The 36-year-old was presented with the inaugural accolade at the Australian Football Awards in Sydney.

Schwarzer was the clear winner after a year in which he kept nine consecutive clean sheets for the Socceroos and helped Fulham to achieve their best-ever Premier League finish of seventh.

Schwarzer, who captained the Socceroos in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Bahrain, has a senior international career spanning 16 years - a record in longevity for an Australian male footballer.

The Fulham keeper also won the Football Media Association's International Player of the Year, while Tim Cahill won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.

After signing from Middlesbrough on a free transfer in May 2008, Schwarzer was ever-present for the Cottagers last season playing all 38 Barclays Premier League matches and keeping 15 clean sheets.

His talents though are not restricted to football. Schwarzer has co-written two books for children as part of his role as Fulham's Reading Star.