Schwarzer wins Australian Footballer of the Year award

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has been named Australian Footballer of the Year for the 2008-09 season.

The award was presented to the 36-year-old at the Australian Football Awards in Sydney.

Schwarzer’s career began no less than 19 years ago and led him to top flight clubs in Germany and England. In 2008, the keeper left Middlesbrough to join London outfit Fulham.

At the international level, Schwarzer’s career goes back 16 years. Since his debut in 1993, he earned 66 caps with a total of 27 clean sheets.

Another player to receive an award in Sydney was Tim Cahill, who was named Player of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association.