Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has announced his retirement from the Socceroos, bringing to an end a stellar international career that featured two World Cup appearances and a record 109 matches in the green and gold.
The 41-year-old who made his debut for Australia 20 years ago against Canada in a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier, had expressed his interest in playing for the Socceroos at the 2014 edition of the tournament, in Brazil.
Schwarzer is believed to have notified Football Federation Australia (FFA) of his decision on Wednesday morning, just hours before Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou names his squad.
Fans and team-mates flocked to Twitter in support of Schwarzer, with Tim Cahill leading the tributes.
"Mark Schwarzer a true professional and is one of the all time greats for our game to ever wear a Socceroos jersey," Cahill said.
Schwarzer's retirement further opens the door to a bunch of talented goalkeepers vying to make the squad for next year's World Cup in Brazil, including Mitch Langerak, Eugene Galekovic and Mathew Ryan.
The 2014 showpiece was expected to be Schwarzer's third and final World Cup campaign, having represented Australia in the 2006 and 2010 editions.
But Schwarzer's recent move from being Fulham's first-choice 'keeper to English Premier League powerhouse Chelsea, where he's been playing back-up to the established Petr Czech, raised questions as to whether he would be able to hold onto his starting role in the team.
Schwarzer was on the end of Australia's 6-0 drubbing by Brazil in his last match for the national team in September.
However he has managed to keep two clean sheets in as many matches for Chelsea in the League Cup.
Mark Schwarzer
Date of birth: 6 October 1972 (age 41)
Place of birth: Sydney, Australia
Height: 196cm (6ft 5in)
Youth teams
Colo Cougars
Penrith
Blacktown Association
Marconi Stallions
Senior career
1990-1994: Marconi Stallions (58 appearances)
1994-1995: Dynamo Dresden (2 appearances)
1995-1996: 1. FC Kaiserslautern (4 appearances)
1996-1997: Bradford City (13 appearances)
1997-2008: Middlesbrough (367 appearances)
2008-2013: Fulham (172 appearances)
2013–present: Chelsea (2 League Cups appearances)
International career
1989: Australia U-17 (6 appearances)
1990-1991: Australia U-20 (8 appearances)
1993-2013: Australia (109 appearances)
Schwarzer tributes flow on Twitter:
Mile Sterjovski, who repesented the Socceroos 43 times from 2000-2013 wrote:
Robbie Slater also paid tribute to the Chelsea 'keeper:
Club Brugge Goalkeeper Ryan, widely tipped to replace Schwarzer as a permanent fixture in the Socceroos squad, wrote:
While Clint Boilton also paid tribute to the the veteran:
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