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Socceroos great Mark Schwarzer has outlined how the A-League can get out of the huge hole it finds itself in – and why playing for Premier League giants Chelsea at the twilight of his career will always be unforgettable.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail while in Perth as part of the recent Famous Chelsea FC world tour, the decorated goalkeeper admitted the national men's competition 'is not where people want it to be'.
'In saying that, it is still definitely needed in Australia,' Schwarzer said.
'For me, the aim should be to catch up to Asia, competitions like the J-League (in Japan), the standard is impressive.
'I don't see any point comparing it (A-League) to leading European competitions.
'What it does offer (domestic players) is a pathway to the Socceroos... that is really important, we should never lose that.
Socceroos great Mark Schwarzer has outlined how the A-League can stay relevant - and why playing for Chelsea at the twilight of his club career will always be unforgettable
Schwarzer (pictured, with Petr Cech) joined Chelsea in 2013 following a call from then manager José Mourinho
The A-League has been running for 20 years, but is fading into obscurity.
While the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Dwight Yorke and Robbie Fowler were instant hits for the competition given their respective football pedigrees, crowd numbers have dropped off alarmingly in recent years.
The demise of Western United in August was another blow the embattled competition didn't need, and it came just a week before the 2025-26 A-League men's season begins.
Schwarzer agreed the current A-League off-season – which runs from May to October, the longest in world football – is absurd.
He suggested games instead kick off in August – and while that would clash with rival footy codes, the 53-year-old stressed soccer needs its own identity on Australian shores.
Schwarzer also recalled why he joined Chelsea in 2013.
'I was at Fulham at the time, and when a club like Chelsea get in touch, there was only going to be one answer,' he said.
'Jose (Mourinho) gave me a call to see if I was interested, it was a surreal moment, especially given I was coming to the end of my career.
After retiring from football in 2016, Schwarzer turned his attention to punditry, namely with the BBC (pictured) and Optus Sport
Schwarzer is best known in Australia for his heroics in the penalty-shootout win against Uruguay (pictured) in November of 2005, which saw the Socceroos qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany
Schwarzer was the Socceroos' first choice gloveman at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups (pictured, with wife Paloma)
'I had a desire to play in the Champions League, and achieved that when at the club.
'Training with guys like John (Terry), Frank (Lampard) and (Didier) Drogba was unbelievable.
'They expected to win, the collective mentality was incredible.
Next was a move to Leicester in 2015, where Schwarzer had the 'best seat in the house' as the club's no.2 shot-stopper behind Kasper Schmeichel.
'Our first aim was 40 points, that is the figure you usually need to avoid relegation,' he recalled.
'I think the key was the freedom we played with... there was no pressure, no one realistically thought we would win the league.
'For me, Leicester winning the title is the biggest ever fairy-tale in world football.'
Schwarzer will also soon celebrate a date he will never forget - November 16 in 2005 at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.
He famously saved two penalties in the shootout against Uruguay to guide the Socceroos to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
'I can't believe it has almost been 20 years,' he said. 'I will always cherish those memories, it was an electric atmosphere that night.'
