Peter Schmeichel is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the Premier League, with a career spanning over two decades from 1981 to 2003.
Born in Gladsaxe, a town on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, Schmeichel began his football journey playing for local teams before joining Brøndby, where his impressive performances caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed him for Manchester United in 1991.
Schmeichel's impressive physique, earning him the nickname "The Great Dane," stood at 6ft 3in, and his innovative "star-jump save" technique, adopted from playing handball in Denmark, made him a dominant force in the goal.
Throughout his eight-year tenure at Manchester United, Schmeichel won countless trophies, including major honors, and earned the reputation as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, with 24 major trophies to his name.
Schmeichel's impressive career was recognized by FIFA, who featured him among the "125 Greatest Living Footballers" at the FIFA 100 celebrations, and the Football League 100 Legends. He was also awarded an honorary MBE for his services to football in 2001.
After retiring from football, Schmeichel remained in the public eye, presenting the Champions League coverage in Denmark for eight years, hosting the World Cup show for Russia TV in 2018, and appearing as an analyst on the Premier League channel and the BBC's "Match of the Day."
Schmeichel's son, Kasper Schmeichel, followed in his father's footsteps and is also a professional goalkeeper, playing for Leicester City and Denmark.
