Sport nationFormer Premier League winner Kasper Schmeichel has opened up about his time at Leeds United, revealing that he didn’t enjoy his spell at the club. Schmeichel, who played for Leeds in the 2010-2011 season, cited the fans’ chants about his father, Peter Schmeichel, as one of the reasons for his unhappiness.
In an interview on the ‘Rest Is Football Podcast’, Schmeichel said: “I didn’t enjoy my time at Leeds, which is a shame, because it’s an incredible club. I think it was the wrong time, wrong place, wrong person.” He added that he was “very immature” at the time and felt disrespected by some of the things said about his father by the fans.
Schmeichel specifically mentioned a chant that referred to his father in a derogatory way, which he felt was unacceptable. He understood the rivalry between Leeds and Manchester United, where his father played, but felt that the chant crossed a line.
Despite having a decent season with Leeds, Schmeichel was sold to Leicester City for a relatively small fee of £1.4 million. He went on to have a successful career with Leicester, winning the Premier League and FA Cup.
Schmeichel’s departure from Leeds was part of a larger trend at the time, where the club was selling its best players for low fees. This period, which saw players like Bradley Johnson, Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass, and Luciano Becchio leave the club, was a difficult time for Leeds, and it took them 10 years to return to the Premier League.
In hindsight, Leeds may regret letting Schmeichel go so cheaply, given his achievements at Leicester and his longevity in the game. Schmeichel’s experience at Leeds serves as a reminder of the challenges that players can face when moving to a new club, and the importance of finding the right environment to succeed.
Sport nation
