Sydney, Nov 8 (IANS): Australia's best goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer insists his decision to retire was not sudden.

The country's most capped football player said he was not pushed to take the decision. He admitted that he no longer felt fully committed to his role, reports Xinhua.

"It's been something that I've been playing in my head for quite some time now. I know for a lot of people it's kind of a surprise but it definitely hasn't been a sudden decision. You don't go playing for the Socceroos for 20 years and make a sudden decision like that," said Schwarzer Friday.

Schwarzer added he had always been 100 percent focused on playing for the "Socceroos" but felt he could not give the commitment needed to represent his country anymore.

"Physically I feel really good but mentally it was the biggest challenge and I just knew it was the right time to move on and pass on the baton as they say and sit back and let someone else take over."