Schwarzer pens new Fulham deal

Schwarzer pens new Fulham deal

Published Jan. 18, 2012 6:15 p.m. ET

The 39-year-old Australian, who joined Fulham on a free transfer from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2008, has penned a new deal which will take him up to the end of the 2012/2013 campaign.

Schwarzer, who is continuing to recover from the back injury which has sidelined him since early December, has no intentions of taking life easy just yet.

"I am enjoying my football as much as ever and I try to maximise every opportunity I get. The saying I use is 'I'll be a long time retired', so I want to do the best job I can," he told www.fulhamfc.com.

"There's plenty of time to feel tired when you're retired - now is the time to enjoy it."

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Schwarzer, who was a one-time target for Arsenal, added: "I love playing and want to continue for as long as possible as long as the performances are there.

"I like to set myself targets and the 2014 World Cup is my goal without a doubt.

"I realised a long time ago what a great life I have and you have to be realistic and realise how privileged we are to play football for a living, at this level in the Premier League.

"In my opinion it's still the best league in the world. I look at [Tottenham goalkeeper] Brad Friedel and he's older than me so I'll keep going as long as he's going.

"Brad said to me he's going to play for at least another two seasons so I've got at least that."

Fulham today also confirmed the signing of 17-year-old midfielder Jack Grimmer from Aberdeen.

Grimmer - who was the youngest Aberdeen first-team player when he made his debut against Rangers in April 2010, aged just 16 years, two months and 13 days old - will join the Cottagers' development squad for the remainder of the season, having signed a deal until 2015.

Highly-rated Denmark Under-17 international Lasse Vigen Christensen is another new arrival, joining from FC Midtjylland.

The midfielder, contracted until June 2014, and will also play initially in the development squad.

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