Trying to follow in the footsteps of father and Premier League legend Peter Schmeichel is no easy task. However, Kasper Schmeichel emerged from his father's shadow at Leicester City and now Celtic.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is a Denmark international who plays in goal for Scottish giants Celtic.

Schmeichel started his career at Manchester City and spent several seasons on loan before joining Notts County and winning the League Two title with them in the 2009/10.

The following season he joined Leeds United and then Leicester came knocking in 2011/12. 

He has played over 100 times for his country and won the Premier League and FA Cup with Leicester City.

After over a decade at the Foxes, he moved to Nice, then Anderlecht and currently Celtic.

 

Early career loans

Following in his dad's footsteps, Kasper Schmeichel signed for Manchester City's youth academy in 2002, moving from Danish side SfB-Oure.

After progressing through the youth ranks, Schmeichel signed professional terms with Manchester City. However, the Danish international would make his first of many loan moves away from Manchester in 2006, joining up with Darlington.

Schmeichel only made four appearances for the League Two club. He claimed his first career clean sheet against Grimsby Town in January 2006 and returned to Manchester the same month.

It didn't take long for City to ship Schmeichel back out on loan, this time to Bury. The goalkeeper made 29 appearances for the Shakers.

In the following 2006/07 season, Schmeichel was loaned out to Scottish Premier League side Falkirk in the January transfer window.

His performances in Scotland earned the young goalkeeper a lot of praise, with Falkirk expressing an interest in securing him on a permanent deal.

However, at the beginning of the 2007/08 season, Schmeichel would finally get his Premier League break, making his City debut against West Ham United.

The Dane played seven Premier League games during the 2007/08 campaign, keeping clean sheets against Manchester United, West Ham United, Aston Villa and Derby County.

The performances led to Schmeichel signing a new four-year contract. However, he was sent out again on a fourth loan move the same season, this time to Cardiff City.

He would make 14 appearances for the Welsh side before completing the 2007/08 season at Coventry City.

 

Notts County and Leeds United

After numerous loan spells away from Manchester City, Schmeichel finally made a permanent move away from the Ethiad in August 2009, joining League Two side Notts County.

Schmeichel, on a reported £15,000 a week, played a major role in the club winning the title, keeping 24 clean sheets.

However, his wages were too much of a burden on the club and they agreed to release him at the end of the season.

Despite being linked with a number of Premier League and Bundesliga sides, Schmeichel opted to move to Championship club Leeds United where he was handed the No. 1 jersey.

He made his debut in the August and went on to win the Sky Sports Championship Player of the Month.

Schmeichel again caught the eye in an FA Cup third-round tie against Arsenal. Although his side fell to the Gunners 3-1 in a replay, the goalkeeper was named player of the round.

It was to Schmeichel's only season at Elland Road, with the West Yorkshire club accepting an offer from Leicester City in the summer of 2011.

 

Premier League glory at Leicester

Schmeichel, who signed a three-year deal with the Foxes, suffered an early setback when he was sent off for two bookable offence in a August encounter with Nottingham Forest. 

Nevertheless he went on to enjoy another outstanding campaign. He kept 17 clean sheets in all competitions to earn the Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards.

During the 2012/13 season, Schmeichel achieved another 17 clean sheets, earning him a place in the Championship PFA Team of the Year.

The season after, Schmeichel would help his side gain promotion to the Premier League after a 19-game unbeaten run, keeping 18 clean sheets and also earning him a contract extension to 2018.

Schmeichel's return to the top flight for the first time since 2007/08 came under the spectre of relegation. The Dane was ruled out for a majority of the 2014/15 season with a fractured foot, returning with Leicester rock-bottom.

However, Schmeichel helped inspire the Foxes to victories in their last four games of the season, keeping three clean sheets to save Leicester from the drop.

Despite manager Nigel Pearson having been sacked and replaced by Claudio Ranieiri in the close season, City maintained their momentum and were, incredibly, top of the Premier League at Christmas.

The 500/1 shots were expected to blow up in the New Year. However, with Schmeichel keeping 15 clean sheets, Leicester went on to win the Premier League title for the first time in their history.

The champions were unable to successfully defend their title but Schmeichel would play his part in a run to the quarter-final of the Champions League where they bowed out in the quarter-final, 2-1 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid.

In 2021, Schmeichel captained Leicester to FA Cup glory, with Brendan Rodgers' side beating Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley.

In August 2022, the 35-year-old Schmeichel signed a three-year deal with Ligue 1 side OGC Nice for a fee believed to be around £1million.

The suprise move ended an 11-year spell with Leicester where he made 478 appearances.

 

Journeyman later years

Schmeichel spent a season at Nice and made 46 appearances across all competitions before having his contract terminated in September 2023 and joining Belgian side Anderlecht.

After making 32 appearances in Belgium on July 19, 2024 he made the switch to Scottish champions Celtic under his former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers.

“Celtic is one of the world’s proper football clubs, a massive name and a place of real passion and success. Celtic is what football is all about,” said Schmeichel.

“I know Brendan very well, too. He is a top manager and someone I can’t wait to work with again.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting up with the boys in America and start our work and then, of course, meet our fans who bring so much to Celtic.

“I will be doing all I can to keep Celtic on top and bring these brilliant supporters more and more success.

Rodgers feels Schmeichel will bring a positive mindset to the squad.

“Kasper is a real quality keeper and someone with the ability and personality to be great for us,” he told the Celtic website.

“He is a guy I trust and someone who knows how to win. He lives for football and he is coming to a club where he will feel the same passion that he has for the game.

“I know he will feel right at home at Celtic and we look forward to working with him as we all aim for more success.”

 

International career

Schmeichel made his under-19 debut for Denmark in 2004; a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland.

The goalkeeper was named Danish under-21 Talent of the Year in 2007.

Schmeichel was called up to the senior team in 2011 but would have to wait until 2013 to make his debut, a 3-0 defeat to Macedonia.

Schmeichel earned him a place in Denmark's 2018 World Cup squad where they would reach the quarter-finals.

The goalkeeper earned the man-of-the-match award for his performance in defeat against Croatia in the quarter-final. Schmeichel saved a penalty from Luka Modric in extra-time and two penalties in the shootout.

Schmeichel was heavily influential in the Danes' run to the semi-finals of Euro 2020. He kept a clean sheet in the last-16 clash against Wales, while he saved Harry Kane's extra-time penalty in the semi-final against England. Kane, however, converted the rebound to score the decisive goal that eliminated Denmark.

He was selected in Denmark's squad for the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2004, and made his 100th appearance against Switzerland in a friendly in March 2024.

 

Personal life

The son of legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, Kasper grew up within the UK and speaks both English and Danish.

Schmeichel is married to Stine Gyldenbrand and the couple have a son, Max, and two daughters, once called Isabella.

Schmeichel was hugely affected by the death of former Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in October 2018. He witnessed his helicopter crash and reportedly ran into the flames to save him. Schmeichel regularly pays tribute to Vichai.

 

Net worth

Kasper Schmeichel's net worth is believed to be £20million.