A Manchester United legend admitted at times he ‘hated’ his team-mate Peter Schmeichel and called the treble-winning goalkeeper a ‘selfish pain in the arse’
12:18, 24 Mar 2026
Peter Schmeichel
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Peter Schmeichel was 'hated' by a Manchester United legend(Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)
A Manchester United legend once admitted at times he hated his team-mate Peter Schmeichel and called the Danish legend a ‘selfish pain in the arse’.
Schmeichel was as uncompromising in goal as any shot stopper throughout history, with the legendary Great Dane a perfect embodiment of Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering United side through his unmatched ability and passion.
Raimond van der Gouw, who celebrates his 62nd birthday today, was signed as understudy to Schmeichel in 1996 from Vitesse Arnhem in his homeland and soon found out that his strong mentality wasn’t just reserved for the opposition. Speaking previously to the UTD Podcast, Van der Gouw revealed what it was like adapting from a first-choice goalkeeper to deputising for one of the greatest goalkeepers of a generation.
Raimond van der Gouw was a reliable understudy to Peter Schmeichel
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Raimond van der Gouw was a reliable understudy to Peter Schmeichel(Image: GETTY )
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He said: “It was a concern. I had always been the no.1 but I was prepared. I said, 'okay I am the understudy for Peter but in football you never know'. My dream was playing for a top club. I was thinking, 'I am at a top club, maybe I am the no.2, but you never know in football'.
“I always had a chance to have some games and if you play you have to show you are a good player. My aim was to do everything I could and be ready if the manager needed me. Then you see how far it goes. It was not always easy, it was sometimes really hard, because you always want to play if you are a football player, but from the other side I didn't like to complain because I signed for this. “So I had to be fair and if something will happen and I want to go somewhere else, then I had to make the decision. But my feeling was that I was at such a fantastic club, we played at the highest level, with good players around me, playing for trophies. This was special, so for me it was difficult to go somewhere else. I played quite a lot of games as well.
Peter Schmeichel
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Raimond van der Gouw won the Champions League as understudy to Peter Schmeichel
“In my first season I didn't play so much, but I played the semi-final of the Champions League against Dortmund and that was also a big thing. So when you get chances like that... I didn't want to go to another club and then see somebody else who was no.2 at United and playing games like that. So afterwards, I could look in the mirror, I gave everything, I did everything that I could do, I always gave my best and I didn't regret anything.”
Reflecting on his relationship with Schmeichel, Van der Gouw said: “It was sometimes very good and sometimes I hated him [laughs]. He could be a pain in the ass. From the other side I respected him and a lot of the time he was a very good colleague.
“Of course, he was a lot of the time selfish. I was just happy to be there and I was really curious how he was as a sportsman, as a goalkeeper, what kind of work he was doing, if he was he a really hard worker, was it only the talented and gifts or was it something else? This was my opportunity to see that with my own eyes. Everyone can talk about it, but you have to see it and you have to feel it. “I think Peter was good for me. I can't complain about it. Of course he was looking after himself and of course he wanted to play a lot of games. And a lot of times, I was thinking 'Peter, come on, you are injured, why don't you just give me a few games?' I was thinking, 'I am not, you know, going to stab you in the back. I am a sportsman, I am fair, I am realistic and not crazy.’”
The Dutch stopper played a handful of times before the legendary Dane left the club following the 1999 treble triumph. Van der Gouw went on to contest the No.1 spot with Mark Bosnich after impressing in his role as second choice to Schmeichel, but he was soon ousted by Fabian Barthez for the 2000/01 season.
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But he later went on to write his name in the history books as the oldest United player since the end of World War Two to play for the club, starting his final game in a goalless draw against Charlton Athletic in May 2002 just two months after his 39th birthday.
Van der Gouw’s record went on to be beaten by Edwin van der Sar and Ryan Giggs, who played their final United games after their 40th birthday.
Upon leaving Old Trafford, Van der Gouw joined West Ham but did not play for the club before returning to his homeland with RKC Waalwijk and later minnows AGOVV, where he played until the age of 44.