Veteran Premier League keeper Mark Schwarzer has left powerhouse Chelsea to join Leicester City.
The first Australian to reach 100 international caps, Schwarzer inked an 18-month deal with Leicester City, taking him from third-string keeper for the equal league leading Blues to first option for the Premier League’s last-placed side.
Schwarzer had been reduced to bench warmer for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea squad, originally signing to backup fellow veteran Petr Cech, but later falling further down the line when 22-year-old Thibaut Courtois was promoted up the ranks.
“At Chelsea over the last 18 months I didn’t play a lot of football, which I kind of knew would be the case,” Schwarzer told the official Leicester City website.
“This last six months has probably been the toughest part, where I haven’t been (in the squad) at all at times.
“The opportunity of playing some games is very enticing for me.”
Schwarzer announced his Socceroos retirement in November 2013 after Ange Postecoglou replaced Holger Osieck as head coach, with new leadership effectively forcing Schwarzer and a number of other aging veterans out the door ahead of last year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Chealsea boss Mourinho thanked the 42-year-old for the professionalism he brought to the club during his stay.
“As a goalkeeper, when we needed (Schwarzer), he was there for us, and as a person and a professional he was an amazing guy in our group,’ Mourinho said.
“On behalf of myself, my staff and my players I want to say we are going to miss the big guy and we wish him all the best in his new life at Leicester.”
Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.
