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Former Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has announced his retirement at 39 after a serious shoulder injury ended his playing career.
Kasper Schmeichel with Leicester City (X/Getty Images)
Kasper Schmeichel has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 39 after failing to recover from a serious shoulder injury suffered earlier this year.
The former Leicester City goalkeeper confirmed on Wednesday that his playing career will come to an end when his contract with Celtic expires in June.
Schmeichel injured his shoulder during a Europa League clash against VfB Stuttgart in February. He underwent surgery the following month in a bid to continue playing, but specialists ultimately advised him against returning to elite football.
“When my contract with Celtic expires in June, I will end my career as a professional footballer,” Schmeichel told Danish broadcaster TV2.
“It’s a decision that has been taken for me after consulting several surgeons, who are specialists with relation to my shoulder, who told me that I shouldn’t expect to come back and play at the highest level.
“It’s not fun, it’s absolutely not the way I would have wanted to end my career, but on the other hand, everything comes to an end.”
The Danish goalkeeper enjoyed one of the most memorable careers of his generation. After progressing through the academy at Manchester City, Schmeichel established himself as a club legend at Leicester.
He was a central figure in Leicester’s incredible 2015-16 Premier League triumph, widely regarded as one of the greatest underdog stories in football history. Schmeichel later helped the club win the FA Cup in 2021 before leaving after more than a decade of service.
The Dane also enjoyed a spell with OGC Nice before joining Celtic, where he won back-to-back Scottish league titles.
On the international stage, Schmeichel earned 120 caps for Denmark, making him one of the most-capped players in the country’s history.
He also carried one of football’s most famous surnames. Kasper is the son of legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who captained Manchester United to Champions League glory in 1999 and helped Denmark win the 1992 European Championship.
(with AFP inputs)
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