Once again, goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has taken the spotlight at the major awards night for Australian football, winning two out of the three significant titles.
At 38 years old, Schwarzer, the Socceroos and Fulham keeper, continues to improve with age, having been named player of the year by his fellow professionals in Professional Footballers Australia (PFA).
With a total of 392 votes, he narrowly edged out Tim Cahill, the Everton star and the inaugural winner from 2009, who secured 385 votes. Dutch-based Socceroo Brett Holman followed in third place with 196 votes.
Additionally, Schwarzer earned the Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) player of the year accolade for the second consecutive year during a gala dinner in Sydney ahead of the friendly match against Paraguay on Saturday.
Cahill, recognized by football journalists from the Football Media Association (FMA) as Australia’s most influential outfield player, stood out among the nominees.
Having exhibited remarkable form throughout his 17-year career with the Socceroos, Schwarzer continued to build his legacy, making 10 more appearances for Australia during the 2009-10 season, bringing his total to 80 caps—just seven shy of Alex Tobin’s record.
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in June, he played every minute of every match for Australia.
Schwarzer also showcased his skills with Fulham, participating in 37 Barclays Premier League matches, five in the FA Cup, and 12 in the inaugural Europa League, contributing to Fulham’s journey to the final against Atletico Madrid.
Cahill displayed exceptional scoring ability, netting seven goals in 10 appearances for the national team, and finding the back of the net 17 times in 43 matches for his Premier League side, Everton.
His pivotal role was crucial in maintaining Australia’s hopes for qualification for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
Despite receiving a harsh red card in Australia’s opening match against Germany at the World Cup, he resiliently returned to score in Australia’s victory over Serbia during the final group match.
The PFA’s Harry Kewell Medal, awarded for Australia’s best under-23 player, was given to Mitch Langerak, a former goalkeeper for Melbourne Victory, now playing for Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
Servet Uzunlar, a standout defender for the Matildas during their Asian Cup triumph, was the inaugural recipient of the PFA women’s player of the year award.
The FFA’s young player of the year title went to Tommy Oar, who rose to prominence with Brisbane Roar, later moved abroad to join Utrecht in Holland, and was included in the World Cup squad.
Clare Polkinghorne, a star for Brisbane Roar, received the FFA’s top female player of the year award for her significant role in Australia securing their first Women’s Asian Cup title.
Named young female player of the year was Sam Kerr from Perth Glory.
The amateur team of the year was awarded to the University of Wollongong Hippos, while the youth team award went to Holland Park Hawks, Queensland’s under-14 side.
Laurelle Sommers from Victoria was honored for her volunteering efforts, and Michelle Castle from Tasmania along with Asefa Woldemariam from Western Australia were acknowledged as the nation’s top amateur coaches.
The referees were also celebrated, with Patrick Galloway from Tasmania receiving the referee of the year award.
Buford Balony says: What a surprise, imagine if he’d gone to Arsenal.
