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Peter Schmeichel joined Manchester United in August 1991 as a little
known Danish goalkeeper from Brondby for £500, 000. A United supporter
as a boy, he made his debut for the club on 17th August 1991 in a 2-0
home win against Notts County. Further clean sheets followed, as
Schmeichel remained unbeaten until the fifth game of the season. He
played in all 42 games of the 1991/92 league season and conceded only 33
goals, however, this wasn't enough to secure the Championship as United
finished second to Leeds United. His performances did help the team to
silverware that season and another clean sheet came in a 1-0 League Cup
Final victory against Nottingham Forest. Peter helped his country to
European Championship glory in the summer of '92 and by the end of the
1992/93 campaign he had become a household name. Having grown up playing
handball, he brought those skills to the art of goalkeeping and his
star-shaped spread in a one on one situation frustrated strikers around
both England and Europe. Schmeichel featured heavily in United's
victorious league campaign as the Red Devils finally ended their 26-year
wait, sealing the title with seven consecutive wins to finish ten
points clear of Aston Villa. Another league title came the following
season and United also appeared in both domestic cup finals. A 3-1
defeat to Aston Villa in the League Cup was sweetened by a 4-0 win
against Chelsea in the F.A. Cup to complete United's first double. In
March 1994, Schmeichel surpassed Alex Stepney's record of 92 successive
games for the club. Injury kept him out of six weeks in the middle of
the 1994/5 season and when he returned even the Great Dane could not
stop the season ending in disappointment. Failure to win in the last
league game against West Ham saw the title go to Blackburn Rovers and
the despair was compounded with a 1-0 FA Cup Final defeat against
Everton. (Steve Drabble)
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Peter Schmeichel pictured on 3rd. April 1999. Photo Nigel French. © G.H.
| By now widely recognised as a world-class keeper, Schmeichel's talents
were not limited to his own box. His quick and accurate release of the
ball set up many an attack, as United became 'the counter attacking
team'. If in need of a goal late on, Schmeichel could regularly be seen
in the opposition penalty area if they got a corner. It was from one
such corner in an ultimately unsuccessful Uefa Cup first round game
against Rotor Volgograd in September 1995 that Schmeichel scored his
solitary United goal. Despite European failure, United's 1995/96 season
was a resounding success. 12 clean sheets in United's last 16 league
games helped pip Newcastle United to the title. A 1-0 victory at St
James Park with 10 games to go saw one of Peter's greatest performances
as Newcastle laid siege to his goal. Having taken the title, United
became the first team in English football history to win the 'double'
twice when they beat Liverpool 1-0 in the F.A. Cup Final. Further League
Championships followed in 1997 and 1999 and United again doubled-up in
1999 taking the FA Cup. In November 1998, Schmeichel announced that he
would be retiring from English football at the end of the season. His
decision was caused by concerns that he would be unable to maintain his
high standards in such a hectic and congested fixture list as the years
rolled on. His final game came as United played Bayern Munich in the
Champions League Final hoping to achieve an unprecedented 'treble'.
Schmeichel captained the side and, as they entered injury-time 1-0 down,
United were awarded a corner. Schmeichel duly obliged and caused chaos
in the Munich defence, Teddy Sheringham scored and, following a further
strike from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Peter was lifting the trophy. A
fitting end to a magnificent career. (Steve Drabble) |