Congrats Kasper

[HankMarvin]

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON Kasper Schmeichel: Leicester star beats Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen to be crowned Danish Player of the Year
Goalie was solid as a rock as Foxes made history with Premier League title win and was handed award by his father Peter

 

Schmeichel was presented with his award by his father, Peter, a previous winner at the annual awards show staged by Danish TV channel DR (Denmark’s equivalent to the BBC).

 

The 30-year-old helped Claudio Ranieri’s 5,000-1 Foxes see off the challenge of North London giants Arsenal and Spurs to win the Premier League last season.

That achievement – and Schmeichel’s brilliance in the Champions’ League – helped the goalkeeper end Eriksen’s vice-like grip on the prestigious award as he saw off the Spurs forward, Copenhagen captain Thomas Delaney and Fenerbahce’s Simon Kjaer to land the big prize.

 

 

 

[Guest CityFan 06]

Well done to Kasper. He's developed into one of the Premier League's finest goalkeepers. 

 

Integral to the team.

[StanSP]

He really has been superb. Pivotal in our survival and success so far.

 

[AKCJ]

Well deserved. He's very close to the "world class" bracket in my opinion.

[norwichfox]

Well done Kasper, great to see another award finding it's way to a city player....bet we don't get the pie of the year award though...

[foxfanazer]

[StanSP]

Lloris 

De Gea

Cech

Courtois

 

Then Kasper? Above in any order but any one else better than him?

 

He's made 2 excellent, top-class saves in our recent unbeaten run - Cresswell's deflected free-kick and Barkley's shot yesterday in the final minutes. Just his overall presence and commanding nature, vocally and physically brings confidence to the team and to the fans.

[Tuna]

Makes so much difference to the team. No surprise our form has improved since he returned to the side.

[Guest Sharpe's Fox]

Gotta say I never really appreciated him enough until he was out for a bit a few months ago. Won't make that mistake again. We need to pray that De Gea never leaves Man Utd.

[AmarteyAndChill]

14 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Lloris 

De Gea

Cech

Courtois

 

Then Kasper? Above in any order but any one else better than him?

 

He's made 2 excellent, top-class saves in our recent unbeaten run - Cresswell's deflected free-kick and Barkley's shot yesterday in the final minutes. Just his overall presence and commanding nature, vocally and physically brings confidence to the team and to the fans.

I'd put Kasper above Courtois.

[Mike Oxlong]

He's really grown into a top goalkeeper with us. Also a leader of men.

 

Well deserved recognition.

[Finnaldo]

I know everyone in the squad could be seen as a legend after last season but Kasper will be seen as amongst the finer of the bunch, for both loyalty/service and skill. Many people, including me, say Kingy always steps up when called upon but Kasper has took that up another level. He's gone from decent Championship player with some fairly limiting flaws to one of the best GKs in the Premier League. His shot-stopping has always been top notch but how he's grown to command the defence does us wonders.

[Dr The Singh]

Top player, he will go onto big things and play for the best.  Glad to have him here

[Stadt]

Is he our second longest serving player in the current squad?

 

I like having quite a few longer serving players in the team, I have a closer affinity to Kasper, Wes, Drinky, Riyad and Vardy because they've been through the lows with us as well as the highs. It's really not surprising we won the championship when you consider we had a similar spine when we won the Oren.

[Clever Fox]

He's definitely taken his game to the Top  level now. Coming off his line to collect crosses. I just hope we continue to build and improve the Team around him and our other stars. Then he can be just as successful here as anywhere else. Well done Kasper you deserve it.

[oxtonfox]

Brilliant for Kasper and very well deserved. He's been great for 18 months but especially since he came back from his broken hand he's made some key saves in most games. 

[Guest Manini]

think we take him for granted a bit. He's a very good keeper 

[N10]

59 minutes ago, AmarteyAndChill said:

I'd put Kasper above Courtois.

Sorry but Courtois is better

just look at his wins:

Belgian cup & Belgian league

Spanish cup & Spanish league & 2x trofeo Zamora

Euro league

European supercup

Premier league & League cup

Chamions league final (almost won)

 

last season was the first season in his career he did not take a trophy

[AmarteyAndChill]

5 minutes ago, N10 said:

Sorry but Courtois is better

just look at his wins:

Belgian cup & Belgian league

Spanish cup & Spanish league & 2x trofeo Zamora

Euro league

European supercup

Premier league & League cup

Chamions league final (almost won)

 

last season was the first season in his career he did not take a trophy

I'd take Kasper over Courtois any day of the week. Agree to disagree.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Excellent keeper and we can't get any better imo 

 

Only picky thing I'd say about him is that I wish he'd do better at pens.... 

 

Few years ago he had a excellent record up to about 2013. Can't remember us saving one for ages now 

[Collymore]

Completely agree. I think he was close to leaving at two points too. I think he would have left if we hadn't got promoted that season and would have also had left if we had gone down instead of "the great escape" 

 

The one thing I will say Zieler has really disappointed, not so much on goalkeeping ability, but more his passion and lack of ability to marshal his defence. I can't remember the last time I felt confident having 2 quality keepers, probably because Logan was on our books for so long.

 

I think Peggy is the only backup keeper I've felt confident with in my time of supporting Leicester. 

[Koke]

Him being 30 years old is a slight blessing in disguise for us. He won't go anywhere but still have at least 5 more years at the top level.

 

Absolute legend and a God amongst men. An Everton fan fan tweeted yesterday that Schmeichel was a world class keeper 

 

 

 

Even opposition fans recognise we have a top 4 keeper on our hands. 

[Corky]

He's really improved from when he joined too. Not just his goalkeeping skills but his drive and commitment to win is so vital.

 

Even in a tough season for us he's made some brilliant saves and had cracking games. And to think two years ago there was a groundswell of opinion that Hamer should be the number one.

[ZeGuy]

Well deserved. He's becoming one of the world's finest keepers.

[shen]

I've transcribed and translated the interview done in conjunction with his nomination in November as well as I could.
If people want the acceptance speech too, I'll do that as well.

 

 

Upon receiving the nomination he said:

 

"It's obviously a different type of nomination to others that tend to possibly be popularity contests, but this one is from the football players themselves - the actual football 'experts' in that sense. So this is a big honour for me."

On winning the Premier League:

 

"On a personal level it's a fantastic milestone in my career. But my career hopefully still lasts a long time and hopefully there will be more good times in the future."

On not resting on his laurels:

 

"The title was won and it was amazing and all that, but it's a new season, we move on. We cannot stand still otherwise we will stagnate."

On playing in the lower leagues:

"It's a good way to learn the basics of being a professional footballer. Football is the biggest thing over here in England and even when you play in the fourth tier you have 10-12.000 spectators for every game. You play with, and against, players who make a living off of winning because the bonuses make a big difference in their lives. It impacts whether or not they can pay their rent or not, so it really means something to them. You learn about the seriousness of football, the physical aspect of the game, and you learn to appreciate the accomplishment of reaching the level I'm at now. You really value this a lot more."

On the difference between Denmark and England:

"The most important thing for Danish players, in my opinion, is not to think it's like football in Denmark. It's completely different over here, it's life and death. I cannot speak for other leagues, because I've only played in England, but over here it's a matter of life and death. It's tough, it's intense, there's constant surveillance and pressure on you and you have to be prepared for that. You have to expect that it takes time too, so I always get impressed with those that come here and last for a long time and don't give up. To me, it's very much a mental challenge (going abroad). In Denmark I believe we have a culture where you need settle into secure environments and all that and you just don't have time for that stuff here. Over here it's all about football. As soon as a club buys you, you have to perform on the pitch. They don't have the time to wait that you get settled, bring your wife and children over first. You have to perform straight away and the rest has to take care of itself eventually. I would tell young players (aspiring to go abroad) that they should know about this first."

 

On leaving Man City for Notts County:

"It's the best decision I ever made, no doubt about it. I was at a dead end in Man City, there were no opportunities for me there anymore. I wasn't getting game time. For me it was all about getting game time and I didn't care where. I'm no good at sitting on the subs bench at all. I don't go to training every day to sit on the bench. So I got the opportunity of going to Notts County and it's the best decision I ever made... It's the closest I experienced to that togetherness we have at Leicester. We won the league there too and it was an absolutely fantastic experience. Notts County is a huge club in England, a very big club historically, the oldest club in the world. To do it with them and again here (at Leicester) was amazing. If you're not playing, then what's the point? That was my attitude. I would rather play in the fourth tier than sit on the bench in the Prem, that's for sure."

On which people that have affected his development:

"There are many, really many. I would say myself and my love for football. I love to play and I love to train and improve all the time. Nothing should get in the way of that. I've been lucky in that sense. I've had many good coaches and mentors and teammates that have been an inspiration to me, that have helped me along the way. That has all helped me, but my own determination has always been the cornerstone and the driving force."

On a regular day at the club:

"It varies a lot. It depends on the day. I get up early and go to training, I'm usually one of the first ones there. I do the things that need to be done at the gym, prepare for training, make sure to be as professional as I can; eat right, get massage and do all the stuff to be sure that I'm ready on the training pitch. After that, it's all about recovery. My recovery is a little bit different to outfield players who have maybe run a bit more than me. My body maybe takes a few more knocks so I go in the ice bath a lot and then we have the cryotherapy chamber that we also use for recovery. Then get some proper food, go home, rest and relax, spend the time there to mentally get ready for the next game."

On life as a footballer:

 

"Football, if you want to reach a certain level, is a 24/7 business. There's no time or space to take a day off and not think about it. Of course you try to relax and do other stuff, but every time you go to a restaurant or eat at home you have to take care what you put in your body. It all has to contribute to getting more energy and charging up for the next game, and the small niggles you get, you always have to try to optimise things."

On the possibility of 'returning home (to Denmark)':

"I will never reject it completely, but right now it's not in my plans to go and play in Denmark. But as mentioned, anything can happen in football and I would never completely reject anything."

On year 2016:

"The football year 2016 has obviously been my most succesful ever. To win the Premier League has been a dream since I was a kid and I am so proud to be part of a team that won the league, a league which I see as the best and strongest league in the world, in the way that we did, with that bond, cameraderie and team spirit with so many players who came from the lower leagues. We worked our way up together. It has been an absolutely fantastic experience."

On the expectations for 2017:

"The expectation is to get better. To continue to improve on a personal level. Keep working as hard as I can, get free of injuries (ed. interview was filmed when he was still out, I think) and make sure I do the things in training I always do. Always hungry for more knowledge, more training, continually improve. That for me is the most important ..[inaudible]".