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.. He has played nine games for the Denmark national under-21 football team.

He is the son of former Manchester United F.C. goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who finished his career with Manchester City. Kasper spent most of his childhood living in England, due to his father's playing career. As a result, Kasper speaks English fluently, with a Mancunian accent.

Career

Schmeichel joined Manchester City F.C. in 2002 on a long term contract, on a deal which deals with schoolboy, scholar and professional terms. Schmeichel joined Football League Two side Darlington F.C. on loan in January 2006, where he made his professional first team debut against Peterborough United F.C. at the 96.6 TFM Arena on January 14, 2006. Darlington won the game 2-1, with Schmeichel conceding a goal to Peterborough striker James Quinn (footballer). He gained his first clean sheet three days later against Grimsby Town F.C.. He made two further appearances before returning to Manchester City. One month later he was loaned out again, this time to Bury F.C. in February, where he made 15 appearances in a three month loan spell. He 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. He was named man of the match against Rangers F.C. on February 18 2007. Schmeichel revealed in May he would have liked his loan at Falkirk extended and Falkirk F.C. expressed an interest in signing him.

Schmeichel made his Manchester City debut against West Ham United F.C. in August 2007. He played against City's rivals 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 25th August 2007, despite City losing 1-0 to Arsenal. He played the first seven of Manchester City F.C. games in the 2007-08 Premier League season, conceding five Football pitch Goals.

On August 23 2007 it was reported that the The FA were investigating Kasper Schmeichel's international status, to see if there was any chance of him forsaking Denmark, for whom he had already played multiple youth matches, in order to play for the England national football team. However, Schmeichel stated that he will only play for Denmark. He 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. He made his debut for Cardiff on 27 October, 2007 in a 1–1 draw with Scunthorpe United F.C.. He was named 2007 Danish Football Association Young Players of the Year. Towards the end of the loan spell Schmeichel requested that he 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 F.C. do not suffer an injury crisis. But after Eriksson named Joe Hart as the number one goalkeeper at Manchester City Andreas Isaksson requested a transfer meaning that Eriksson will not allow Cardiff to keep Schmeichel after his initial loan period ends on the 2 January. However 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, with the possibility of Schmeichel staying for the rest of the year should Isaksson fail to find a club during the transfer window. However, on 3 January 2008, Schmeichel returned to Manchester City after deciding not to remain with Cardiff for the extra two games.

He joined Coventry City F.C. on loan until the end of the season on 13 March. Towards the end of the season his father Peter commented during a TV interview that his son was not happy at Manchester City and is set to leave following the end of the season. However Kasper returned to the City of Manchester Stadium at the end of the season, and he was given the number 16 shirt by manager Mark Hughes. He said in August that he wanted to leave City.