Kasper Schmeichel, born 5 November 1986 in Denmark, currently stands as the Celtic Football Club's stalwart goalkeeper. His imposing figure of 1.89m (6ft 2in) and weight of 89kg (14st) undeniably give him an edge between the posts. Representing Denmark on the international stage, Schmeichel sports the number 1 jersey for both club and country. Despite his advancing age of 38, his market value is estimated at about £630k, according to Transfermarkt, and his current contract with Celtic is set to extend until 30 June 2026.
His journey in football began in 2004 when he joined Manchester City as a trainee. However, regular first team opportunities were hard to come by and he spent most of his time with the club out on loan. Spells at Darlington, Bury, Falkirk, Cardiff City, and Coventry City were part of his footballing education before he made a permanent move to Notts County in 2009. In his solitary season at County, he featured 43 times for the first team.
In 2010, Schmeichel made the move to Leeds United where he again was a regular feature, making 37 appearances. His performances caught the attention of Leicester City, who subsequently procured his services for a fee of around £1m in 2011.
Schmeichel's time at Leicester proved to be the most defining period of his career with the Dane producing consistent displays over multiple seasons. He made a minimum of 24 appearances each season, with his busiest period being between 2011 and 2022 when he averaged over 38 appearances per season.
However, in August 2022, he began a new chapter in his career with a move abroad to Nice in France's Ligue 1. Following a season of regular playing time at Nice, Schmeichel's career took him to Belgium with Anderlecht. His time there was short-lived, featuring just 23 times before making the move north to Celtic in Scotland.
Now at the heart of Celtic's defensive unit, Schmeichel has already made a considerable number of appearances for the club. In his first season, he has played 30 league matches and been a key figure in the club's campaigns in the League Cup, Scottish Cup, and Champions League. His experience on the international stage has also continued unabated, with him featuring regularly in Denmark's Euro 2024 and Nations League campaigns.
Despite his numerous moves across clubs and countries, one thing has remained consistent - Schmeichel's reliable presence between the posts. Whether at Celtic, across the English football leagues, or Denmark, Schmeichel is a goalkeeper of proven quality and undisputed value.
