Kasper Schmeichel has opened up about his reluctance to leave Leicester in 2022, but has also expressed a strong desire for a potential return to the KP Stadium. After a successful career with the Foxes, the Danish goalkeeper, now 37, spent one season with Ligue 1 team Nice before moving on to Anderlecht.
During his time at Leicester, Schmeichel was part of the remarkable squad that won the Premier League in 2015-16 and also secured the FA Cup in 2020-21. Despite leaving the club at the end of the subsequent season, he has revealed in an emotional interview that the decision to depart was not entirely his own.
‘I never wanted to leave Leicester,’ Schmeichel expressed. ‘The situation was complex as my contract was nearing its end, I was approaching 35, and there was also the World Cup. When the offer from Nice came, it was a test of whether they were interested in keeping me long-term. Unfortunately, the response I received made it clear that it was time to move on.’
Reflecting on Leicester’s subsequent struggles, he recalled, ‘Watching their games after I left was tough. They had the chance to bring me back, but if Leicester came calling, I’m not sure I could ever turn them down.’
Leicester, following Schmeichel’s departure, faced difficulties in maintaining their Premier League status and were ultimately relegated to the Championship. They struggled to find a replacement for their former No. 1 goalkeeper, with Welsh international Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen both featuring in what proved to be a challenging season.
However, the team have shown promise in the Championship this season and are vying for promotion alongside Ipswich. Under the new leadership of Enzo Maresca, a former coach at Manchester City, the Foxes appear to be on track for a successful campaign.
As for Schmeichel, after completing 36 appearances for Nice in Ligue 1, he ultimately left at the end of the first season of his three-year contract and is now competing in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League with Anderlecht.
