Mark Schwarzer
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mark Schwarzer | ||
Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Middlesbrough F.C. | ||
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 June 2006 |
Mark Schwarzer (born October 6 1972) is an Australian association football player. Schwarzer is an Australian international goalkeeper, who currently plays for English Premiership football team Middlesbrough. He is of German descent, his parents Hans-Joachim and Doris having emmigrated to Australia in the 1960's. He speaks English, Spanish and fluent German.
After spells at Dynamo Dresden, FC Kaiserslautern and Bradford City, Schwarzer joined Middlesbrough in April 1997. He is considered a large contributor to the recent success of Middlesbrough and an important part of Steve McClaren's team.
Schwarzer made his debut for Middlesbrough against Stockport County in the League Cup semi-finals. He played in the final against Leicester City, a 1-1 draw, but injury kept him out of the replay, which Middlesbrough lost. However, he was part of the side who beat Bolton Wanderers to win the 2004 League Cup final, producing a superb display having recovered after his mistake in letting in a soft shot.
Perhaps his most important save for Boro came in the last match of the 2004-05 season against Manchester City, saving a Robbie Fowler penalty in stoppage time to preserve a 1-1 draw. The draw was sufficient to put Boro in seventh in the final league table and ensure qualification for the UEFA Cup. Had Fowler converted the penalty, Man City would have qualified for the UEFA Cup at Boro's expense. The save made him a local hero for Middlesbrough: as one local commentator excitedly declared, "he's done it, the big Aussie has done it, the greatest hero to come out of Australia since Ned Kelly!" (a famous Australian bushranger).
As of 2005, Schwarzer has been capped 22 times for Australia. He was instrumental in Australia's qualification for the 2006 World Cup, in the play-off against Uruguay. After Uruguay won the first leg 1-0 in Montevideo, Australia won 1-0 in Sydney. In the penalty shootout, Schwarzer saved two penalties to see Australia victorious 4-2.
Mark Schwarzer was granted a transfer request by Middlesbrough late in 2005 and sought to join a new club, but he withdrew his request on January 20 2006, and rejoined the team. However, a fractured cheekbone sustained against West Ham looked like it cost Schwarzer the season, but returned for the UEFA Cup final against Sevilla FC, albeit playing with a protective mask. However, he recovered to take part in Australia's World Cup Finals campaign.
At the World Cup Finals he played the first two games in Australia's group matches, conceding a controversial goal against Japan and two goals against Brazil. In the third match he was replaced by Zeljko Kalac, but after Kalac's disappointing performance he was reinstated for the Round of 16 match against Italy.
He received the penalty-kick goal in the 2nd round of the World Cup 2006 against Italy, shot by Francesco Totti in injury time, which unfortunately sent Australia out of the 2006 World Cup.
Honours
- 2004: English League Cup
Trivia
Mark and his wife Paloma have two children; a son, Julian, and a daughter, Amaya.