LONDON — Chelsea announced Tuesday that Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had signed a new one-year contract and confirmed the departures of Ashley Cole and Samuel Eto’o.
Schwarzer moved to Chelsea last year on a free transfer from Fulham and proved a reliable backup to Petr Cech.
He made 12 starts with the team, as well as a substitute appearance in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid.
The 41-year-old Schwarzer, who holds the record of being Australia’s most capped player, retired from international football in November. He also played for Middlesbrough and Bradford after moving to England from Germany’s Kaiserslautern in 1996.
Portuguese goalkeeper Hilario left Chelsea earlier this week at the end of his contract.
Former England left-back Cole and Cameroon captain Eto’o have also departed after their contracts expired.
Cole’s departure from Stamford Bridge follows a season in which he was restricted to 17 Premier League appearances, with Jose Mourinho preferring Cesar Azpilicueta in defence. The 33-year-old defender, who earned 107 caps for England, retired from international football after being passed over for the World Cup in Brazil.
Cole, who joined Chelsea from Arsenal in 2006, has won a league title, four FA Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League with the Blues.
Eto’o, who signed a one-year deal from Anzhi Makhachkala last August, scored 12 goals in 35 matches, including a hat trick against Manchester United. The 33-year-old has been linked with a move to Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.
