Mark Schwarzer says the change of Socceroos coach played no part in his decision to retire from international football.
The veteran goalkeeper, who confirmed the decision earlier this week, on the eve of new coach Ange Postecoglou naming his first squad, said he had been considering the move for months.
The 41-year-old, who has a record 109 Socceroos caps to his name and who has been crucial in Australia qualifying for three consecutive World Cups, said in the end the decision was easy.
“I felt that I couldn’t give it the commitment that I feel needed to be given to represent your country at a high level and also the World Cup,” he said after Chelsea’s Champions League win over Schalke.
“Physically I feel really good, but mentally it was the biggest challenge and I just knew it was the right time to move on and pass on the baton as they say and sit back and let someone else take over.”
He said family played a big part in his decision.
But the recent sacking of Holger Osieck and appointment of Postecoglou was not a factor.
“I don’t think so at all. It’s got to do with my own decision,” Schwarzer told Fox Sports.
“… I haven’t spoken to Ange for a long long time and I reiterate, I just didn’t feel mentally I was right to continue.
“I reached a point where I wouldn’t have been doing it any justice whatsoever.
“I didn’t want to end on that note, I wanted to end on a positive note and end on a note where I enjoyed every single minute of it.”
Asked the most memorable moments of his career, Schwarzer said one was his first full international, against Canada in 1993, when he saved two penalties to help Australia progress to the final stage of qualifying, although they didn’t reach the World Cup.
The other was against Uruguay in 2005, when he again saved two penalties, this time helping deliver Australia their first World Cup berth in 32 years.
“It’s so emotional, it’s also so uplifting that people have such passions about such an amazing evening,” he said of that night.
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