Schwarzer moving to Fulham
May 22, 2008

SOCCEROOS goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was hopeful there'd be no ill-feeling at Middlesbrough after he ended an 11-year stint at the English Premier League club to join rivals Fulham.

The move ended months of speculation about the future of the 35-year-old, who was due to become a free agent next month after 367 games at the Riverside.

"I have signed with Fulham for two years," Schwarzer announced after joining his Australian team-mates in Sydney, ahead of the international friendly with Ghana at the Sydney Football Stadium.

"I was very confident something would be sorted out. I had a few other options but felt this was the best one for me.

"I haven't really had the chance to let it sink in yet."

Schwarzer is set to play against a Ghana side missing star Michael Essien, who was involved in Chelsea's penalty shootout loss to Manchester United in the Champions League final.

The Black Stars will also be without flamboyant Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari, after he was advised not to travel so soon after being involved in the FA Cup final win over Cardiff last weekend.

"Obviously it's a long trip ... but I feel fine. I trained this morning. I'm almost 100 per cent," said Schwarzer.

The custodian said he'd "half made up my mind made up a while ago", feeling the timing was right to leave Middlesbrough.

A call from Fulham goalkeeping coach Mike Kelly helped twist his arm a bit further.

"The goalkeeping coach who is there was my very first goalkeeping coach in England ... who took me to Middlesbrough at the time," Schwarzer said.

"He was in contact with me and was very enthusiastic about me coming to the club.

The London club only narrowly escaped relegation with a last-day win away at Portsmouth earlier this month, while Middlesbrough finished four places higher in 13th.

He had been linked with moves to German giants Bayern Munich, a possible switch to Italy and Boro also offered a new contract.

"I don't think anyone can really say anything negative about my stay at Middlesbrough," he said.

"I was very, very loyal to the club and I fulfilled the contract that I had with them so there's nothing more really to talk about.

"I don't really want to speak about this at this moment in time. I'd like to speak about the game and concentrate on the game for us. After the game on Friday night ... we can talk more about my future, no problems," he said.

The veteran was originally due to arrive from England last Monday but his trip was delayed so he could continue contract negotiations.

He was relieved to have his future sorted out before the four crucial World Cup qualifiers next month but admitted he would have loved the deal to have been done even sooner so he could have been in camp with the Socceroos all week.

"I felt that it was important to sort it out sooner rather than later so it didn't affect any preparations for the qualifiers, obviously," he said.

And a day after Verbeek announced the Ghana game was striker Joel Griffiths' chance to prove himself ahead of "Super June", the A-League player of the year said he was ready to take his opportunity.

"(Verbeek's) given me a chance and I've just got to try and take it with both hands. It's a big occasion and I'm looking forward to it," Griffiths said.