Son of Manchester United legend opens up on bad memories at Leeds United and makes 'immature' claim

Kasper Schmeichel admits he doesn't have fond memories of his year-long stint as a Leeds United player. Joining the club from Notts County in 2010, Schmeichel, who has spent this season between the sticks at Belgian club Anderlecht, signed a two-year deal with the Whites and was instantly named as the club's number one by Simon Grayson.

The Dane made an impressive start to life at Elland Road and despite keeping just one clean sheet, he was nominated for the Championship player of the month award for August. Injury meant he would spend the next two months on the sidelines, but his return to the side coincided with an upturn in form that would take Leeds up to second in the table at Christmas.

Bengal Brasserie Arena Quarter – serving authentic Indian cuisine in the heart of the city. Proudly supporting Leeds United and the YEP.

Ultimately, Schmeichel made 40 appearances for the Whites that season with the club finishing seventh and three points short of the play-offs. It was a strong season for the goalkeeper then in terms of form but he didn't stay to build on it with a move to Leicester City materialising that summer.

Speaking to the 'Rest is Football' podcast, Schmeichel, the son of Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel, has now opened up about his struggles to settle and why he never quite felt at home in West Yorkshire

“I didn’t enjoy my time at Leeds, which is a shame, because it’s an incredible club," he said. "I think it was the wrong time, wrong place, wrong person. I was very immature in my way of being and I felt at the time, some of the things that were said about my dad were very disrespectful. Look, I understand the rivalry is there. But when you’re calling my dad certain names, it’s not going to endear me, regardless if you’re saying I’m alright.

Get a personalised Leeds United news round-up when you sign up for our free Leeds United newsletter email.

“They used to sing a chant, I won’t repeat the word, saying your dad is something but I’m alright. I’m now older, I get the banter of it, but still you’re calling my dad something that is never going to sit well with me. We had a decent season, just outside the play offs, but I got blamed by the manager for conceding too many goals when I was injured for two months and in those games I think they lost 7-4. 6-0 and 5-0.”

Schmeichel went on to spend 11 seasons with Leicester, making 479 appearances and winning the Premier League title, of course. However, the 37-year-old left Leicester to join Nice in 2022 and after just one season in the south of France, he has helped Anderlecht to a guaranteed top three finish with Champions League football still a possibility for next season.