9 international matches behind father Peter
©IMAGO
Kasper Schmeichel is hanging up his goalkeeper gloves at the age of 39. The long-time Danish national goalkeeper, whose contract with Celtic Glasgow is expiring, justified this decision on the Danish TV station “TV2” with his shoulder injury.
“I think now is the right time. I didn’t understand in March how bad it really is. It’s been a long process,” explained Schmeichel, who missed the last 14 games with Celtic on the way to the championship and was also unable to take part in the World Cup playoffs. “I have sought advice from various surgeons and experts and they have told me that I should not expect to be able to play top-level football again.”
By missing the World Cup, Schmeichel’s national team career also ended without a major highlight. In total, he appeared on the field 120 times for his country and is fifth in the list of record players – behind, among others, his father Peter Schmeichel (129). At the 2021 European Championships, one of the keeper’s three participations, Denmark reached the semi-finals. At the 2018 and 2022 World Championships it ended in the round of 16 and the preliminary round respectively.
“I think everyone dreams of saying goodbye on the field, but you don’t always get what you want,” said Schmeichel. “I’ve experienced so many other things along the way that football doesn’t owe me anything. I’ve had so many opportunities, so many experiences. What I remember most are the friendships and connections I made. The moments I shared with them – in good times and bad.”
At club level, Schmeichel experienced his longest and most successful time at Leicester City, where he was a regular goalkeeper in the sensational championship in 2016 and won the FA Cup and Super Cup in 2021. He reached his highest market value in 2018 while working for the Foxes at 12 million euros. In total, Schmeichel Jr. made 817 appearances for twelve different clubs and, together with international matches, almost 1,000 games in 20 years.
