Just like Leeds United, clubs do lots of research and communicate with plenty of character references before splashing the cash on new signings, but even then it does not always turn out how they hope.
Before striking a season-long loan deal for Joe Rothwell, Graham Smyth says Leeds spoke to manager Tony Mowbray before agreeing Rothwell’s arrival. He played for four years under Mowbray at Blackburm.
Rothwell has proven to be a success in a Leeds shirt, as have many others during Daniel Farke’s era as manager. But Leeds have been guilty of their fair share of howlers in recent history as well, in the market.
Sometimes, everything can look good on paper but it just doesn’t click. However, in Kasper Schmeichel’s case, Leeds should have seen from the start that things would never work – because of Kasper’s Father.
Kasper Schmeichel said his move to Leeds United was ‘really bad’
Still learning his craft after breaking in at Manchester City and plenty of loan spells, Schmeichel had gone to Notts County during the bizarre Sven-Goran Eriksson era. A season there, and Leeds came calling.
Schmeichel played 40 times during the 2010-11 season at Leeds before his move to Leicester a summer later. He impressed, but in 2021, Schmeichel explains why he made a “really bad” decision to join Leeds.
Speaking to Joe Hart’s YouTube channel Gloved four years ago, Schmeichel said: “I remember thinking ‘what have I done?’ It was very clear, very early on that it was the wrong club for me.
“It was a club where I was not accepted and with my father’s history, it was evident among the fans that they did not approve of that. I just didn’t feel welcome at all at the club. It was a really bad time.”
If Leeds was a bad move for Schmeichel, Leicester was perfect
As aforementioned, sometimes you can do all your homework but a signing just does not fit. However, on other occasions, a signing can become so much better than hoped and that was Schmeichel at Leicester.
Joining The Foxes from Leeds for little over £1m, Schmeichel remained at Leicester for 11 years. Clocking up 479 appearances, the Denmark goalkeeper won the Premier League with Leicester back in 2015-16.
Since leaving Leicester three years ago, Schmeichel has added three new countries to his CV. Firstly with Nice in France, then Anderlecht in Belgium and now with Scottish champions Celtic north of the border.
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