Premier League

JULIAN SCHWARZER has big boots and even bigger gloves to fill.The 24-year-old’s dad won the Premier League with two different teams and is a national hero with more than 100 caps.
Julian Schwarzer is a goalkeeper just like his famous fatherCredit: Instagram @julianschwarzergarcia
The star could have chosen from five different countries to play forCredit: Instagram @julianschwarzergarcia
But while Mark Schwarzer racked up his appearances for Australia, his son has opted to play for the Philippines.
That is because – despite being born in Harrogate while Mark was at Middlesbrough in 1999 – Julian’s mum and Mark’s wife Paloma Garcia has Filipino heritage. 
Paloma was born in the Philippines but migrated to Australia with her family.
Her dad was a footballer and her great-uncle shone for the Philippines national team in the 1960s.
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And now his great-great-nephew Julian has opted to follow in his footsteps between the sticks for the Azkals, racking up three caps so far since his 2022 debut. 
Incredibly, the rising star could also have chosen to represent Australia, England, Spain or Germany in international football.
Schwarzer Jr grew up in England and signed a scholarship at Fulham in 2016, three years after his old man left Craven Cottage for neighbours Chelsea.
The iconic 109-cap Aussie hero set various records including becoming the oldest Champions League debutant and Chelsea’s oldest player aged 41. 
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After racking up 150 Premier League clean sheets, Schwarzer still got a Premier League medal even though he did not get on the pitch for Chelsea in the 2014-15 season as Jose Mourinho’s side won the title.
He joined Leicester for 18 months in January 2015, initially as cover for the injured Kasper Schmeichel and helped the Foxes stay in the top flight.
The goalkeeper was then Schmeichel’s unused understudy, on the bench for 37 of the 38 matches, as Claudio Ranieri inspired the incredible 5,000-1 title win. 
The miraculous success meant the ex-Boro stopper won the Premier League in two successive seasons for two different clubs.
He was the first player to achieve the feat – Eric Cantona landed the 1992 First Division with Leeds and then the inaugural Premier League at Manchester United – before N’Golo Kante followed suit a year later after swapping Leicester for Chelsea.
Schwarzer Jr has senior caps for the PhilippinesCredit: Instagram @julianschwarzergarcia
The ex-Fulham man is plying his trade in Indonesia for AremaCredit: Instagram @julianschwarzergarcia
But Schwarzer did so without making a single appearance in either campaign.  
The veteran eventually retired after his Leicester release in 2016 aged 43 – but now his son is making a name for himself. 
After one first-team call-up but no senior appearances for Fulham, Julian embarked on a journeyman career with Pipinsried, Harlow Town, Slough Town, Chipstead, Harrow Borough and Basingstoke Town.
He then returned to Fulham in 2020 as the Under-23 back-up goalkeeper – but after a short loan to Kingstonian, he was released again in 2022.
That prompted a dramatic relocation to the Philippines with Azkals Development Team.
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Then in January 2023, Schwarzer Jr transferred to Malaysian outfit Kuching City.
Just six months later, though, he was on the move again, linking up with Arema in the Indonesian Liga 1 where he continues to impress.
The legendary Australian racked up 109 senior international capsCredit: AFP
Schwarzer joined Chelsea and even appeared in the Champions LeagueCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
He warmed the bench as Jose Mourinho’s men won the 2014-15 seasonCredit: Action Images – Reuters
Schwarzer was the back-up to Kasper Schmeichel when Leicester won the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty More

CESC FABREGAS has started his first managerial job at Como – and it turns out many of his ex-Arsenal team-mates are also working as coaches.In fact, just two players who featured alongside Fabregas in his last Arsenal game are still playing – Wojciech Szczęsny and Alex Song.
Cesc Fabregas has taken interim charge of ComoCredit: Getty
Fabregas with his Arsenal team-mates in 2011Credit: PA:Empics Sport
Fabregas, 36, appointed himself as interim boss of Como, having ended his playing career at the club earlier this year.
The Spaniard took over as manager of the Under-19s in the summer but has now replaced Moreno Longo as first-team boss while the club searches for a permanent successor.
Fabregas played his last Arsenal game in 2011 before a dream move to his boyhood club Barcelona.
The Gunners ended that season fourth in the Premier League under Arsene Wenger, with some other notable names featuring in Fabregas’ final game, which came against Bolton on 24 April 2011.
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Here, SunSport takes a look at where the rest of the Arsenal stars who played that day are now.
Wojciech Szczęsny
The goalkeeper, 33, joined Juventus in 2017 and has since made 227 appearances for the Serie A giants.
He battled Gianluigi Buffon for the No1 spot when he first arrived but he has made the position his since the Italian legend left in 2021.
Wojciech Szczesny still plays for Juventus after leaving Arsenal to join the Italian side in 2017Credit: Splash
Bacary Sagna
The former right-back is a partner in French company Gravipack, which sells £200 backpacks.
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Sagna, 40, has pumped £220,000 into the business and he is now living in Dubai where he also helps to run a lifestyle app.
Bacary Sagna owns a backpack company and lives in DubaiCredit: Getty
Laurent Koscielny
The Frenchman has returned to Lorient where he is an under-17 coach.
Arsenal signed the 38-year-old from the Ligue 1 side in 2010 and he played 353 times for the Gunners, and was appointed captain of the club in 2018.
Left under a cloud when he signed for Bordeaux after the club failed to convince him to stay.
Laurent Koscielney is an Under-17 coach at Ligue Un side LorientCredit: Getty – Contributor
Johan Djourou
Djorou, 36, is a fitness fanatic who can often be seen showing off his ripped physique in between running Djourou Elite – an academy that helps nurture young talent between the ages of 9-16.
The former centre-back also has ambitions of becoming an actor although he is happy to put his dreams on hold as he is passionate about helping kids progress as footballers.
Johan Djorou is now a fitness fanatic and likes to show off his physiqueCredit: Instagram
Gael Clichy
Clichy only retired earlier this year following a spell at Servette but it did not take long for him to get back into the game.
The 38-year-old was invited to become France Under-21 assistant boss by his former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry, who was appointed manager in August.
Gael Clichy is assistant coach to Thierry Henry at France Under-21sCredit: Instagram @gael.clichy
Alex Song
The midfielder, 36, plays for Djiboutian club Arta/Solar7 having joined the club in 2020.
He joined Barcelona after leaving the Emirates but returned to the Premier League with West Ham in 2014.
Alex Song joined Barcelona after leaving North London and he now plays for Arta/Solar 7 in DjiboutiCredit: AFP
Jack Wilshere
The Gunners academy graduate, 31, was forced into an early retirement by injury following spells with West Ham and Bournemouth.
He returned to Arsenal last year as Under-18 manager and led his side to the FA Youth Cup final, where they lost to the Hammers.
Jack Wilshere is Arsenal Under-21s bossCredit: Getty
Samir Nasri
Nasri retired two years ago but has not followed the path of his ex-team-mates by becoming a coach.
The 36-year-old has played in various charity matches, including for Marseille legends in 2021 alongside Didier Drogba.
He returned to the Emirates earlier this season but was attacked by a fan.
Samir Nasri retired in 2021Credit: Getty
Theo Walcott
The former England star decided to hang up his boots after leaving Southampton in the summer.
He thanked Wenger in a farewell speech and shared his love for the Gunners.
Walcott, 34, is keen to sink his teeth into punditry and has appeared on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage on multiple occasions this season.
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Theo Walcott works as a pundit for Sky SportsCredit: Getty
Robin van Persie
The Dutchman, 40, is now back in his native Netherlands where he is the assistant coach of Feyenoord.
Erik ten Hag reportedly wanted Van Persie to join him at Manchester United but he was rejected by the former striker who revealed he wanted “stability”.
Robin van Persie is assistant boss at FeyenoordCredit: Getty More

JOSE MOURINHO delivered a “classic” line after saying Pedro is a “born diver.” Mourinho signed the Spaniard from Barcelona in 2015 during his second spell as Chelsea manager.
Jose Mourinho said Pedro ‘should be a swimmer’Credit: Rex
Mourinho signed Pedro during his second spell with ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
And the two had a reunion when Mourinho’s Roma travelled to Lazio.
Pedro started on the wing for the hosts and was accused by his former manager of diving during the match.
Mourinho said after the 0-0 draw: “I didn’t want to leave Mancini alone with Pedro. I needed Karsdorp to stay and help him.
“Pedro is a fantastic player but he is a born diver, an excellent swimmer, he dives into the pool just beautifully.”
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It left fans in hysterics as one said: “Classic Jose.”
Another laughed: “Sometimes I love Jose a lot.”
Mourinho arrived in the Italian capital in 2021 and led them to Europa Conference League success in his first season.
He then guided them to the Europa League final last term but Roma have made an indifferent start to the current campaign.
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Mourinho, 60, is only under contract at the Stadio Olimpico until June 2024 and now it looks unlikely that he will be staying after that.
TeamTalk reported that the Portuguese coach is set to leave once his contract expires.
It was claimed “several players will follow him out the door” – and one of those is 26-year-old England international striker Tammy Abraham.
Jose Mourinho with Tammy AbrahamCredit: Getty More