Born: Syndey, Australia, 6 October 1972
Position: Goalkeeper
International caps: 109
International goals: 0
Signed: 21 May 2008 from Middlesbrough (free)
Fulham debut: Hull City 2-1 Fulham, 16 August 2008
Fulham appearances: 220
Fulham goals: 0
Honours: UEFA Europa League (2009-10).
Sold: 7 June 2013 (released).
Mark Schwarzer was Roy Hodgson’s first signing after securing Fulham’s Premier League place following the Great Escape. The Middlesbrough goalkeeper rejected offers from Bayern Munich and Juventus to play first-team football at Craven Cottage and kept ten clean sheets in his first season as the Whites finished a club record seventh in the top flight. The experienced number one was in sensational form the following year as Fulham went all the way to the Europa League final, losing to Atletico Madrid in Hamburg.
Schwarzer’s continued excellence caught the eye of Arsene Wenger, but Fulham refused to sell him to Arsenal – much to the Australian’s frustration. He set aside that disappointment to reclaim the first team spot from David Stockdale and he signed a new contract at Craven Cottage. Schwarzer remained outstanding in the Fulham goal, keeping a total of 73 clean sheets for the club, before Martin Jol signed Maarten Stekelenburg in an ill-fated attempt to replace him. Schwarzer went to Chelsea and then Leicester City, winning Premier League titles at both clubs, before retiring and moving into punditry.
