Kasper Schmeichel

Kasper Peter Schmeichel (born November 5, 1986 in Copenhagen) is a Denmark professional Association football player, who plays as a Goalkeeper (association football) for Manchester City F.C.. Kasper Schmeichel has played seventeen games for the Denmark national under-21 football team.

Club career

Schmeichel joined Manchester City F.C. in 2002 on a long-term contract. Kasper Schmeichel joined Football League Two side Darlington F.C. on loan in January 2006, where Kasper Schmeichel made Kasper Schmeichel professional first team debut against Peterborough United F.C. at the 96.6 TFM Arena on 14 January, 2006. Darlington won the game 2–1, with Schmeichel conceding a goal to Peterborough striker James Quinn (footballer). Kasper Schmeichel gained Kasper Schmeichel first clean sheet three days later against Grimsby Town F.C.. Kasper Schmeichel made two further appearances before returning to Manchester City.

One month after returning to Manchester City Kasper Schmeichel was loaned out again, this time to Bury F.C. in February, where Kasper Schmeichel made 15 appearances in a three month loan spell. Kasper Schmeichel returned to Bury for a further three months the following season.

Schmeichel joined Scottish Premier League side Falkirk F.C. on loan from January 2007 until the end of the 2006-07 in English football season. Kasper Schmeichel was named man of the match against Rangers F.C. on 18 February, 2007. Kasper Schmeichel revealed in May Kasper Schmeichel would have liked Kasper Schmeichel loan at Falkirk extended and Falkirk F.C. expressed an interest in signing him.

Schmeichel made Kasper Schmeichel Manchester City debut against West Ham United F.C. in August 2007. Kasper Schmeichel played against City's rivals and Kasper Schmeichel boyhood team Manchester United F.C. on the 19 August 2007 and kept a clean sheet in City's 1–0 home win. Schmeichel saved a penalty from Arsenal F.C. Robin van Persie on 25 August 2007. Despite City losing 1–0 to Arsenal Kasper Schmeichel was named man of the match. Kasper Schmeichel played the first seven of Manchester City F.C. games in the 2007–08 Premier League season, conceding only five goals.

Kasper Schmeichel signed a new four-year deal with City in September 2007. This was then followed up with an agreement to go on a one-month loan with Football League Championship side Cardiff City F.C. on 25 October, 2007. Kasper Schmeichel made Kasper Schmeichel debut for Cardiff on 27 October, 2007 in a 1–1 draw with Scunthorpe United F.C.. Kasper Schmeichel was named 2007 Danish Football Association Young Players of the Year.

Towards the end of the loan spell Schmeichel requested that Kasper Schmeichel 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 Kasper Schmeichel could possibly stay at the club for the rest of the season providing Manchester City F.C. do not suffer an injury crisis. However, after Eriksson named Joe Hart as the number one goalkeeper at Manchester City, Andreas Isaksson requested a transfer. This meant that Eriksson would not allow Cardiff to keep Schmeichel after Kasper Schmeichel initial loan period ended on the 2 January. 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 Andreas Isaksson not move until late in the January transfer window. Schmeichel had since stated Kasper Schmeichel would like to play for Cardiff again in the future. On 3 January 2008, Schmeichel returned to Manchester City.

Kasper Schmeichel joined Coventry City F.C. on loan until the end of the season on 13 March. Towards the end of the season Kasper Schmeichel father, Peter Schmeichel, commented during a TV interview that Kasper Schmeichel son was not happy at Manchester City and is set to leave following the end of the season.

Despite wanting to leave, Kasper Schmeichel returned to the City of Manchester Stadium at the end of the season and changed to the number 16 shirt. Kasper Schmeichel has repeatably stated that Kasper Schmeichel wants to leave City and regrets signing a four year contract.

On 16 November, Schmeichel entered a game as a substitute after Joe Hart injured Kasper Schmeichel ankle in the 14th minute. City went on to a 2–2 result with Hull City FC. On the 4 January 2009, Kasper Schmeichel stated in the Daily Mail newspaper that Kasper Schmeichel is ready to quit the football club after falling down the pecking order at Manchester City FC.

After missing out on former Falkirk goalkeeper Dani Mallo, Hibernian manager John Hughes is said to be ready to make Kasper No 1 at Easter Road, and is already in contact with agent Mads Frederiksen about a move.

International career

On 23 August, 2007 it was reported that the The FA were investigating Kasper Schmeichel's international status, to see if there was any chance of Kasper Schmeichel forsaking Denmark, for whom Kasper Schmeichel had already played multiple youth matches, in order to play for the England national football team. However, Schmeichel stated that there is only one country Kasper Schmeichel would ever play for, Denmark.

Personal life

Kasper Schmeichel is the son of former Manchester United F.C. goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who finished Kasper Schmeichel career with Manchester City. Kasper spent most of Kasper Schmeichel childhood living in England, due to Kasper Schmeichel father's playing career. Kasper speaks fluent English and Portuguese.