Kasper Schmeichel conceded it may be time to hang up the gloves as he prepares for up to 12 months of rehab to fix a gruesome injury.
The Celtic goalkeeper made the devastating revelation during an appearance as a guest pundit for CBS Sports during their Champions League coverage on Tuesday.
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Schmeichel’s days between the sticks could be doneCredit: Getty
“I’m going to need two surgeries now to fix my shoulder,” Schmeichel said.
“I’ve torn the bicep, torn the rotator cuff, dislocated the shoulder, torn the labrum. Everything’s gone.
“To maybe put it into terms you can understand, it’s like an outfielder doing his ACL and their Achilles at the same time.
“It’s looking like 10-12 months of rehab. It’s been a strange few months.
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“Football means everything to me. It’s been my whole life, it’s been my whole identity.”
Kasper’s curtain call?
Schmeichel added: “I could’ve potentially played my last-ever football game.
“I’ve been a footballer since the day I was born. It’s devastating. It’s very, very hard to wrap my head around at the moment.”
Schmeichel has not featured for the Hoops since a 2-1 loss to Hibernian on February 22.
The timeline of his recovery also means he won’t play any part in this year’s World Cup should Denmark make it through the UEFA play-offs.
It would be Schmeichel’s third World Cup having represented Denmark at the 2018 and 2022 editions of the tournament.
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The 39-year-old faces up to a year on the sidelines as he must undergo two surgeriesCredit: Getty
Kasper Schmeichel’s career at a glance
Manchester City (2005 to August 2009): 10 games
Darlington (loan, January 2006): 4 games
Bury (loan, February 2006 to May 2006): 4 games
Falkirk (loan, January 2007 to May 2007): 17 games
Cardiff City (loan, October 2007 to January 2008): 14 games
Coventry City (loan, March 2008 to May 2008): 9 games
Notts County (August 2009 to July 2010): 49 games
Leeds United (July 2010 to July 2011): 40 games
Leicester City (July 2011 to August 2022): 479 games
Nice (August 2022 to September 2023): 46 games
Anderlecht (September 2023 to July 2024): 32 games
Celtic (July 2024 to present): 88 games*
Denmark: 120 caps
Won League Two with Notts County in 2009/10
Won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2015/16
Won the FA Cup with Leicester City in 2020/21
Won the Community Shield with Leicester City in 2021
Won the Championship with Leicester City in 2013/14
Won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup with Celtic in 2024/25
Named in the Football League Team of the Decade
The 39-year-old also stands as the fifth-most capped Danish international with 120 appearances to his name.
Schmeichel’s remarkable tally is bettered only by Dennis Rommedahl, his father Peter, Simon Kjaer and Christian Eriksen, who holds the record with 147 caps.
Unfortunately for the goalkeeper, the brutal diagnosis may mean he never gets the opportunity to add to his 120 caps should the injury bring down the curtain on his playing days.
Schmeichel: ‘One of the greatest feats if I return’
“I got the message [on Tuesday] that it could potentially be the end of my career because of my age,” Schmeichel said.
“By the time I could get back fit I could be plus 40.
“I’ve lived through this generation, I grew up watching guys that played football with their hearts and played through injuries. I’ve played through countless injuries and now my mind is like, ‘Yep, OK, I’m going to give it absolutely everything I can to see if I can get back.’
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Schmeichel played a starring role in the Foxes’ historic Premier League title winCredit: Getty
“It would be probably one of the greatest feats of my career if I could ever get back from an injury like this.
“I’m going to fight, I’m going to try everything I can. I’m going to do the rehab.
“But right now, surgery next Friday, that’s going to be the first surgery. Then the big one will be whenever the surgeons say.”
What made Schmeichel’s devastating injury revelations all the more brutal was the fact his father, Peter, was stood next to him during the interview on CBS Sports.
Peter Schmeichel reacts to his son’s brutal injury reveal
The senior Schmeichel, renowned as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, was left crushed at the thought his son may not get the chance to end his career how he wanted to.
“Whatever situation he was facing, I tried to be there, as a father, as a dad,” Schmeichel said.
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The senior Schmeichel was devastated by his son’s injury diagnosisCredit: AFP
“I don’t want this to end with an injury like that.
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“Shoulder injury for a goalkeeper, you can’t imagine how bad that is. Every time you dive to that side, you land on it.
“This is seriously bad. What can I do to help Kasper?”