Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer wants to play at World Cup 2014

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Fulham’s number one Mark Schwarzer is adamant his career is nowhere near reaching its end as he reveals that he aims to play beyond the age of 40.

The 39-year-old aims to still be in the starting XI at both club and international level until the 2014 World Cup before considering retiring.

“I don’t think there is any age where you could say a goalkeeper can’t play anymore. You just have to set yourself goals,” he told News of the World.

“In the back of my mind I’m looking at the 2014 World Cup – I’ll be 41.

“Players like Edwin van der Sar have shown that at 40 you can still play at the top level. I’ve got no immediate plans to retire at all.”

Schwarzer believes that the secret to his form and longevity lies in the change in his fitness programme.

The Australia international says that his condition has improved lately and that it is all due to a different way of exercising and improved eating habits.

He added: “People in my boat always say that they feel like they’re 21 years old. That’s obviously not the case but I don’t get out of bed feeling sore.

“In fact, I feel better after games now than throughout my career.

“I’m in the gym four days a week for up to 75 minutes a session. I do a lot of weight training, conditioning and strengthening work.

“I’ve changed what I eat and when I eat it. It’s not rocket science. I don’t eat carbohydrates too late and have added more protein and vegetables to my diet.

“In the last 12 months I’ve worked hard on lowering my body fat. Our club nutritionist and physiotherapist Steve Hines has had a major influence on that.”

However, Schwarzer’s determination to remain the Cottagers’ No.1 is to the detriment of his replacement David Stockdale.

The 25-year-old has shone through Schwarzer’s absence due to the Asian Cup with Australia where the West London team lost a single game.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes called for Schwarzer back to his role when he came back from international duty and he insists he does not want to lose more games with the club.

“People have asked me about stepping aside for the younger generation but I have the same mindset I had when I started playing: No one stepped aside and gave me a chance, I had to
earn it,” he added.

“You need to earn that shirt. There are too many national teams where players are given opportunities before they are naturally next in line. It’s the same at club level – but I want to play every game.”