After a year where Schwarzer achieved new heights for both club and country, the 36-year-old was presented with the highest individual honour for a male footballer in this country at the Australian Football Awards in Sydney.

The award is voted on by FFA Board members, FFA CEO Ben Buckley, and media representatives from News Ltd, Fairfax and football magazine, 442, with Schwarzer the clear pick after a year where he kept nine consecutive clean sheets for the Socceroos while he helped Fulham to its best ever Premier League finish (seventh).

Schwarzer, who captained the Socceroos in Wednesday's 2-0 won over Bahrain, has a senior international career spanning 16 years, a record in longevity for an Australian male footballer.

Retired Matlidas stalwart Joanne Peters was voted as the Australian Footballer of the Year in the women's category after concluding a decorated international career which featured 110 caps.

The Under 20 awards went to Adelaide United defender Daniel Mullen and dynamic Central Coast Mariners striker Kyah Simon.

"The Australian Football Awards are unique by bringing together the professional and non-professional elements of our game," Buckley said.

"They emphasise the continuum from grassroots through to the elite levels of the sport, and what we have in common as players, fans, supporters and administrators."

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, with Nikita Rukayvytsa given the nod as the best Under 23 player by his peers.

The night also honoured contributions for the footballing community at grass roots level, with awards presented for Volunteer of the Year, coaching performance of the year, referee of the year, team of the year and community servant of the year in the non-professional category.