Harry: There’s always been one question I’ve wanted to know…

Mark: This’ll be good…

Harry: No, no, it’s not actually a bad question. It’s an easy question. You’ve kind of answered but I really want to know the details of why. I’ve seen a transformation in you. You know?

I think even from Middlesbrough you’ve gone to Fulham and you’ve even gotten better and better. And in my career I’ve looked at every aspect of what I can do to get better.

For your age and the way you are and even … I was with family members yesterday and one of my brother’s friend’s wife said, ‘Is that Mark? Wow, he’s looking good’. You know? So how do you keep ... like I know I spoke to you earlier about it – but how do you keep your discipline?

And look, I’m very disciplined. But I can go off because I know I can go too much and I need to do it but I see you and you’ve got this discipline and it’s only getting better and better. I actually think you could go a lot more than you actually think.

Mark: Wow, discipline… how do you… Maybe that’s a German mentality in the background. [Pauses] I think it’s a case of, fortunately, I’ve recognized before it’s too late that it’s such a good thing we’ve got. So the longer you play the more you enjoy it the better you look after yourself and so you’re able to play longer. And I just don’t want to stop playing. So to keep playing and keep doing what we do – because we have the best job in the world.

I want to do everything I possibly can to make sure I can play as long as possible.

Harry: But how do you…? You talk about discipline. How do you get that?

Mark: I’ve got goals…

Harry: You talk about young kids. People come up to me and say my kid loves it this, that and the other and you try to explain discipline to them and it’s very hard to put into words…

Mark: It is very difficult because it’s easy to talk about it but one thing’s talking about it and writing it down and the other thing is actually living that life, getting up every day and actually live it. Almost to the last letter or the last dot on the page to say, ‘Ok, I’ve done everything, I’ve followed this whole guideline and this is how I’ll accomplish it’.

For me, it was more of a trial period and then I went on a diet and started looking after myself and after a while I was thinking, ‘This is great’.

And then once I got the buzz - because I could see it physically, I could see the difference and feeling different the more I felt differently - the more I looked different and the more I got the buzz and wanted to keep doing it because this is great.

Harry: But that buzz can die out…

Mark: It can … For me the biggest cross-road in my career was 2010 and the World Cup. Am I going to continue in the national team? Or am I going to stop? The big question also is when the new manager comes in, does he want you or is he going to look to the next generation? Is he interested in you being involved?

So I had a meeting with Holger and I said I don’t know what the long-term future is? I said I can see a short-term, but I don’t see a medium term or a long-term. And he said to me very clearly, “I see short-term, medium term and long-term and I see you being part of all three.’ So for that was the only inspiration, the only information I needed to say, ‘Right, my long-term goal is 2014’. So, how am I going to get there?’

So I sat down and spoke Fulham’s sports science department and told them this is what I want to accomplish. Let’s devise a training program, a regimen on how I’m going to get there. And that goal is set to 2014. So that to me is the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s what drives me every day.

Harry: You’re target is 2014 World Cup…. So you’re just going to keep going and that’s going to be your buzz?

Mark: Yeah, and what I do is, that overrides everything. That gives me the focus and determination so every morning all I need to say to myself is ‘2014 Brazil’. That’s what it’s all about.

And on the way playing for your club and having that little bit of success with your club - or great success – also acts as your motivation. So it’s that domino effect; you need to be fit, train well; play well for your club so you can bring that forward to your national team games. If you’re not doing that with your club, you’re less likely to play for your national team.

So that’s what drives me and keeps me focused. You see my biggest fear after 2010 was if I stopped playing for the national team, what’s going to continue to drive me for my club side.

So for me the easiest thing was actually because the desire and the hunger to play for my country is still there, it’s what I want to do and that drives everything else.

And that drive is huge. I can’t describe … I don’t know. I can’t pin-point why it’s so strong but it just is…

Harry: That’s it, I’m trying to get that. Why is it so strong? And people ask me the same question and I can’t explain it…

Schwarzy: I think unless you’ve played for your country before…

Harry: It’s not even that, it’s what drives you…

Mark: I know. I think it’s that buzz, that feeling you get standing there for me in the line-up, especially at home when you hear the crowd singing. That buzz is immense for me and even though I’ve done it 98 times it’s still… the hairs on the back of your head stand up. For me. I still get an enormous buzz from that and that’s all part of that jigsaw.

FFT: Has that answered your question, Harry? Did you want to ask another?

Mark: He asked for one he’s already up to two and three!

Harry: I don’t think you can actually answer that question. I think it’s something that’s inside you. When people ask me that question the simple question I ask is, ’Do they love it?’ And they say, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, he loves it’. And I say, ‘No, does he really love it?’ And they look at me and say ‘What do you mean?’

And I say, ‘Will he ditch his friends?’ ‘Will he put his family second?’ ‘Will he put everything that he’s ever loved second, to put football first?’ And then they say [mimicking uncertainty], ‘Errr’.

Mark: With us older guys if you sit the wives down they’d probably say that. They kind of come second and the family kind of comes second. We’re very, very selfish and very driven when it comes to playing football and our careers. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing…

Harry: It’s not in a bad way. I think they [the families] know that. But that’s what it takes.

Mark: And whether or not they accept it. And that’s always a big key as well. Finding
a woman who is kind of, not happy necessarily, but accepting that’s the way
it is at the moment.

FFT: Great stuff, Harry.

Harry: You liked that?

[cue applause from the crew watching on].

FFT: You’re a natural. Great opening question.

Harry: Thanks, that’s why I asked it…