Danish footballer (born 1986)
Kasper Peter Schmeichel (born 5 November 1986) is a Danish-English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper💷 for Belgian Pro League club Anderlecht and the Denmark national team.
Schmeichel began his career with Manchester City, but had loan💷 spells with Darlington, Bury and Falkirk before he made his first-team debut. Although Schmeichel appeared to have made the City💷 number 1 shirt his own at the start of the 2007–08 season, the emergence of Joe Hart resulted in Schmeichel💷 being loaned to Cardiff City. The signing of Republic of Ireland international Shay Given in 2009 meant that Schmeichel fell💷 even further down the pecking order at City, and he was allowed to link up with former manager Sven-Göran Eriksson💷 at Notts County. He spent only one season with the Magpies as, while it was a very successful one for💷 the club and the player himself, changes to the club's financial position made his departure necessary and his contract was💷 terminated by mutual consent.
Schmeichel joined Leeds United in 2010, but again, his tenure at the club would only last one💷 season before he was the subject of a transfer to Leicester City, where he would again work under Eriksson. Schmeichel💷 went on to make 479 competitive appearances for Leicester over 11 years, during the most successful era in the club's💷 history, winning the Championship in the 2013–14 season, the Premier League in 2024–16, FA Cup in 2024–21 and the FA💷 Community Shield in 2024.
Schmeichel played seventeen games for Denmark under-21s. He was called up to the Denmark national team for💷 the first time in 2011, and was part of their squad at UEFA Euro 2012, but did not make his💷 senior debut until 2013. He represented his country at the 2024 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2024 and 2024 FIFA💷 World Cup.
Early life [ edit ]
Formative years and education [ edit ]
Kasper Schmeichel was born on 5 November 1986 in💷 Copenhagen, Denmark.[6] He is the son of Bente and former Denmark international goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, and is of Polish descent💷 through his paternal grandfather.[7]
Schmeichel grew up in Denmark during his early years but spent most of his childhood living in💷 England due to his father's playing career. Kasper is a native speaker of both Danish and English, the latter of💷 which he speaks with a Northern-English accent. He attended Hulme Hall Grammar School in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, Greater Manchester, and💷 he also attended Saint Julian's School in Portugal while his father played for Sporting CP in Lisbon. When Alex Bruce,💷 son of Kasper's father's former Manchester United teammate Steve Bruce, joined Kasper at Leeds United, the move saw the two💷 players re-unite after both had previously played football together on the streets as children after school.[8]
Youth-team career [ edit ]
Schmeichel💷 started playing organised football in Portugal in 2000, while his father was part of Sporting CP. He played one season💷 in the Estoril youth academy, in which he managed to win a championship.[9] Commenting on his early footballing years, Schmeichel💷 remarked: "Before [Estoril], it wasn't that serious. I have to admit that when I was very small, football did not💷 interest me that much. It was mostly in short periods that it was fun, and then I had enough. So💷 it only started to take shape when I was 12-13 years old".[9]
In 2001, Schmeichel moved to Denmark where he attended💷 Oure Efterskole, an efterskole or voluntary independent residential school for young people finishing their primary education.[5] Schmeichel said in an💷 interview with Euroman in 2014: "At Oure, I was part of an environment and met a coach who made me💷 want to develop even more as a goalkeeper".[10] Schmeichel, at the time, was described as hard-working and dedicated by coach💷 Bo Pedersen.[11] While enrolled at Oure, Schmeichel trialled with Brøndby IF,[12] but would instead move to Manchester City after another💷 successful trial.[12]
Club career [ edit ]
Manchester City [ edit ]
Two
of Schmeichel during his loan at Bury : (left):💷 Schmeichel (in turquoise, standing in goal) during a local derby at Gigg Lane against Rochdale in March 2006; (right): Schmeichel💷 making a save during a training session in September 2006
Schmeichel joined Manchester City in September 2002 on a long-term contract,💷 which covered schoolboy, scholar and professional terms.[13] He joined League Two side Darlington on a loan deal in January 2006,[14]💷 where he made his professional first-team debut against Peterborough United at the Darlington Arena on 14 January 2006. Darlington won💷 the game 2–1, with Schmeichel conceding a goal to Peterborough striker James Quinn.[15] He gained his first clean sheet three💷 days later against Grimsby Town. He made two further appearances before returning to Manchester City.
One month after returning to Manchester💷 City he was loaned out again, this time to Bury in February,[16] where he made 15 appearances in a three-month💷 loan spell. He returned to Bury for a further three months the following season.[17]
Schmeichel joined Scottish Premier League side Falkirk💷 on loan from January 2007 until the end of the 2006–07 season.[18] He was named man of the match against💷 Rangers on 18 February 2007. He also saved a Craig Beattie penalty in a 1–0 win over Celtic on 18💷 March 2007.[19] He revealed in May he would have liked his loan at Falkirk extended, and the club expressed an💷 interest in signing him.[20][21]
Schmeichel playing for Manchester City in 2007
Schmeichel made his Manchester City debut against West Ham United in💷 August 2007.[22] He played against City's rivals and his boyhood team Manchester United on 19 August 2007 and kept a💷 clean sheet in City's 1–0 home win.[23] Schmeichel saved a penalty from Arsenal's Robin van Persie on 25 August 2007💷 at the Emirates Stadium. Despite City losing 1–0 to Arsenal he was named man of the match. He played the💷 first seven of Manchester City's games in the 2007–08 Premier League, keeping clean sheets against Manchester United, West Ham, Aston💷 Villa and Derby County, conceding only five goals.[24]
He signed a new four-year deal with City in September 2007.[25] This was💷 then followed up with an agreement to go on a one-month loan with Championship side Cardiff City on 25 October💷 2007.[26] He made his debut for Cardiff on 27 October 2007 in a 1–1 draw with Scunthorpe United.[27] He was💷 named 2007 Danish Under-21 Talent of the Year.[28]
Towards the end of the loan spell, Schmeichel requested that he would be💷 allowed to stay on at Cardiff for a longer period and on 22 November, the loan spell was extended until💷 the new year, with manager Sven-Göran Eriksson stating that he could possibly stay at the club for the rest of💷 the season providing Manchester City do not suffer an injury crisis.[29] After Eriksson named Joe Hart as the number one💷 goalkeeper at Manchester City, however, Andreas Isaksson requested a transfer. This meant that Eriksson would not allow Cardiff to keep💷 Schmeichel after his initial loan period ended on 2 January.[30] On 31 December, Eriksson threw Cardiff a lifeline by opening💷 talks for Schmeichel to stay at Ninian Park. Schmeichel would be allowed to stay for two more matches should Isaksson💷 not move until late in the January transfer window. Schmeichel had stated he would like to play for Cardiff again💷 in the future.[31][32] Schmeichel, however, returned to Eastlands the day after his initial loan expired.[33]
He joined Coventry City on loan💷 until the end of the season on 13 March.[34] Towards the end of the season, his father, Peter Schmeichel, commented💷 during a TV interview that his son was not happy at Manchester City and was set to leave following the💷 end of the season.[35]
Despite wanting to leave, Schmeichel returned to the City of Manchester Stadium at the end of the💷 season and changed to the number 16 shirt. He repeatedly stated that he wanted to leave City and regretted signing💷 a four-year contract.[36]
On 16 November, Schmeichel entered a game as a substitute after Joe Hart injured his ankle in the💷 14th minute. City went on to a 2–2 result with Hull City.[37] In December 2008, Schmeichel played his last game💷 for Manchester City in a UEFA Cup match against Racing de Santander.[38]
Notts County [ edit ]
On 14 August 2009, Schmeichel💷 signed for League Two side Notts County in a deal that is believed to have broken the club's previous transfer💷 record. The transfer reunited Schmeichel with his former Manchester City manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, who had recently been appointed director of💷 football for Notts.[39] He was the highest paid player at the club, earning £1 million annually.[40] He made his debut💷 on 22 August and kept a clean sheet in the side's 3–0 win against Dagenham & Redbridge. In September 2009,💷 Schmeichel almost scored with an audacious overhead kick against Morecambe when he came up from a corner late on in💷 the game.[41]
A fine string of performances in October earned Schmeichel the Player of the Month award.[42] During Schmeichel's stay at💷 The Magpies, the club conceded only 0.67 goals per League 2 match (29 goals conceded in 43 league appearances). Schmeichel's💷 clean-sheets-to-game-ratio at Notts County was an impressive 55.8 percent (24 out of 43 league appearances).[43] On 27 April, Schmeichel and💷 Notts County secured the 2009–10 League Two title and promotion to League One with a 5–0 win against already relegated💷 Darlington.[44][45] Shortly before the game, it was announced that Notts County agreed to release Schmeichel at the end of the💷 season despite having four years left on his contract. The reasoning behind this was financial: Schmeichel earned a reported £15,000💷 per week, having been signed during the brief ownership period of high-spending Munto Finance in the summer 2009. Schmeichel agreed💷 to forgo all his future wages, something which chairman Ray Trew described as "a huge concession by such a young💷 man".[46]
Leeds United [ edit ]
On 27 May 2010, having been linked with both Premier League and Bundesliga clubs, Schmeichel signed💷 a two-year contract with Leeds United, joining the club on 1 July 2010.[47] Schmeichel was given the number 1 shirt💷 at Leeds for the 2010–11 season and was made Leeds' first choice goalkeeper for the forthcoming season, ahead of Shane💷 Higgs. He made his debut for the club on Saturday 7 August 2010 in Leeds' opening Football League Championship match💷 against Derby County. Despite Leeds losing 2–1, Schmeichel put in an impressive performance, making several crucial saves during the match.[48]💷 After a string of impressive games for Leeds, Schmeichel was nominated for the August Championship Player of the Month award,💷 but lost out to Queens Park Rangers winger Adel Taarabt.[49] Schmeichel, however, did win Sky Sports Championship Player of the💷 Month award for August.[50]
Schmeichel (in orange) playing for Leeds United in 2011
After picking up a tendon injury in his foot,💷 Schmeichel missed the game against Swansea City and was ruled out of Leeds' next few games.[51] While out injured, Schmeichel💷 appeared on Soccer AM as one of the guests on the show.[52] After just under two months out, Schmeichel returned💷 to the Leeds starting line-up against Cardiff City. He was set to play against Coventry City on 6 November, but💷 due to the birth of his first child the night before, he missed the game.[53]
On 8 January 2011, Schmeichel helped💷 Leeds earn a 1–1 draw against Arsenal in the FA Cup Third Round match at the Emirates Stadium.[54] After the💷 match, Arsenal captain Cesc Fàbregas commented that Schmeichel should have received the match ball for his performance.[55] Although Leeds lost💷 the replay 3–1, Schmeichel produced another impressive display (nearly scoring himself via a header) and he was subsequently named player💷 of the FA Cup third round.[56]
On 27 June 2011, Leeds announced they had accepted an undisclosed bid for him from💷 Leicester City.[57] With Schmeichel wanting to stay at Leeds for the remainder of his contract, he admitted that the decision💷 to sell him was a real shock.[58][59][60] However, Schmeichel said that moving to Leeds was the wrong move for him,💷 particularly because he was made to feel unwelcome at the club because of his father's history.[61]
Leicester City [ edit ]
2011–12💷 season [ edit ]
Schmeichel playing for Leicester City in 2011
On 27 June 2011, Schmeichel was officially confirmed as a Leicester💷 player, signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee that reunited him for a second time with his former Manchester💷 City manager and Notts County director of football, Sven-Göran Eriksson.
In the first month of the season, Schmeichel was shown a💷 seemingly needless red card in the 79th minute of Leicester's away game to Nottingham Forest on 20 August 2011 after💷 receiving two yellow cards for "unsporting conduct". He received the first card for moving the ball from the penalty spot💷 as Forest's Lewis McGugan was about to take a kick, then received his second for throwing the ball away after💷 the spot kick was successfully converted. After the match, Schmeichel apologized, claiming his back was turned to the referee so💷 did not know he had received the first of the yellow cards. "I didn't know I had been booked as💷 I had my back to the ref otherwise I would never have done that," he said on his personal Twitter💷 page.[62][63] Despite this, Schmeichel's performances for Leicester quickly began earning him plaudits, with his then manager Sven-Göran Eriksson comparing him💷 with England number 1 goalkeeper Joe Hart,[64] and teammate and former England international Paul Konchesky describing him as "one of💷 the best [goalkeepers] he has ever played with".[65] A short-distant reaction save against Portsmouth in November 2011, in particular, earnt💷 Schmeichel praise and was described by Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton as "one of the best saves I have seen in💷 a very long time".[66] and by Leicester manager Nigel Pearson as "a world-class, outstanding save and was very important at💷 that point of the game".[67]
Schmeichel played a total of 52 games overall, making 17 clean sheets and saving four penalties.💷 His performances in the 2011–12 season earned him the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year💷 awards on 30 April.[68]
2012–13 season [ edit ]
Schmeichel making a save during a match against Cardiff City in 2013
Schmeichel's form💷 in the first half of the 2012–13 season surpassed that of the previous season, keeping 12 clean sheets in 28💷 games, the most in the league as the Foxes sat second in the table, such performances earning him links with💷 La Liga giants Real Madrid and also leading to his first senior Denmark cap. A particular highlight was a spectacular💷 save against Blackburn Rovers in February. On 16 April 2013, he made his 100th Leicester appearance in a 3–2 win💷 over Bolton Wanderers. Schmeichel's performances earned him a place in the 2012–13 Championship PFA Team of the Year, alongside club💷 captain Wes Morgan.
2013–14 season [ edit ]
During the 2013–14 season, Schmeichel kept nine clean sheets during a 19-game unbeaten run💷 spanning from December to April to help guarantee Leicester promotion from the Championship with six games to spare. Schmeichel's high💷 quality performances once again led to him being courted by some of world football's giants, with both Manchester United and💷 Milan being linked with moves for the Danish international during the January transfer window.
In March, TV footage[69] appeared to support💷 Schmeichel's claim that he had scored what would have been the first goal of his career, when Leicester equalised, in💷 injury time, against Yeovil Town. However, the match officials ruled that his header had not crossed the line and the💷 goal was officially credited[70] to Chris Wood, who followed up to put the ball in the net.
At the end of💷 the 2013–14 season, it was announced that Schmeichel had signed a four-year contract extension until the summer of 2024 with💷 Leicester.[71]
2014–15 season [ edit ]
Schmeichel playing for Leicester City in 2014
Schmeichel remained the first choice goalkeeper for Leicester's return to💷 the Premier League, including playing the full 90 minutes in the 5–3 victory against Manchester United on 21 September 2014.[72]💷 In December 2014, Schmeichel suffered a broken metatarsal in training, ruling him out for what was thought at the time💷 to be up to six weeks.[73] While he was out, Leicester signed goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer as a replacement. Schmeichel eventually💷 returned from injury three months later on 21 March 2024, and beat Schwarzer to play in the 4–3 defeat to💷 Tottenham Hotspur.[74] Clean sheets against Swansea City and Burnley as Leicester won four out of five games in April earned💷 Schmeichel a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Month award.[75] After securing Premier League safety following a goalless💷 draw with Sunderland on 16 May, Schmeichel stated his belief that manager Nigel Pearson should win Manager of the Season💷 and that Pearson is the best manager Schmeichel has played for.[76] Pearson, however, was sacked in the off-season.[77]
2024–16 season [💷 edit ]
Schmeichel taking a goal kick for Leicester City in 2024
Under Pearson's replacement, Claudio Ranieri, Leicester sat top of the💷 table on Christmas Day.[78] Despite their great start, the team did not keep a clean sheet in their first nine💷 games, prompting Ranieri to offer to buy the squad pizza for their first.[79] The team finally managed their first clean💷 sheet of the season in their tenth game, against Crystal Palace.[80] The team improved defensively, and Schmeichel kept his 12th💷 clean sheet of the season in the reverse fixture against Palace on 19 March.[81] On 2 May 2024, he won💷 the Premier League title at 29 years of age, the same age and same calendar day when his father won💷 Manchester United's first such title in 1993. On both occasions, the respective teams (Manchester United and Leicester City) clinched the💷 titles by nearest rivals (Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur) not winning.[82][non-primary source needed] The Schmeichels became the only biological father and💷 son to have both won the Premier League, as well as doing so playing in the same position.[83]
2024–17 season [💷 edit ]
Despite rumours of a move away after playing a crucial role in Leicester City's title in the 2024–16 season,💷 on 6 August 2024, Schmeichel signed a new five-year contract until 2024.[84] Schmeichel made his first appearance of the season💷 in FA Community Shield against the FA Cup winners, Manchester United, and the match ended in a 2–1 defeat for💷 the reigning champions.[85] At the opening of the Premier League, Schmeichel continued his role in the goal ahead of new💷 signing, Ron-Robert Zieler against newly promoted Hull City. Schmeichel was beaten twice as Hull City went on to beat the💷 champions 2–1.[86] After missing three games in September, including a midweek EFL Cup tie against Chelsea, with a minor groin💷 injury, Schmeichel sustained a hand fracture in the first half of a Champions League match at F.C. Copenhagen on 2💷 November.[87] Despite the injury, Schmeichel finished the game, seeing out a 0–0 draw by making a late save of Andreas💷 Cornelius for his fourth Champions League clean sheet in four matches.[88] After undergoing surgery two days later, Schmeichel was expected💷 to miss six weeks of action, with Zieler taking his place in goal.[89]
On 24 February 2024, reports emerged alleging that💷 Schmeichel was among several teammates who met with chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha following their 2–1 Champions League defeat at Sevilla on💷 22 February,[90] which led to manager Claudio Ranieri being sacked. Schmeichel denied the claims, describing them as "very hurtful".[91]
In Leicester's💷 first Champions League campaign, Schmeichel saved a penalty in each leg of the last 16 tie with Sevilla – from💷 Joaquín Correa and Steven Nzonzi respectively – as the Foxes advanced 3–2 on aggregate.[92]
2024–18 season [ edit ]
On 26 August💷 2024, Schmeichel saved a Romelu Lukaku penalty away at Manchester United in the 53rd minute, with the score at 0–0.💷 Leicester would go on to lose the game 2–0.[93] On 31 March 2024, Schmeichel saved a penalty kick in a💷 2–0 away win over Brighton, the same number his father saved during his time in the competition (three out of💷 21 Premier League penalties saved).[94] On 14 April 2024, Schmeichel suffered an ankle injury in the 86th minute in a💷 2–1 home loss against Burnley, resulting in Schmeichel missing Leicester's final five games of the 2024–18 Premier League season.[95]
2024–19 season💷 [ edit ]
On 31 August 2024, Schmeichel signed a new contract with Leicester until June 2024.[96] Schmeichel witnessed the helicopter💷 crash on 27 October 2024 that killed five people including Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.[97] Schmeichel went on to play in💷 every Premier League game for Leicester, making his 300th league appearance for the club and helping them to a 9th-place💷 finish.
2024–20 season [ edit ]
Schmeichel played in all 38 Premier League matches, in which he kept 13 clean sheets. Leicester💷 City finished in fifth place and qualified for the next Europa League season.[98]
2024–21 season [ edit ]
On 15 May 2024,💷 Schmeichel captained Leicester City to victory over Chelsea 1–0 in the FA Cup Final to win the competition for the💷 first time in their history, the match featuring two saves by Schmeichel that greatly contributed to his team's triumph.[99]
2024–22 season💷 [ edit ]
On 7 August 2024, Schmeichel captained Leicester City to a 1–0 victory over Manchester City in the 2024💷 FA Community Shield to win the competition for the second time in their history.[100] Schmeichel also captained Leicester City to💷 the club's first European semi final after being knocked out by Jose Mourinho's Roma in the Europa Conference League.
Nice [💷 edit ]
On 3 August 2024, Schmeichel signed for Ligue 1 club Nice.[101][102] On 1 September 2024, his contract with the💷 club was terminated by mutual consent.[103]
Anderlecht [ edit ]
On 5 September 2024, Schmeichel signed a one-year contract with Belgian Pro💷 League club Anderlecht.[104]
International career [ edit ]
Youth [ edit ]
While at Manchester City, Schmeichel was called up for the Denmark💷 national under-19 team in August 2004,[105] and made his international debut in a 0–0 draw with Northern Ireland on 2💷 September 2004.[106] He went on to play eight under-19 internationals until March 2005, competing with Kenneth Stenild and Michael Tørnes💷 for the goalkeeping spot. He was called up for the under-20 team in October 2005,[107] but did not play for💷 the team until October 2006, during his time at Bury.[108] The day after his under-20 debut, Schmeichel was asked to💷 train with the senior Denmark team and was called up as a replacement for injured Theis Rasmussen in the under-21💷 squad.[109]
Schmeichel was one of the leading players in the team, and was named Danish under-21 Talent of the Year in💷 November 2007, following three clean sheets in the previous four under-21 games.[28] He played a total 17 under-21 internationals in💷 a row from March 2007 to October 2008, racking up seven clean sheets.
Senior [ edit ]
Schmeichel signing autographs during a💷 training session with Denmark in 2014
Following his strong showings for Manchester City in the early 2007–08 season, it was reported💷 on 23 August 2007 that The Football Association (FA) were investigating Schmeichel's international status, to see if there was any💷 chance of him foregoing his Danish international status in order to play for England.[110] Schmeichel, however, stated that he would💷 only ever play for Denmark.[111]
Schmeichel was called up to the Danish senior team on 13 May 2011 for the first💷 time for the match against Iceland, but remained an unused substitute.[112] On 29 May 2012, he was called up for💷 UEFA Euro 2012 as a third goalkeeper after it became clear that Thomas Sørensen would miss the tournament due to💷 an injury sustained against Brazil.[113] Schmeichel made his senior debut in a 3–0 friendly match defeat to Macedonia at the💷 Philip II Arena on 6 February 2013.[114]
On 15 October 2013, Schmeichel had his first ever senior level game in his💷 native Denmark, when he held an easy clean sheet in Denmark's 6–0 win against Malta in the last 2014 FIFA💷 World Cup qualifier. Denmark were eventually runners-up in the group, finishing six points behind Italy, but they did not progress💷 to the play-offs for the finals as they were the lowest-ranked team of the nine runners-up.[115]
On 5 March 2014, Schmeichel💷 received his third cap for Denmark in their 1–0 friendly defeat against England at Wembley Stadium. Despite defeat, Schmeichel pulled💷 off a string of impressive saves earning plaudits from the media as well as England manager Roy Hodgson.
Schmeichel was selected💷 for the Danish squad for the 2024 FIFA World Cup, where he started in three group stage matches. His clean💷 sheet in the opening match contributed to a Man of the Match award and helped Schmeichel set a new record💷 for minutes without conceding a goal for Denmark, surpassing his father's record.[116][117] During the Round of 16 match against Croatia,💷 Schmeichel was named Man of the Match after saving a penalty-kick taken by Luka Modrić in extra-time and two penalties💷 during the subsequent shootout, although his opposing counterpart Danijel Subašić saved three penalties in that shootout to eliminate Denmark.[118][119]
On 7💷 July 2024, in the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2024 against England at Wembley Stadium, Schmeichel saved a penalty from Harry💷 Kane in extra-time, who subsequently scored from the rebound, which proved to be the decisive goal as England prevailed 2–1.[120]
Personal💷 life [ edit ]
Schmeichel is married to Stine Gyldenbrand.[121] Together, they have three children: a son born in 2010,[122] a💷 daughter born in 2012,[123] and a second daughter born in 2024.[122]
Career statistics [ edit ]
Club [ edit ]
As of match💷 played 20 December 2024[124]
International [ edit ]
As of match played 20 November 2024[143]
Appearances and goals by national team and year💷 National team Year Apps Goals Denmark 2013 2 0 2014 7 0 2024 9 0 2024 6 0 2024 7💷 0 2024 12 0 2024 10 0 2024 7 0 2024 18 0 2024 11 0 2024 10 0 Total💷 99 0
Honours [ edit ]
Notts County
Leicester City
Individual
