Peter Schmeichel - Manchester United Legend
In the 2003 Peter Scmeichel became an inductee of the English Hall of Fame and a yeat later was included in a list of the "125 greatest fotballers of all time" and still holds the record for most Premier League clean-sheets to games ratio, which works out as a clean sheet every 2.38 games.
It was while at Gladsaxe Hero that his burgeoning talent was nurtured and after the Senior side were relegated to the Danish Third Division, the then coach, Svend Aage Hansen promoted Schmeichel to the senior squad where he made his debut against Birkerod in a 1-0 loss. Despite the defeat the larger than life goalkeeper earned huge credit for his performance that day, and from that moment forth, never looked back. After playing 46 matches for his home town club and the age of 21, he moved to Hvidovre IF, who had been crowned Danish League champions just three years earlier. However, despite the heroics of their young goalkeeped Hvidore were relegated in 1985 and just two years later was snapped up Brondby. His first year at Brondby was a dream one for Peter Schmeichel, not only did he win the Danish League he made his debut on 20 May 1987 in a 5-0 Olympic Games Qualifier victory of Greece, and at the end of the 1987-88 season was called up for Denmark's Euro 1988 squad by coach Sepp Piontek, eventually making the number 1 jersey his own. His time a t Brondby was a hugely succusseful for the goalkeeper as he won four Danish League championships in 5 seasons and one Danish Cup.
In his first season with Manchester United Peter Schmeichel and his team-mates finsihed runners up in Division One, to eventual winners Leeds United, however despite the heartache of The Reds failing to win the championship at the 25th time of asking, the team did soften the blow by defeating Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the 1992 League Cup final, courtesy of a Brian McClair goal. At the end of his first season whilst on holdiay Peter Schmeichel was urgently summoned by Denmark, to feature in their Euro 1992 squad, after they were called up as a late replacement for Yugoslavia who had been banned due to the outbreak of the Yugoslav war. As the club were late replacements, they were considerd to be no hopers and there to make up the numbers. However, after somehow scraping through a group consisting of hosts Sweden, England and France, wiith just one win, confidence began to grow. In the semi-finals they were paired against favourites Holland and after an exciting 2-2 draw the match was decided on a penalty shoot-out, with Peter Schmeichel becoming a national hero after he helped his side to vicotry courtesy of a penalty save against legendary Dutch striker Marco Van Basten. In the final - despite victory over tournament favourites Holland - they were again massive underdogs. And just like the semi-finals, Schmeichel put in a virtuoso performance as he repelled the efforts of the fantastic German frontline of Jurgen Klinsmann and Karlheinz Riedle, with the Danes running out 2-0 winners. This Euro 1992 victory inspired Scmeichel and in during the 1992-93 season a string of assured performances and twenty-two clean sheets helped Manchester United won their first League championship in 26 years, pipping runners-up Aston Vila to the title. The following season The Reds repeated the feat of 1993 but added the F.A. Cup to the Premier League trophy after United hammered Chelsea 4-0 in the Wembley final with goals by Eric Cantona (2), Mark Hughes and Brian McClair. A year later Schmeichel and Manchester United were odds on - in the eyes of the bookmakers - to complete their second domestic League and F.A. Cup double in as many years. As the Reds travelled to East London to face West Ham United they knew that victory would confirm a third League title in a row, if Blackburn failed to beat Liverpool at Anfield. With Rovers trailing 2-1 and with the scores level at 1-1 at Upton Park The Reds knew that one goal would be enough. But The Hammers goalkeeeper Ludek Miklosko was in superb form and thwarted Manchester United on a number of occasions. Unfortunately t wasn't to be and the Premier League trophy was claimed by Blackburn. A week later Peter Scmeichel and his Manchester United team mates had the chance to soften the blow, when they took on Everton in the F.A. Cup final. Despite The Reds dominating for long periods of the game they failed to breakdown the dogged Everton defence and finally succumed to a 1-0 defeat. During the 1995-96 season - in which United claimed on historic double-double (being the first club to win two doubles, after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the F.A. Cup final and pipping Newcastle United to the League title) - Peter Schmeichel scored his first and only goal for United when he headed the equaliser in a UEFA Cup first round draw against Russian's Rotar Volgograd on 26 September 1996. In 1999 despite the giant Dane having picked up four English League title, two F.A. Cups, one League Cup and one European Super-Cup, he still yearned for the European Cup. After yet another inspired season and a mid-season break given to him by boss Alex Ferguson Schmeichel helped The Reds pick up their third double (including a last minute F.A. Cup semi-final save from Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp). However in his final ever game for Manchester United he had the chance to realise his dream of lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy, when on the 26 May 1999 Manchester United took on German giants Bayern Munich. In a cautious opening, the Germans won a dubious free-kick on the edge of the the United box. From the resulting set-piece winger Mario Basler wrong footed Scmeichel and put Bavarians 1-0 up. As United began to commit men forward the Germans began to exploit the space left at the back and Schmeichel was called upon to make world class save after save, most notibly from Bayern's Mehmet Scholl. With the game heading into second-half injury time and Manchester United facing defeat, The Reds won a corner. As was usual when United needed to score Peter Scmeichel went up for the corner. As the ball was swung in by David Beckham, Schmeichel's presence seeed to distract the Bayern defence and a poor clearance fell to the feet of Ryan Giggs whose scuffed shot was turned in by Teddy Sheringham. With the Germans utterly deflated, United sensed victory and with seconds remaining won a corner. The ball was sent in by David Beckham and was a flicked on to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who stuck out a leg to divert the ball passed the floundering Olver Khan between the Bayern sticks. Peter Scmeichel in his final game for Manchester United realised his dream, and as first choice captain Roy Keane was out through suspension was given the chance to lift the trophy. After he had finished at Manchester United Peter Schmeichel went on to play for Sporting Lisbon, Aston Villa and Manchester City. The great dane played exactly 900 professional matches during his illustrious career and scored a staggering 11 goals. Peter Schmeichel Honours Brondby Manchester United Sporting Lisbon Aston Villa International Peter Schmeichel Personal Honours Det Gyldne Bur (Danish Goalkeeper of the Year): 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992 From Peter Schmeichel, to Manchester United Fottball Legends History of Manchester United Manchester United Fans Site home |
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