Celtic and Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has announced that he has been forced to retire due to a serious shoulder injury.
The 39-year-old, who won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016, has been sidelined since February.
Schmeichel – the son of former Manchester United great Peter – revealed in March he required two surgeries and could be facing 10 to 12 months of rehab, but he was of a mind to fight on and try to salvage his career.
However, he has now had to admit defeat. "When my contract with Celtic expires in June, my career as an active footballer stops," Schmeichel said in an interview with TV2 in his homeland.
"It is a decision that has been made for me, after consulting with several surgeons and experts in my field, who tell me that I should not expect the opportunity to return and play top football.
"So after a lot of consideration, after trying to get as many opinions as possible, after getting so many experts' evaluation, I think this is the right time now.
"We are also celebrating our 10th anniversary of winning the championship with Leicester (at an event this weekend), so I think this is the right time now to announce that I have played my last professional football match."
Schmeichel’s last competitive match was a 2-1 defeat for Celtic at home to Hibernian, while the last of his 120 Denmark caps came in the World Cup qualification defeat against Scotland at Hampden in November.
Five of those caps came in games against Ireland, including the World Cup play-off victory in Dublin in November 2017, and a shootout for a Euro 2020 spot two years later tht ended in a 1-1 draw, consigning the Boys in Green to the play-offs. He also played against Northern Ireland on two occasions.
The former Manchester City, Notts County, Leeds, Nice and Anderlecht keeper, who played at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, expressed frustration that he has been unable to bow out on his own terms.
"It may well be that I am smiling, but inside it is probably my resistance mechanism," he said, when asked how he was feeling. "It’s not funny, it’s not how I would have wanted my career to end.
"But on the other hand, everything comes to an end, and the biggest feeling I have left is gratitude for everything I have been able to achieve, all the clubs I have been able to play in, all the people I have met, all the friendships, and I have been lucky enough to learn through football."
DBU, Danish football’s governing body, posted on X: "Kasper Schmeichel ends his career. From debut in Skopje to World Cup debut against Peru, big saves against some of the world’s best nations, a Euro semi-final at Wembley and much more. 13 years. 120 matches for the National Team. Thanks for unforgettable moments, Kasper."
