Kasper Schmeichel, Celtic's current mainstay between the sticks, hails from the misty shores of Denmark. Born on 5 November 1986, Schmeichel stands an imposing 6ft 2in tall and tips the scales at 14st.
The goalkeeper, identified by his number 1 jersey, has also stood tall for Denmark, his country of birth. In the recently concluded season of 2024 - 2025, he demonstrated his unwavering grit, appearing in two Premiership matches for Celtic, pulling off a couple of starts.
His devoir didn't just limit to domestic competition, but extended to the international level too, orchestrating defence for Denmark in the Euro 2024 with four starts, in addition to a fulfilled commitment in the Euro Qualifiers 2022 - 2024 with ten starts.
Schmeichel's journey in professional football began in November 2004 at Manchester City, joining them as a trainee. Thereafter, a series of loan moves ensued, with stints at Darlington (January 2006), Bury (February 2006), Falkirk (January 2007), Cardiff City (October 2007), and Coventry City (March 2008). In August 2009, he set down roots at Notts County, leaving Manchester City for an undisclosed fee.
Leeds United came calling in July 2010, but it was his move to Leicester City in the Premier League in July 2011, for a fee of around £1m, that proved definitive in his career. After an impressive run there, he transferred to Nice in Ligue 1, France in August 2022, switching to Anderlecht in Pro League, Belgium just a year later in September 2023. Finally, Celtic welcomed him to Scotland in July 2024.
Schmeichel's career is adorned with numerous first team appearances, starting with 4 for Darlington in the 2005 - 2006 season during his loan period from Manchester City. The subsequent seasons saw him guard the net for various teams, including Bury (15), Falkirk (15), Coventry City (9), Notts County (43), and Leeds United (37).
His longest service was with Leicester City in the Premier League, a phase highlighted by a consistent run in the team, making at least 30 appearances in nearly every season from 2011 to 2022. His performance continued to earn him first-team starts with Nice (36) and Anderlecht (23). His tenure at Celtic is currently in its infancy, with two first-team appearances recorded for the 2024 - 2025 session.
According to Transfermarkt, the seasoned goalkeeper boasts a market value of around £850k. His Celtic contract remains valid till 30 June 2025, with a good 11 months to go.
