Peter Schmeichel is a famous goalkeeper who played for the English football club Manchester United. He also played for the Danish national team. Winner of a huge number of trophies, including the Champions Cup with Manchester United and the European Champion title with the national team.
Biography
The "Great Dane" was born in the tiny Danish commune of Gladsaxe. His father was Polish and his mother was Danish. From birth in November 1963 until the age of seven, Peter had Polish citizenship. Despite all his great achievements in sports, Peter did not have much love for football as a child. He liked making music, playing the piano more, and football was more of a hobby. During his school years, the future goalkeeper was in a rock group that he created with his classmates.
Career
The famous Schmeichel started at home, in the Gladsaxe club of the same name. In it, he made his debut for the senior team in 1981. After playing there for two years, he moved to another Danish club, Vidorve, where he also spent two seasons. The talented footballer was already watched by the scouts of local top clubs, and in 1987 he received an offer from one of these. Without hesitation, he signed a contract and started playing for Brøndby. At the beginning of his career, Schmeichel played in different positions and even tried himself as a striker. This experience became very useful for him. Schmeichel is one of the few versatile goalkeepers to be called the 11th outfield. He played equally well in the goal frame and on the way out.
And such versatile players have always been highly regarded by the legendary manager of Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson. Having learned from the scouts about the rising Danish star, he could not ignore it. In 1991 the talented goalkeeper was transferred from Brøndby to Manchester United. English club mentor Sir Alex later dubbed the move the "deal of the century." Schmeichel from the very first season became the main goalkeeper of the club and defended the last line of Manchester United until his departure from the club in 1999.
For all the time in the legendary club, Schmeichel played 398 matches, and even scored in one of them. This happened in 1995 as part of the Champions Cup. Manchester United played with the Russian club Rotor and at the end of the meeting Schmeichel scored a goal after a corner kick. Despite being defeated on aggregate, the talented goalkeeper's goal is considered one of the best goals in Manchester United history.
Schmeichel participated in one of the most famous Champions League finals in 1999 and has made an invaluable contribution to the team's success. Manchester United, losing 0-1 during the meeting, managed to snatch victory at the very end of the meeting. In one of the episodes, a goal from a corner was scored thanks to the actions of Schmeichel in the opponent's penalty area.
Personal life
Peter Schmeichel is not married. For a long time he was married to the daughter of his first football mentor, Berta. But since 2013, they have been officially divorced. Peter has a son, Kasper, and, like his father, plays football as a goalkeeper. In favor of the English club Leicester. Since 2013, he has been defending the last frontier of the Danish national team.
