Kasper Schmeichel has revealed that his football career could be over after a 'devastating' diagnosis for a severe shoulder injury. The Celtic goalkeeper faces a 10-12 month rehabilitation period and requires two surgeries to address extensive damage.
The 39-year-old, son of Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel, has been playing through pain since injuring his left shoulder while on international duty for Denmark last year. He aggravated the problem during a match against Stuttgart last month.
A visit to a specialist on Monday confirmed the extent of the injury, which has sidelined him for Celtic's last five matches. Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo Network, Schmeichel said: 'I’m going to need two surgeries now to fix my shoulder. It’s a bit of a body blow. I’ve torn the bicep, torn the rotator cuff, dislocated the shoulder, torn the labrum – everything’s kind of gone.'
The prospect of retirement has deeply affected the veteran stopper. 'You don’t really know how to react to this. I could have potentially played my last ever football game. I’ve been a footballer since the day I was born. That kind of thought is devastating,' he said.
Schmeichel enjoyed a distinguished career spanning over two decades, including being a pivotal member of Leicester City's Premier League-winning side in 2016 and lifting the FA Cup with the club five years later. He joined Celtic in the summer of 2024 after spells at Nice and Anderlecht.
Despite the grim prognosis, Schmeichel is determined to fight for his return. His first surgery is scheduled for Friday, and he has vowed to commit fully to the recovery process, calling it 'one of the greatest feats of my career' if he can return.
