39 Facts About Mark Bosnich

Mark John Bosnich is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper, and sports pundit.

Mark Bosnich played in England for Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Mark Bosnich played in Australia for Sydney United, Central Coast Mariners and Sydney Olympic, as well as representing Australia 17 times during his career, scoring one goal for his nation.

Mark Bosnich left Manchester United for Chelsea in 2001, where he again struggled to find a regular place in the starting line-up and continued to battle with injuries.

Mark Bosnich subsequently developed an addiction to the drug and spent the next six years of his life in exile, before training for a comeback in 2007 and eventually making a return to the professional game in his native Australia the following year, before retiring in 2009.

Mark Bosnich's Croatian immigrant father was born in Blato, Korcula, Croatia, and migrated to Sydney in 1959 and his mother is Australian-born to Croatian immigrants.

Mark Bosnich attended Casula Primary School and later Liverpool Boys High School.

Mark Bosnich played for Sydney Croatia youth team before moving to England.

Mark Bosnich only played two more games for Manchester United before his registration with the club was cancelled on 30 June 1991.

Mark Bosnich returned to England signing for Aston Villa on a free transfer on 28 February 1992.

Mark Bosnich was one of the few players to be retained by new manager Brian Little following Ron Atkinson's dismissal in November 1994, as the bulk of Atkinson's team was sold off to make way for a new side.

Mark Bosnich spent three more seasons at Villa Park before his contract expired and he joined Manchester United on a free transfer.

Mark Bosnich had played 207 times in seven and a half years with Villa.

Mark Bosnich was signed for Manchester United in the 1999 close season as successor to Peter Schmeichel, signing on a free transfer after his contract at Villa Park expired.

That season Mark Bosnich started 23 league games, Raimond van der Gouw started 11 and Massimo Taibi started 4.

Mark Bosnich played a key role in Manchester United becoming the first English team to win the Intercontinental Cup in keeping a clean sheet against Palmeiras of Brazil, in Tokyo.

Mark Bosnich had one season as United's regular goalkeeper, but then they signed the French World Cup-winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in June 2000.

Mark Bosnich had fallen out of favour with the national side, losing his spot to Mark Schwarzer.

Mark Bosnich never played a first-team game for United after the arrival of Fabien Barthez, and on 18 January 2001 he signed for Chelsea on a free transfer.

Mark Bosnich was injured in a league game against Everton in November 2001 and this proved to be his final appearance for the club.

Mark Bosnich's career reached rock-bottom in September 2002 when he failed a drugs test and was sacked by Chelsea and banned from football for nine months.

Mark Bosnich was keen on the idea of moving to the Reebok Stadium and the player's agent admitted that dialogue had taken place but Sam Allardyce remained coy about his interest.

Mark Bosnich developed a $5,000-a-week cocaine addiction and became a recluse.

Mark Bosnich returned to Australia in 2008 after many years living in London.

Mark Bosnich was confirmed to be the starting goalkeeper for the Central Coast Mariners for their pre-season cup game against Sydney FC on 27 July 2008.

Mark Bosnich kept a clean sheet including saving a penalty by Sydney FC's Steve Corica before being substituted in the 80th minute to a standing ovation by both sets of supporters.

On 19 August 2008, Mark Bosnich signed a seven-week guest player deal with the Mariners.

Once Mariners first-choice goalkeeper Danny Vukovic had served his suspension, Mark Bosnich did not play again for the Mariners.

On 31 May 2009, it was announced that Mark Bosnich had signed to play for Sydney Olympic for the remainder of the NSW Premier League season.

Mark Bosnich suffered a hamstring injury and he ended his playing career to focus on his television commitments.

However, Mark Bosnich was not allowed by the FFA because he did not have a coaching license.

Mark Bosnich appeared for the Socceroos at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Mark Bosnich married for the first time in 1992, to an English woman named Lisa Hall.

Mark Bosnich almost failed to reach the altar, having only been released on bail hours before the wedding following an incident at a strip club during his stag night celebrations.

Mark Bosnich said that much of his cocaine problem was due to his relationship with British model Sophie Anderton, claiming that for every line of cocaine she had, he had to have one too.

Mark Bosnich provided special comments for the Socceroos' friendly with Nigeria on 17 November alongside Simon Hill on Australia's Fox Sports and subsequently on SBS's coverage of the 2008 FA Cup final.

Mark Bosnich is a football analyst and commentator for Fox Sports football programmes.

In 2021, Mark Bosnich joined Stan Sport to cover the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League competitions.

Mark Bosnich lived with his parents in Fairfield when he returned to Australia and now lives in Woolloomooloo with his partner Sarah Jones.