30 June 2009
Michael Cockerill
As the Qantas Socceroos prepare for their 2010 tilt at the World Cup, veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer talks children’s books, refugees and learning from mistakes
If you think Mark Schwarzer might have lost his drive, think again. Rich and famous, it would be easy, perhaps understandable, for the Qantas Socceroos goalkeeper to take his foot off the pedal as he closes in on the 20th season of his professional career. But Schwarzer has never been a shirker. Just watch him train. First out, last to leave, at 36 he pushes himself just as hard as he did when it all began with Marconi Stallions almost two decades ago.
The rewards are clear. Thirteen seasons in the English Premier League – the last arguably his best; almost 70 caps for the national team, the last dozen appearances again arguably among his best. A vintage goalkeeper in vintage form, Schwarzer has rarely been in such command of his career and his life. And it shows.
Next year, injury notwithstanding, he will play in his second World Cup. Three years ago in Germany, the experience was soured in part by his arm wrestle with perennial understudy Zeljko Kalac. Then-coach Guus Hiddink couldn’t make up his mind whom he preferred. Next year in South Africa, though, Schwarzer has no such worries. He has seen off the challengers and is the undisputed first choice.
It’s not just football that is nourishing him. Schwarzer is also a Qantas Ambassador and the author of three children’s books, a series following the fictional character of Edward “Megs” Morrison, who moves from England as a child to grow up playing football in Australia. Aimed at children between the ages of seven and 13, the books address significant issues outside the game. The fourth book in the series, Megs & The Complete Left Foot, was released last month.
Schwarzer is an Australian ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and early this year was awarded the Order of Australia in recognition of his achievements. “It’s something my wife and I are very passionate about,” he says. “We’re strong supporters of refugees around the world. Obviously, having a high profile helps to open people’s eyes – and pockets, so to speak.
“To try to contribute, and make people aware of what’s going on around the world: that’s what I believe in. You have a certain amount of responsibility when you’re a role model. We’re in this position because of playing football, rightly or wrongly – so you have to be careful with every step you take. That’s what people judge you on. I have a certain amount of expectation of myself, as do my friends and family. I’d like to live up to those expectations. I don’t want to let people down.”
Schwarzer hasn’t been letting anyone down, either with his club side, Fulham, or the Qantas Socceroos. For the latter, qualifying for the World Cup has seemingly been a breeze. But Schwarzer knows the success that is now taken for granted hasn’t come easily. For 32 years the Qantas Socceroos tried and failed to qualify for the World Cup. Did those failures help build a platform for success?
“Definitely – you need to go through those failures to realise the mistakes that have been made,” Schwarzer says. “The great example of that is the [2005] Uruguay qualification. In 2001 we won here, but lost over there, and a lot of things happened that led to us losing the game. Four years later we were in the same position again, having to play Uruguay – and if we hadn’t learnt from the mistakes, the experiences, we probably wouldn’t have qualified. Qualifying after 32 years was an amazing accomplishment, but to do it four years later, again, is better.”
Source: Qantas The Australian Way July 2009