Kasper Schmeichel Calls Time on Stellar Career After Shoulder Injury
Kasper Schmeichel has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 39. The Celtic goalkeeper hinted back in March that he might have played his final match due to a persistent shoulder injury that required surgery, sidelining him for a year. In a statement to TV2, Schmeichel confirmed, "When my contract with Celtic expires in June, I will stop my active football career. It is a decision that has been made for me. I have consulted various surgeons and experts in relation to my shoulder, and they have told me that I should not expect to return to playing top football. I have given the decision a lot of thought, but I believe that now is the right time." Schmeichel, the son of legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, made his mark as Leicester City's No. 1 during their historic 2016 Premier League title win, an achievement that began with 5,000-1 odds. His leadership also saw Leicester lift the FA Cup and Community Shield trophies in 2021. His international career boasts 120 caps for Denmark, participating in two World Cups and two European Championships. Throughout his career, Schmeichel rose through the ranks at Manchester City, had loan spells at clubs like Darlington and Cardiff, and played for teams including Notts County, Leeds United, Nice, and Anderlecht. At Celtic, he secured two league titles and last season's Scottish Cup. Notably, he earned the title of Leicester City's Player of the Season twice and was named Danish Football Player of the Year three times.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-05-27