could be another year after that too.
“I’ve been involved in the game for a while now, and when you play for the period of time that I have, you’re inevitably going to pass various landmarks. Twenty years as a professional is certainly an achievement, but it’s one of those things that I will look back on and consider the greater meaning when I have stopped playing.
“To be honest I don’t like to think about such things too much, because if you do, you’re kind of giving into the fact that your days as a player are coming to an end. All I want to do is concentrate on playing and at present I’m looking forward and not back.”
Fulham fans will be buoyed by the news that Schwarzer harbours no intention of hanging up the gloves just yet, however, they will spare a thought for David Stockdale, who has coped admirably in the Aussie stopper’s absence this season.
“It’s always tough when you come in and do well but then get left out again,” explains Mark. “I can sympathize with David because I’ve been in that position myself. It’s all part of the learning process though and all about how you react.
“I want to be playing every game, and that’s the only angle that I can take. It’s difficult for the guy behind you, but David is a terrific young goalkeeper and he has shown what he is capable of this season.
“But I have to concentrate on my game and make sure that I am playing at my best. Goalkeepers work in a competitive environment, competing against one another for just the one shirt – but that’s the life that we live.”
The confidence Schwarzer has inspired, the clean sheets he has kept and the match-winning saves he has made have done much for his popularity on the banks of the Thames. As one of the undisputed Premier League goalkeepers, he has set the benchmark for others to follow.
Unquestionably vital to his club, he also holds a significant influence on the international stage too, becoming Australia’s most capped player in January on same day the Socceroos reached the final of the Asian Cup.
“Again it’s something that I will look back on in years to come and probably pinch myself,” he says. “Winning my 88th cap in the final made for a tremendous occasion, but losing the game to Japan kind of took the gloss off a little.
“It was an unforgettable moment and hopefully I can extend that record a bit further. I’m still very much in the plans of my coach Holger Osieck and I believe that I have a lot more to give. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have played at two World Cups and who’s to say that I can’t make it to a third?”
In fine form of late, Schwarzer’s role from now until the end of the season will be crucial as the Whites look to cement their position in the top half of the table.
Now in his third season with the Club, he has unquestionably joined the likes of Tony Macedo, Peter Mellor, Gerry Peyton, Maik Taylor and Edwin Van der Sar as one of our favourite stoppers.
At 40, former hero Van der Sar will call time on his distinguished 21-year career, one that took in four seasons at Craven Cottage, at the current campaign’s end. The Dutchman’s longevity has been an example to many – including Schwarzer.
“The Fulham fans know all about Edwin, and he’s widely considered as one of the best in the business,” he explains. “He’s enjoyed a fantastic career and I know he did well for this Club too. It will be a shame when he calls it a day.
“I’ve got a few years on Edwin though, but he’s certainly someone that I look at and think that if he can play at the top for as long as he has then I can do the same. Alongside Brad Friedel he’s shown what can be achieved and I don’t think there’s a marker for how long a goalkeeper can go on for now.
“There’s been a lot of advancements in the game to allow that to happen. I made a conscious decision to change my regime not too long ago, and with the help that I get from the Sports Science Department, the nutritionist and the Strength and Conditioning team it seems to be working.
“I’m still training with the same intensity, but I’m now doing up to four sessions a week in the gym and have changed my diet a fair bit too – I feel a lot better for it though. It’s not rocket science either, it’s really all about discipline. Fortunately I have that, probably as a result of my German heritage!”
A dedicated professional whose own permanence comes as a result of hard-work, dedication and consistency; he’s also a player that always plays the game with a smile on his face.
“For me that’s one of the most important factors,” reveals Mark. “We’ve talked about maintaining your time at the top and keeping yourself fit and healthy. But equally, you have to have that love for the game – which is another reason to keep playing.
“Too many people these days just don’t have that. My son Julian plays for the Academy’s Under-11s and there are boys of that age running around without a smile on their face. That’s a very sad thing.
“Sometimes this game can be too serious. Of course, we all want to win and be successful, but I think the reason why we all started playing can be lost at times. The magnitude of games is massive, but you have to have that element of enjoyment – people undervalue how significant that can be. That also breeds success.”