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1999 F.A. Premier League 1999 F.A. Cup 1997 F.A. Charity Shield 1997 F.A. Premier League 1996 F.A. Charity Shield 1996 F.A. Cup: Winner 1996 F.A. Premier League 1995 F.A. Charity Shield 1994 F.A. Charity Shield 1994 F.A. Cup 1994 F.A. Premier League 1993 F.A. Charity Shield 1993 F.A. Premier League 1992 League Cup |
Peter Schmeichel
is without question the greatest Goalkeeper in the history of Manchester
United.In fact, although comparisons over time are difficult, he
is could likely be the greatest Goalkeeper of all-time.It is impossible
to find a weakness or flaw in this man mountain of a player,in every
department he is pure class through and through. Ultra-competitiveness,
aggression, and unlimited motivation made this great Dane a seemingly
unbreachable fortress. Born in Gladsaxe, Denmark, and a United supporter as a boy (his idol was Gary Bailey) he made his name with Copenhagen side Brondby.Alex Ferguson spotted him and took him to OldTrafford for the ridiculously small sum of £500,000.No disrepect to Les Sealy and Jim Leighton but the Goalkeeping position had always been a problem area at United.The big man solved that, and the trophies soon rolled in, League Cup in 1992,Premier League in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1999 plus 3 FA Cups to make three "Doubles". And, of course the crowning glory of the Champions League victory the in 1999 Treble. He decided to retire from English football at the end of 1999 because the gruelling United 60 game season schedule was threatening to undermine his high standards as he got older.He will finish his football career in the less intense setting of Sporting Lisbon where in 2000 (his first season) he helped them win their first League title in 17 years. He still also plays for Denmark at International level having won a record number of caps.
When it came to shot stopping from
long-range the Great Dane was unrivalled, he was rarely ever beaten
from outside the box in his whole United career.Not only that,
but from close range he was the master. In his days playing Handball
had perfected a strange star-shaped jump to cover as much of the
goal as possible. When it came to a one-on-one attacker versus
goalkeeper situation, Schmeichel was the best in the world.If
an opposing player managed to break through the United defence
and find himself with only big Peter to beat, Schmeichel would
come charging out to narrow the angle. Spreading his huge frame
high and wide in a star shape, this both put the player off and
made the target to aim at smaller than a bottletop. |
| The great saves |
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His great saves are far too many to mention but highlights must be: his title winning performance away to Newcastle in 1996 when he withstood the black and white seige for 90 minutes and United won 1-0. His stunning save against Rapid Vienna later in 1996 was one of the all-time greats, similar to Gordon Banks against Pele, demonstrating amazing reflexes. Then there was his legendary last minute penalty save in the epic 1999 FA Cup Semi-final replay against Arsenal to deny Dennis Bergkamp.His point blank save against Inter Milan's Zamorano in 1999 was another outstanding reflex save.For Denmark he was instrumental in helping them win Euro 92, pulling off a string of vital stops. |
| Goalkeeping innovator |
| Not only was Schmeichel a master of all the arts of goal-keeping, he created some new ones of his own.Amazingly for a goalie he was a serious attacking threat, his long powerful throws out to Giggs or Beckham started a fair amount of United's counter-attacks,usually from corners. Teams would be pressurising United one moment, then find Schmeichel had caught the ball, launched a torpedo of a throw to Giggs and ripped their defence open.One of the most bizarre sights was when,if United were losing late in a game and got a corner, Schmeichel would leave his goal and come up into the opposition box.The sight of him going up for the corner was a great distraction to opposing defenders, having this giant goalie marauding like a madman. Schmeichel even scored once in such circumstances, a goal against Rotor Volgograd. Then,in the dying seconds of his final ever game for the reds,the European Cup final against Bayern Munich with United 1-0 down, there he was causing havoc again. And it worked! |
| Footballing perfectionist |
| Schmeichel brought a confidence to the not only the defence but the whole team.As well as being the best he was also the loudest.Never afraid to vent his feelings or anger at his own defenders if he thought they made an error, his huge bellowing voice could be heard ringing throughout the ground.And the wrath of Schmeichel was frequent, he was a perfectionist, a footballing obsessive.If a goal was scored past him he took it as a personnal insult, even in training he would get annoyed at team mates who put one past him. Schmeichel shouting at his defenders became a common site in the 1990's but the defenders themselves actually benefited greatly from it.He helped focus their attention, they could never go to sleep with him behind them. Schmeichel made them concentrate that bit more and from his deep position he could spot threats and dangers that they could not always see - and alert them. He would co-ordinate the whole defence instilling confidence by his constant vocal presense.The players always knew he was back there in control. |
| Conclusion |
|
No player could ever hope to better Peter Schmeichel's departure from Manchester United. Winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Captaining the side to victory in the European Cup Final and getting his hands on that famous cup,the treble is a fairy tale end to his years of glory. A thoroughly deserved triumph for this ultimate professional. People always said that Schmeichel was worth 12 points a season to United.Without him how many trophies would United have won? How many times did he prevent that last minute vital goal being conceded or stop Bergkamp, Shearer,Owen,Zidane, Ronaldo.... the list goes on. A few years ago if the question was asked: who was the most important player for Manchester United of the 1990s? The answer would almost certainly have been Eric Cantona. Now in 2000, in retrospect, the answer to that question could very well be Peter Schmeichel.For nine years he saved United's footballing skin, the final equation in the formula for Ferguson's sucess a rock upon which to build an Empire.Peter Schmeichel was the ultimate last line of defence, irreplaceable and totally unique and just probably the best Goalkeeper of all-time. |