Back in 2002, Manchester City had two generations of goalkeepers on their books, with Peter Schmeichel and son Kasper Schmeichel both at Maine Road.
Peter joined Manchester City on a free transfer in July 2002 after his contract with Aston Villa expired.
Meanwhile, Kasper – then a teenager – joined in September 2002 on a long-term contract which covered schoolboy, scholar and professional terms.
Kasper has now spoken about what kind of relationship he had with his father when both were at City.
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Kasper Schmeichel wanted Peter to be a dad rather than a coach
Kasper, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, revealed that he and his father had a conversation in which Peter asked him what he wanted his role to be.
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Kasper said he told his father that he wanted him to be his dad rather than a coach, suggesting that the two were not directly involved in any coaching capacity.
The 38-year-old also revealed how he had trials at Manchester United, Fulham and Aston Villa, with the latter two giving him the opportunity.
Kasper said he was in good hands at Man City, with his coach and fellow veteran goalkeepers Tim Flowers and, later, David Seaman all helping him out.
“I went on trial at Man United, at Fulham and Aston Villa,” began Schmeichel.
“Fulham and Aston Villa gave me the opportunity and then I went to Man City and they gave me an opportunity.
“Basically my dad and I had a conversation where he asked me ‘what do you want my role to be?’ And I said: ‘I want you to be my dad’.
“That’s it, because I just think that relationship between a father and a son particularly is… I didn’t want to tarnish that we had such a good relationship.
“I didn’t want it to become difficult for him because he’d have to be critical of me which I think now as a father myself I know that would be difficult.
“It would just be, you know, the lines will become blurred a little bit, so we made the decision quite early that we’re going to stick with what we have.
“And then I had Tim Flowers, Premier League winner as well as my coach, so I was in good hands – you know, we had David Seaman as the senior goalkeeper.
“So there was enough good people around me to learn from.
“But he was always there if I wanted to ask anything and I think that what I have used him for is more the the life of a goalkeeper, a life of a professional.”
Kasper also talked about an “extreme” new tactic being tested in the City academy ranks.
Kasper Schmeichel’s career since leaving Man City
Schmeichel made 10 competitive appearances for Man City whilst also taking in loans at Bury, Falkirk, Cardiff City and Coventry City.
In 2002, he joined Notts County on a free transfer, helping the Nottingham side win the League Two title.
Schmeichel then spent a season at Leeds United before linking up with Leicester City, the club where he well and truly made a name for himself.
He helped Leicester get promoted as Championship champions in 2014 and, two years later, was part of the team that won the Premier League title against all odds.
Schmeichel also won the FA Cup in 2021, along with the Community Shields at the start of the following season.
The Denmark international joined Nice in the summer of 2022 before having a stint at Anderlecht in 2023.
Schmeichel is now Celtic’s first-choice goalkeeper and has already won a Scottish League Cup with the Hoops, though the Scottish Premiership title is now also on the horizon.