Mark Schwarzer has been named Australian Footballer of the Year for 2008/09. The 36-year-old was presented with the inaugural accolade at the Australian Football Awards in Sydney.

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 long-serving Socceroo also recently set an Australian record with his seventh consecutive clean sheet in FIFA World Cup™ qualifying matches.

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

Recently retired Matilda Joanne Peters was awarded Women's Footballer of the Year for her achievements at both club and international level. In the U-20 category Adelaide United's Daniel Mullen and Central Coast Mariners Kyah Simon secured the title.