TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.

As the news swirled of Mark Schwarzer's retirement this week, I couldn't help but think of the song "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. The emotional operatic song is only fitting for Schwarzer, whose career spanned over 20 years and 109 International Caps. Mark Schwarzer was a larger than life player during his tenure in the Socceroos team. His 195cm frame was a massive presence in goals, and every Australian Football fan felt at ease thanks to his professionalism and calm demeanour. He instilled confidence in his defence and got the best out of them by his professionalism, commitment and tireless work ethic. From humble beginnings in the old National Soccer League (NSL), Schwarzer went on to have one of the most successful and storied careers of any Australian Goalkeeper to play the game. Having spent nearly his entire career in England playing for clubs like Middlesbrough FC, Fulham and Chelsea, Schwarzer finished his career with 504 English Premier League appearances to his name (the most English Premier League appearances made by a Non English Goalkeeper).

What made Schwarzer even more special, was the fact that his 20+ year career remained untarnished and unspoiled by outside distractions. With Footballers making exorbitant amounts of money these days, it's easy for them to fall off the straight and narrow and be lured in to the Celebrity world of Partying and Alcohol/ Drug use. Schwarzer led a life dedicated to Football and he proved you can have a more enjoyable career without all these destructive temptations, and it's these attributes which made him a perfect role model for kids. It was perhaps his time with the Green & Gold (Socceroos) where Schwarzer enjoyed his greatest moments. Who could forget his man of the match performance in the 1993  victory over Canada, which gave Australia a World Cup play off spot against Argentina. Or the 3-1 victory over England in which Australia defeated the Three Lions at Upton Park. And finally (and quite possibly Schwarzer's career defining moment) the match against Uruguay in 2005. With the penalty shootout hanging in the balance, no thanks to a Mark Viduka penalty miss, Uruguay's Marcelo Zalayeta stood up to the spot with the hope of getting the Uruguayans back in to the game. After striking the ball hard to Schwarzer's left, Schwarzer made a great save by sticking his arm upright and getting a solid hand to the ball to deny Zalayeta and Uruguay of a 2006 World Cup spot. Although replays will always show John Aloisi's final penalty as the clincher and the one that got us there, one cannot deny Schwarzer's tireless effort and input in to that game, which ultimately got us to Germany 2006. As Mark Schwarzer prepares for life on the other side of a Football career (retirement), he leaves behind a career which will never be forgotten and possibly never replicated again by an Australian Goalkeeper. Thanks for the memories Mark.


Written by Alex Stilianos.