Born in Denmark in 1963 Peter Schmeichel became one of Manchester United’s greatest goalkeepers. In eight years at the club Schmeichel won five league titles, three FA Cups, the League Cup, Super Cup and the Champions League.
Schmeichel signed for Manchester United in 1991 from Danish side Brøndby for a fee of £530,000. The team had won four Danish First division league titles in five seasons and had reached the semi-finals of the 1991 UEFA Cup. Schmeichel had also become the first choice goalkeeper for the Danish national side, and his talents were noted when he played at the 1988 European Football Championships in Germany.
During Peter Schmeichel’s first season Manchester United finished second in the league to the winners Leeds United, but they won silverware that season by winning the League Cup final for the first time when they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0.
During the summer of 1992 Schmeichel played for Denmark as they won the European Championships in Sweden by beating Germany 2-0 in the final, he had an outstanding tournament and was voted as the Worlds Best Goalkeeper for 1992.
The following season United won the Premier league, which was their first league title for twenty six years. Schmeichel kept 22 clean sheets as United won the league by a massive ten points, and he was again named as the worlds best goalkeeper.
The 1993-94 season saw United retain the premier league title and this time add the FA Cup, by beating Chelsea 4-0 in the final.
The Reds were everyone’s favourite to win the title for a third consecutive year during the 1994-95 season, but they lost out to Blackburn in the Premier league and lost the FA Cup final to a determined Everton side, who secured a 1-0 victory, to leave United trophy less that season.
During the 1995-96 season United claimed a second double by reclaiming the premier league title overturning Newcastle who had a 10 point lead over them at Christmas. United beat old rivals Liverpool 1-0 in the FA Cup final. This season famously saw Peter Schmeichel score his first and only goal for United as he scored with a header in a UEFA Cup match. Schmeical was renowned for making runs into the opposition half or coming forward for late free kicks or corners in an attempt to secure a winning goal or late equaliser. In total he scored 11 goals during his career, including a goal for Denmark. A remarkable achievement for a goalkeeper.
1999 was probably Schmeical’s best season at United as they secured the premier league and FA Cup and then faced Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final, coming back from 1-0 in the last minutes of the game to win 2-1. Schmeichel who was captain on the night in the absence of Roy Keane and he made a string of fine saves to keep United in the match and ultimately win the trophy.
The Champions League Final turned out to be Peter Schmeichel’s last game for Manchester United as he decided to leave English football at the age of 36 and he joined Sporting Clube de Portugal. He later returned to the Premier League to play for Aston Villa and then Manchester City. In total he made 398 appearances for Manchester United and will always be remembered as a true legend.