Members News: Euro24 Journey Of Kasper & His Danish Team Ends

Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark) Euro24

Last night Denmark international, former Sky Blue ‘keeper (and CCFPA member), Kasper Schmeichel captained his team to an unfortunate 2-0 defeat to Germany in the knock-out last 16 stages of the Euro24 competition.  After three draws in the Group C stage (including 1-1 against Gareth Southgate‘s England side) Kasper’s Danes went out of the competition to two second half goals scored by the host side. Denmark‘s match featured a disruptive almost half-hour match delay caused by sudden tempestuous atmospheric conditions, having a an opening goal disallowed by VAR and then soon after succumbing to a harsh 53rd minute penalty given for an unintentional hand ball. Kasper made some fine saves too especially when his team was left exposed after pressing hard to get back into the game after the German’s fine 68th minute second goal.

Kasper in the Sky Blue Yellow!

The 33 year old Kasper, born in Copenhagen, started out his career in 2002 at Manchester City from schoolboy to professional though did not make his first team debut until 2007. The ‘other’ Sky Blue team’s policy was to loan him out to lower level clubs to gain experience and spells at Darlington, Bury, Falkirk and Cardiff City followed.

The Sky Blues were also happy to take Kasper on loan on 13th March 2008 until the end of the season and he played the last nine games of the season for the struggling Sky Blues, displacing Kasper’s now fellow CCFPA member Andy Marshall. Starting out with an encouraging pair of clean sheets Kasper went on to concede just eight goals in the Sky Blues next six games. However, the team’s performance in the last game of the season was dire with Kasper having a poor game, losing 4-1 at Charlton Athletic. A Leicester City goal elsewhere would have sent us down instead of them so Chris Coleman‘s Championship team was very fortunate to escape relegation on the last day in 2007-08!

Sarah presents Kasper with his CCFPA tie

in August 2009 Kasper linked up again with former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in a somewhat unsuccessful season in Nottingham with Notts. County and then he joined Leeds United in May 2010 for another season. Sven, then in charge at Leicester City, signed Kasper in June 2011 and Kasper then became a fixture at our erstwhile M69 rivals winning the Championship in 2013–14 and the Premier League in 2015–16. Leaving the Foxes in 2022 after eleven seasons and 479 games Kasper joined French Ligue 1 team Nice for a season and last season played for Belgian pro-League side Anderlecht.

Since 2004 Kasper has represented his country from U19 to Senior squad and since 2013 has broken the century mark in full caps for Denmark so far to date!  Kasper joined the Association in 2018. Commiserations to our Danish former ‘keeper.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.