Seven ways Kasper Schmeichel matched his legendary father while playing for Leicester City and Denmark
After 11 years in goal for Leicester City, it is time for new pastures as Kasper Schmeichel has confirmed his move to Nice.
“Throughout his time with us and particularly as a captain and vice-captain, Kasper has always been a player willing to stand up and take responsibility, leading the team with distinction,” said Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
“His influence and his leadership on and off the pitch speak volumes about him as a professional, as a football player and as a human being.”
As far as father-son footballing duos, few have played under quite as big a shadow as Schmeichel but here are six ways he has matched the legendary former Manchester United shot-stopper.
1: Winning the Premier League
Both father and son managed to win the Premier League title with Peter lifting it on five occasions and Kasper one time. While the father has bragging rights in the amount of trophies won, his offspring can always tell his dad that he was actually the one to lift the Premier League trophy as club captain.
Here’s a niche Premier League factoid that didn’t deserve its own section but is interesting enough to merit mentioning: in 2019, Kasper kept a clean sheet as Leicester beat Southampton 9-0. The only other ‘keeper to avoid conceding while watching his team score nine in a Premier League game? Peter Schmeichel.
2: Playing in the Champions League
Kasper was the man between the sticks as the Foxes made the final eight in their debut Champions League campaign in 2016-17. While his dad obviously featured in the Champions League many times his son did save a penalty in both legs of the last 16 against Sevilla, which is something to talk about at family occasions. Peter may in turn tell the story of how he captained his side to Champions League glory in 1999, however, when Roy Keane was suspended.
3: Multiple Danish Footballer of the Year awards
In total, the Schmeichel household has hosted the Danish Footballer of the Year trophy seven times. It is the Schmeichel Jr. who dominates this category, however, having won four times (16, 17, 19 and 20) in contrast to the three his dad won (90, 93 and 98). Peter was playing in a strong era for Danish football, though, with the legendary Brian Laudrup standing his competition.
4: Both men won the FA Cup
Kasper completed the double (although not in the same season) of English trophies when the East Midlands outfit beat Chelsea 1-0. It is once more advantage dad, as Peter won the FA Cup three times the last one coming as part of an infamous treble along with the Premier League and the Champions League.
5: Both men won over 50 caps for their national team
84 caps for Denmark is an impressive feat by the younger Schmeichel, who also represented his country in two tournaments. His dad trumps him at every level here having won 129 caps, managing to score even and then playing a part in the 1992 Denmark side that were crowned European Champions.
6: Both made the PFA Team of the Year
The PFA Team of the Year recognises outstanding contribution of the season and both men made it. Kasper has made the team in League Two, League One and the Championship but strangely never in the Premier League. His dad has made the top-flight team but, again, unusually just the once.
Of course, if Kasper wants to have full bragging rights at the Schmeichel family get-togethers he needs to appear on Strictly Come Dancing like his father. Peter was eliminated in week seven, so if the younger Schmeichel can go further than that he definitely has one over his father.
7. 4+ consecutive clean sheets for Denmark
At the last World Cup in 2018, Schmeichel kept his fifth clean sheet in a row, beating the previous record his father set in 1995.
Kasper Schmeichel’s five games for #DEN in 2018:
🚫 v Panama
🚫 v Chile
🚫 v Sweden
🚫 v Mexico
🚫 v PeruFive consecutive clean sheets, surpassing father Peter Schmeichel’s four-game record from 1995.
Well in, son. pic.twitter.com/hT1T4K09gh
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 16, 2018
