Scott Musgrave


Over the years Australia have spat out more than one classy goalkeeper and the stocks of the national team, although at the moment looking like a one man show, seem sure to heat up particularly for the 2014 World Cup campaign. The Socceroos have a penchant for producing top quality goalkeepers, particularly in the last decade. The arrival of the sensational Mark Bosnich propelled expectations sky-high. Then his subsequent ejection from football left a void to be filled.

Bosnich was a world class keeper. Starting off at Sydney United, he earned himself a transfer to giants Manchester United before moving on to Aston Villa. It was arguably there that the legendary shot stopper made himself a household name across the world. The controversial Australian was scouted out by Sir Alex Ferguson yet again for the Red Devils as a possible successor to Peter Schmeichel, big boots to fill for any goalkeeper. However, Bosnich answered the call and stated his case for a career at one of the most successful clubs in recent history. However, dogged by controversy and fallings out with management, Bosnich found himself third choice at United with Tim Howard taking the number one jersey.
 
It didn’t take long before Chelsea came calling and it was here that he made the final mistake that ended his top class career. In 2002, the Socceroo tested positive for cocaine usage and was subsequently sacked by the London club.

For all his short-comings, there was no doubt that Bosnich had class. Even in a recent comeback in the A-League with the Central Coast Mariners he showed signs, even at 37, of the skills that once made him reknowned across the world.

With the Socceroos, Bosnich was immense. His performance in Tehran in the 1998 World Cup campaign essentially kept the Aussies in with a chance of qualification with a 1-1 draw, but, being beaten in the return leg twice by the Iranian strikers, he failed along with his fellow Australians to show himself on the ultimate world stage.

After Bosnich's departure, there came a vacuum of power leaving the job of protecting the Australian goal to journeyman keeper Zelijko Kalac and regular Middleborough stopper Mark Schwarzer.

With appearances in Oceanian qualifying most times not considered important enough by European clubs, Schwarzer wasn’t often released to be with the Socceroos and as such only made limited appearances. So, with the former Kaiserslautern custodian away, Kalac took the reigns for much of the qualifying campaigns through Oceania along with contributions from local NSL based keepers such as Jason Petkovic and Clint Bolton.

Kalac continued to serve the Socceroos well, with the exception of the ill fated 2005 Confederations Cup where Michael Petkovic was installed by then coach Frank Farina. However, soon after Farina’s sacking and Dutch legend Guus Hiddink’s appointment, Mark Schwarzer became the incumbent for the Socceroos in most games under his adept tutelage.

The battle for the number one jersey continued between the two stoppers. Kalac at AC Milan, not getting game time, was no longer an automatic choice, and Schwarzer, a regular performer at a mid-table club in England was chosen as the default protector for the Socceroos' goal.

With the exception of the final group game in the World Cup against Croatia, Schwarzer played most if not all games under the master tactician and then properly established himself as the outright number one as Kalac bowed out of international football the following year .

Schwarzer followed up this lack of competition with some average performances in the Asian Cup under interim coach Graham Arnold, however, with his move to Fulham from Middlesborough he became reinvigorated and produced some of the best form of his career for both the national team and his club, leading them to a seventh place finish and the Socceroos to one of the biggest achievements in their history, going through qualification unbeaten, and without conceding a goal.

At 36, Schwarzer obviously is in the twilight of his career, but do the Socceroos actually have the depth to replace the veteran when he finally retires? If history is anything to go by, there are more than a few talents waiting in the wings.

In recent qualifiers Schwarzer’s backup has been the experienced Michael Petkovic who, at 32, is obviously not a long term successor. However, there are more than enough names in the mix to take the coveted number one jersey for the Australians in the long run.

1. Adam Federici

Obviously one of the most recognisable as an eventual successor. The 22 year-old, at English Championship club Reading, wooed fans in England with a terrific performance against Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup, keeping the Red Devils to a draw only to be beaten in the replay. He then became the number one choice for the Olympics after Central Coast Mariners keeper Danny Vukovic, the sometimes captain of the Olyroos, was sanctioned by FIFA after striking a referee.

Touted as many to be above the level of Vukovic to begin with, Federici was the sole light in a dim campaign for the Aussies, most noticeably of all against Argentina. With the Olyroos failing to get past the group stages, Federici returned to Reading to battle it out for a starting place with American veteran Marcus Hahnemann and eventually succeeded. Federici's own brilliance when standing in for the US keeper led Reading to entrust the club to his hands by releasing the Hahnemann at the end of the 2008/09 campaign.

Federici seems to be the most obvious choice for the gloves in the future, but he will face tough competition.

2. Brad Jones

The 27 year-old was Mark Schwarzer’s understudy at Middlesborough for countless years and always looked assured when called upon if his mentor was out injured. The future looked bright for the Perth born keeper, and when Schwarzer left the Riverside for Fulham, it was over to him and Englishman Ross Turnbull to battle it out for supremacy.

Early injuries proved problematic, but Turnbull’s erratic form lead to Jones being recalled, and his maturity also counted as he aided an ailing defence. Although in Jones's breakthrough season the keeper failed to save the club from relegation, and like fellow Aussie custodian Adam Federici, will find himself playing Championship football next season.

Unlike Federici however, Jones has already been capped for the Socceroos and has more recently been involved with the squad. His first cap came against Uruguay, where, a serious blunder on his part, led to Uruguay winning the friendly 2-1. He barely got a look in after that.

Jones has since worked his way back into the squad and could well be the man to look to when Schwarzer retires from the international game. Also, at his age, the Boro man could prove the perfect interim keeper before Federici takes over, if indeed he does live up to his potential.

3. Dean Bouzanis

The youngest of the keepers in the mix, the Liverpool reserves stopper seems to be next in line for Mark Bosnich’s crown. Being highly rated by Reds' boss Rafael Benitez has led many to earmark him as a possible world class keeper in the future, with the chance of one day taking Pepe Reina’s place in the starting line-up. The highly rated youngster with Greek roots rose through the ranks of the New South Wales Institute of Sport before getting the call to Liverpool at just 16 years-old. Even at that time, he spent a short spell at A-League club Sydney FC as the backup keeper to Clint Bolton, such were the Sydney staff impressed with the youngster. 

There have although been some questions over the loyalty of Bouzanis as he proceeded to play several international games for Greece at youth level, leaving many Australians worrying that the future star might be snapped up by the country of his forefathers, much like Josip Simunic and Anthony Seric in the case of Croatia.

However, after many reassurances from Bouzanis himself and a call up to the Olyroos squad before the Olympics, the hot prospect seems to be allying himself with the country of his birth.

It is expected that Bouzanis will rise to meet his potential and even one day be one of the most sought-after keepers in Europe. Rafael Benitez once rated him as the best in the world in his age group, could he one day be the best in the world proper?

Besides the obvious talents there are a few possible suitors waiting in the A-League wings. Danny Vukovic, Eugene Galekovic, Tando Velaphi, Aleks Vrteski, Alex Birighitti and Jess Vanstrattan have all been touted as possible future Socceroos, and some have already represented  Australia at senior level.  But not having already made the trip to Europe, or having trouble cementing first-team status in that continent (as Vanstrattan did at Juventus), there are questions over whether any can  fill the boots of the evergreen Mark Schwarzer.

There seems to be no doubt over Australia’s goalkeeping pedigree. Adam Federici, Brad Jones and Dean Bouzanis are probably the three most likely to take the crown. It is even more likely that Jones and Federici may well be stepping stones until the talent that is Dean Bouzanis is ripe for picking. However, football is a funny game and there may yet be a surprise in who steps up to the plate once the great Mark Schwarzer takes his final bow. 

Related Articles:


Ferencvaros 09/10 Home                Barcelona 09/10 Away

Ferencvaros 09/10 home shirt                       Barcelona 09/10 away shirt