EPL winner with Leicester near the end of his career – Schmeichel announces retirement
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 19.03.26. | 16:58
The goalkeeper who won a miraculous title with Leicester is set to end his career at Scottish Celtic
Leicester City legend Kasper Schmeichel has spoken candidly about a serious shoulder injury that may ultimately bring his playing career to a close. The 39-year-old Celtic goalkeeper is now facing a lengthy spell out after receiving a diagnosis he described as a heavy blow.
The Danish international has been dealing with the problem for some time, but it worsened significantly during a recent Europa League match against Stuttgart. After sitting out Celtic’s last five games, a specialist visit earlier this week confirmed the severity of the situation, leaving the experienced shot-stopper stunned.
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel may have played his "last football game" with surgery required on his shoulder but he is eager to "fight" to regain fitness.
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) March 18, 2026
Schmeichel, 39, last played on 22 February and will have the first of two operations later this month.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/bAQWdDKkJN
The injury affects nearly every key part of his shoulder, and Schmeichel did not hold back when explaining the damage. Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo Network, he 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. It's looking like 10-12 months of rehab."
Given his age, such a recovery timeline could sideline him until he is close to 41, raising serious doubts about whether he will return at all. After more than 20 years at the top level, the prospect of being forced into retirement is difficult to accept, and the sudden pause in his career has led him to reflect deeply on what comes next.
He added: "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. It's very, very hard to wrap my head around at the moment."
Should this mark the end, Schmeichel leaves behind an outstanding legacy. He was a central figure in Leicester City’s historic Premier League triumph in 2015-16 and later lifted the FA Cup with the club. Since departing, he has had spells in France and Belgium before joining Celtic in 2024.
“I could’ve potentially played my last football game.”
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2026
Our guest reporter Kasper Schmeichel reveals that he has dislocated his shoulder, and torn his bicep, rotator cuff and labrum.
The Dane opens up about requiring two surgeries that will keep him out for 10 to 12 months. pic.twitter.com/75fskUSAd2
His first surgery is scheduled for Friday, the start of what will be a long road to recovery. Despite the odds, Schmeichel is determined to fight for one last return to the pitch. "I'm going to give it absolutely everything I can to see if I can get back. It would be probably one of the greatest feats of my career if I could get back from an injury like this. I'm going to fight, I'm going to try everything I can," he concluded.