The close friendship between Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and former Rangers player Peter Lovenkrands transcends the fierce Old Firm rivalry in Glasgow. The two Danish compatriots met in Birmingham over a decade ago when Schmeichel was playing for Leicester City and Lovenkrands was wrapping up his career with Rangers.
Their bond strengthened when Schmeichel joined Celtic from Anderlecht, and now they are not just friends but also neighbors. Despite the intense spotlight on players from both clubs, Schmeichel and Lovenkrands spend a significant amount of time together, meeting several times a week and even going out to eat together regularly.
Lovenkrands acknowledges that their friendship has raised some eyebrows among fans, especially in a city where the Celtic-Rangers rivalry is a central part of everyday life. However, both players emphasize the passion and intensity of the rivalry in Glasgow, which is something that is deeply ingrained in the city’s culture.
Schmeichel was looking forward to facing his Celtic teammates Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston in a World Cup 2026 qualifying match between Denmark and Scotland, but the Scottish players had to withdraw due to injury. Despite this, Schmeichel is determined to perform well in the game and return to Celtic Park with a smile on his face, especially as he will be sharing the dressing room with his Scottish teammates.
