Schwarzer voted Australia's player of the season

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SYDNEY, June 11, 2009 (AFP) - Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was named the footballer of the season at the Australian Football Awards in a ceremony here Thursday.

The award caps a magnificent season for the 36-year-old goalkeeper, both with his English Premier League club Fulham and with the national side.

Schwarzer set an Australian record of seven consecutive clean sheets for the Socceroos in their qualifiers, which saw them become one of the first nations to claim a place at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

During the season Schwarzer also became the longest-serving Australian international of all time, racking up almost 16 years since his senior international debut against Canada in a World Cup qualifier on July 31, 1993.

Schwarzer signed for English Premier League club Fulham after 11 years at Middlesbrough and in 38 League appearances conceded 34 goals and kept 15 clean sheets.

His appearance in Wednesday's 2-0 World Cup qualifier win over Bahrain was his 66th international cap.

Earlier this year Schwarzer received an Order of Australia Medal for his services to football and the community in the Australia Day Honours list.

The Australian PFA Player of the Year went to Everton midfielder Tim Cahill and the Under-23 Harry Kewell Medal winner was Netherlands-based forward Nikita Rukayvytsa.