Despite the size of Mark Schwarzer's contribution to Australian football, the gulf left by his departure wasn't gaping for long.

Mat Ryan's teenage sensation-season at Central Coast Mariners even-surpassed Mitch Langerak's own impressive breakout at Melbourne Victory, and before long the current Aussie number one had shot into sole contention for the Socceroos starting goalkeeper.

It didn't help that on the few occasions Langerak was given a chance under Postecoglou - who at times also gifted shots to the likes of Adam Federici - he tended to have a shocker. 

But the now 30-year-old Aussie shot-stopper (it seems just yesterday he was a baby faced second choice at Borussia Dortmund) has survived lean spells at Levante and Stuttgart to emerge a dominant force in the J-League.

Langerak's Nagoya Grampus are sitting pretty on the top of Japanese football after two matches, with the Queensland boy's successive clean sheets drawing considerable praise.

The Aussie keeper was even featured in last week's Team of the Week for his displays, and given the response of Nagoya's incredible fans following the announcement of his new baby in October last year, he seems to be becoming a firm fan favourite in the Chubu region.