Many Australian players who once played with distinction in Europe have opted to wind down their careers in their homeland. But the Fulham goalkeeper cites the example of John Aloisi of a returning hero who did not enjoy the best fortune with Sydney FC when he went back home. And as former Leeds and Liverpool winger Harry Kewell mulls over whether to return to the A-League to end his career, Schwarzer states it is an option he will not be considering. "I have seen too many players go back home and it has not worked out," Schwarzer told Football+magazine. "The biggest example is John Aloisi, and how he was treated so badly by people. You are up there to be shot down very, very quickly. "I don't want to give anyone the opportunity to do that to me." At 39, most people would have assumed finishing his career in Australia would appeal to 89-cap international Schwarzer. But for him that would signal a step down in quality and he believes he can still operate at the top level for some time yet. "The truth is returning from Europe is a step down, and I don't want to be in that situation," he added.
