Is Mark Schwarzer Still Wanted At Middlesbrough?
It must be hard to stand in the boots of Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Recently Middlesbrough offered an extended contract of only 1 year, as opposed to the 2 year terms he had put forward with his agent. After 12 stellar seasons with Boro, an extra year would have done well for Schwarzer given that the 2010 World Cup is nigh. Whilst, offers come in from Serie A clubs such as Fiorentina, Schwarzer remains in limbo as to whether to stay or leave.
Schwarzer started his leap to Europe with stand out seasons as a 19 year old at Marconi Stallions in the old Australian National Soccer League. In 1998/99 I spent my time training alongside his younger brother at Marconi. Most people would not really consider the old NSL as anything other than the backwater of football, but it is this same league that produced the likes of Viduka, Schwarzer and others plying their trade currently in Europe.
From Australia to the Bundesliga and now the English Premier League, Schwarzer was recently recognized as one of its longest serving players, after Denis Bergkamp, serving up over 364 games with Boro. So, there is definitely a rhyme and reason to his success and longevity. It takes superior resilience over many many years to achieve the playing time and experience that Schwarzer has produced over his tenure for club and country, and it serves as a focal point as to how to view your own goalkeeping career.
Goalkeeping is like a pressure cooker. Over time, and only if you can stand the pressure and waiting game that can be inherent in the position, will you be able to succeed and hold your spot within a team. So it seems quite interesting that Middlesbrough, whether for monetary reasons, or internal politicking will not extend Schwarzers contract for a two year period?
Having a two year period to prepare for the World Cup stands true to principals around periodization in sports science. Many of the top world class events have cyclical preparation periods of around 3 years. Breaking this cycle, especially during club playing time, can have dramatic effects on the overall performance of a goalkeeper at events like the World Cup (you might not think it, but it can). Therefore, having Schwarzer in match readiness is critically important for Australia's chances moving forward toward qualification for World Cup 2010.
And whom else could fill the boots of Schwarzer in terms of longevity, ability and leadership? Aussie goalkeepers such as Brad Jones, and others whom are developing their skills, still need time to flourish...fantastic goalkeepers without a doubt, but with goalkeeping timing is everything. So, Middlesbrough need to reconsider there contractual agreements for Mark Schwarzer, not only for the success of Middlesbrough, but also for the success of the Australian national team (if they care anything about the Australian National team at all).
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John Stevanja
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