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 ....... ....... .......
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Full Name
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Peter Boleslaw
Schmeichel
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Date of Birth
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18th Nov 1963
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Place of Birth
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Gladsaxe, Denmark
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Position
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Goalkeeper
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Height
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6ft 4
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United debut
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17/8/1991
vs Notts C (H)
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.....
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Schmeichel's United Record
1991-1999
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Appearances
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Clean sheets
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League
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292
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130
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FA Cup
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41
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20
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League Cup
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17
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9
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Europe
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42
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19
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Total
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392
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178
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Schmeichel's International Record
1991-2001
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129 Caps for
Denmark - 1 Goal
1992 European
Championship Winner
1999 European
Champions League
1999 F.A. Premier
League
1999 F.A. Cup
1997 F.A. Premier
League
1996 F.A. Cup
1996 F.A. Premier
League
1994 F.A. Cup
1994 F.A. Premier
League
1993 F.A. Premier
League
1992 League Cup
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Peter Schmeichel is without question the greatest Goalkeeper
in the history of Manchester United. In fact, although
comparisons over time are difficult, he could likely be the
greatest Goalkeeper of all-time. It is impossible to find a
weakness or flaw in this man mountain of a player, in every
department he was pure class through and through.
Ultra-competitiveness, aggression and unlimited motivation
made this "Great Dane" a seemingly unbreachable fortress.
Born in Gladsaxe, Denmark, he was a United supporter as a
boy and his idol was 80's stopper, Gary Bailey. He began
playing often as a striker but his real talent was found to
be in goal. Soon Schmeichel was playing as a professional
for local side Hvidøvre, but he really made his reputation
when he moved to top Copenhagen side Brondby.
Alex Ferguson spotted his potential and took him to Old
Trafford in August 1991 for the ridiculously small sum of
£500,000. No disrespect to Les Sealy and Jim Leighton but
the Goalkeeping position had always been a problem area at
United. The big man solved that and the trophies soon rolled
in: League Cup in 1992, Premier League in 1993, 1994, 1996,
1997 and 1999 plus 3 FA Cups to make three "Doubles". And,
of course the crowning glory of that unforgettable Champions
League victory in the 1999 Treble season.
He decided to leave English football at the end of the 1999
season because the gruelling 60 game a season schedule at
United was threatening to undermine his high standards at
the age of 35. In the less intense environment of Sporting
Lisbon in 2000 (his first season) he helped them win their
first League title in 17 years. Schmeichel played his last
International for Denmark against Slovenia in April 2001
having won a record 129 Danish caps.
There was a final twist in the tail however, that shocked
everyone in the football world, as Schmeichel returned to
the Premiership with Aston Villa on a free transfer in July
2001. An even greater shock came for United fans when he was
signed by Kevin Keegan for Manchester City at the start of
the 2002 season, again on a free. He proved he was still a
great stopper but his time at Maine Road was blighted by
injury and Peter finally retired from professional football
for good in May 2003.
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The
Master of the one-on-one |
When it came to shot
stopping from long-range the Great Dane was unrivalled, he
was rarely ever beaten from outside the box in his whole
United career. Not only that, but from close range he was
the master. In his school days playing Handball he had
perfected a strange star-shaped jump to cover as much of the
goal as possible. When it came to a one-on-one attacker
versus goalkeeper situation, Schmeichel was the best in the
world. If an opposing player managed to break through the
United defence and find himself with only big Peter to beat,
Schmeichel would come charging out to narrow the angle.
Spreading his huge frame high and wide in a star shape, this
both put the player off and made the target to aim at
smaller than a bottle-top.
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The
great saves |
His great saves are
far too many to mention but highlights must be: his title
winning performance away to Newcastle in 1996 when he
withstood the black and white siege for 90 minutes and
United won 1-0. His stunning save against Rapid Vienna later
in 1996 was one of the all-time greats, similar to Gordon
Banks against Pele, demonstrating amazing reflexes. Then
there was his legendary last minute penalty save in the epic
1999 FA Cup Semi-final replay against Arsenal to deny Dennis
Bergkamp. His point blank save against Inter Milan's
Zamorano in 1999 was another outstanding reflex save. For
Denmark he was instrumental in the 1992 European
Championships in Sweden. Pulling off a string of vital stops
he helped the rank outsiders defy the odds and lift the
trophy with a 2-0 win over Germany in the final. He even
scored for Denmark from the penalty spot in a friendly
International against Belgium in June 2000.
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Goalkeeping
innovator |
Not only was
Schmeichel a master of all the arts of goal-keeping, he
created some new ones of his own. Amazingly for a goalie he
was a serious attacking threat, his long powerful throws out
to Giggs or Beckham started a fair amount of United's
counter-attacks, usually from corners. Teams would be
pressurising United one moment, then find Schmeichel had
caught the ball, launched a torpedo of a throw to Giggs and
ripped their defence open. One of the most bizarre sights
was when, if United were losing late in a game and got a
corner, Schmeichel would leave his goal and come up into the
opposition box. The sight of him going up for the corner was
a great distraction to opposing defenders - this giant
Viking marauding like a madman. Schmeichel even scored once
in such circumstances, a goal against Rotor Volgograd in
1995. Then, in the dying seconds of his final ever game for
the reds, the European Cup final against Bayern Munich with
United 1-0 down into injury time, there he was causing havoc
again. And it worked!
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Footballing
perfectionist |
Schmeichel brought a
confidence to not only the defence but the whole team. As
well as being the best he was also the loudest. Never afraid
to vent his feelings or anger at his own defenders if he
thought they made an error, his huge bellowing voice could
be heard ringing throughout the ground. And the wrath of
Schmeichel was frequent, he was a perfectionist, a
footballing obsessive. If a goal was scored past him he took
it as a personal insult, even in training he would get
annoyed at team mates who put one past him. Schmeichel
shouting at his defenders became a common site in the 1990's
but the defenders themselves actually benefited greatly from
it. He helped focus their attention, they could never go to
sleep with him behind them. Schmeichel made them concentrate
that bit more and from his deep position he could spot
threats and dangers that they could not always see - and
alert them. He would co-ordinate the whole defence
instilling confidence by his constant vocal presence. The
players always knew the big bloke was back there in control.
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| Conclusion |
No player could ever
hope to better Peter Schmeichel's departure from Manchester
United. Winning the Premier League, FA Cup, captaining the
side to victory in the European Cup Final and getting his
hands on that famous cup. The Treble was a fairy tale end to
his years of glory and a thoroughly deserved triumph for
this ultimate professional.
People always said that Schmeichel was worth 12 points a
season to United. Without him how many trophies would United
have won? How many times did he prevent that last minute
vital goal being conceded or stop Bergkamp, Shearer, Owen,
Zidane, Ronaldo.... the list goes on. A few years ago if the
question was asked: "Who was the most important player for
Manchester United of the 1990s?" the answer would almost
certainly have been Eric Cantona. Now, in retrospect, could
the answer to that question perhaps be Peter Schmeichel? He
was the ultimate last line of defence, a rock upon which to
build a mighty empire. For nine years, the big man saved
United's footballing skin and was a fundamental part in
creating Alex Ferguson's many triumphs. Alongside Shilton,
Zoff, Jennings and Yashin, Peter Schmeichel will always be
remembered as one of the greatest Goalkeepers the world has
ever seen.
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All pictures in the
profiles can be enlarged by clicking on the smaller version.
Stats do not include friendlies, Charity Shield or World Club tournaments.
Number in brackets ( ) represents appearances as substitute in addition to
starting appearances.
This information is kindly taken from
McCleery's
Manchester United Zone
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