“I could’ve potentially played my last football game,” Kasper Schmeichel

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The Celtic Star

·18 mars 2026

“I could’ve potentially played my last football game,” Kasper Schmeichel

Celtic goalkeeper last night admitted in an interview on CBS Sports that his playing career could be over after the extent of the damage to his shoulder has become apparent…

At the weekend in an interview back home in Denmark, Kasper was talking about a four to six weeks layoff before returning to the Celtic squad for the season run-in. That though will NOT happen and it seems almost certain that his time at Celtic will end this summer with the expiry of his contract.

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On Monday Kasper Schmeichel was given the devastating news by a specialist as he was told that he faces a year on the sidelines before his shoulder would be in any sort of condition to play again. That would take Kasper into his 40s and presumably he’d be without a club so the chances of him playing again seem slim. And with it his dream of playing for Denmark at this summer’s World Cup is now officially over.

Vidéos OneFootball

“I could have potentially played my last ever football game,” Kasper Schmeichel told CBS Sports in an interview that also featured his dad, Peter Schmeichel.

Kasper Schmeichel, Stevie Woods and Viljami Sinisalo of Celtic. Stuttgart v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Knockout Round Play Offs, Second Leg, Football, MHP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany – 26 Feb 2026Stuttgart MHP Arena Germany Photo James Marsh IMAGO Shutterstock

Kasper explained the situation: “I was at a specialist yesterday and basically I’m going to need two surgeries now to fix my shoulder which is a bit of a body blow. It’s a torn bicep, I’ve torn the rotator cuff, dislocated the shoulder, torn the labrum – torn everything.

“To be maybe put it into terms you’d maybe understand, it’s like an outfield player doing their ACL and their Achilles at the same time. It’s looking like 10-12 months of rehab. It’s been a strange few days.”

His dad responded: “10 to 12 months?” while Kate Scott from CBS Sports said: “You are smiling, but how do you really feel about that?”

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 10 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Kasper answered: “I was told yesterday. I don’t really know anything right now, in the sense that you don’t know how to react to this. I could have potentially played my last ever football game. I have 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.”

Watching the Manchester City v Real Madrid match wasn’t something that Kasper could enjoy given his own situation, as he explained to Micah Richards.

“It was a tough night,” Kasper admitted. “We were stood there, I was looking at the keepers warming up and thinking that I might never get to do that again and so in that sense it was a tough night, very emotional.

Goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel of Denmark in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Denmark and Belarus at Parken Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

“As much as you guys have been nice, I haven’t enjoyed a single minute of it in that sense because you’re looking at what could be waiting for you – not that it’s not good in other ways, but I’ve been a footballer ever since I can remember, and to think that I might not be able to do that again – that’s tough.

“I got the message yesterday that it could potentially be the end of my career because of my age. By the time I could get back fit, I could be 40+.”

That almost certainly means that Kasper Schmeichel’s time at Celtic will come to an end when his contract expires in the summer. By that time he may well have accepted the inevitable and decide to hang up his gloves once and for all to protect his body.

Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on October 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan are now going to be the goalkeepers at Celtic with the club in the summer having to decide if a third keeper needs to be signed. Sinisalo was brought in from Aston Villa to work under Kasper and to eventually replace him. It looks like that exactly where we are in the cycle.

Best of luck to Kasper for his rehab and thanks for his contribution over the past few seasons at Celtic.

Here’s the interview on CBS Sports…

“I could’ve potentially played my last football game.” 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.
– mardi 17 mars 2026