One of the Football League's most promising young goalkeepers, Kasper joined Leicester from Leeds United for an undisclosed fee in June 2011, taking up the chance to work with Sven-Goran Eriksson for the third time in his career.

Powerful, athletic and a huge presence between the posts, Kasper comes from thoroughbred goalkeeping stock and shares many of the traits that made his father, Manchester United legend Peter, one of the best of his generation.

Despite his father's links to United, Kasper learned his trade in the ranks at cross-city rivals Manchester City and was handed his Premier League debut by Eriksson, then City's manager, in August 2007.

He made nine further first team appearances between loan spells with Darlington, Bury, Falkirk, Cardiff and Coventry, before finally departing Eastlands in 2009, when Eriksson, recently appointed director of football, took him to Notts County.

During his solitary season at Meadow Lane, Kasper provided the foundation for the Magpies' 2010 League 2 triumph, playing 43 league games and earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year as County were promoted to League 1.

Schmeichel's star, however, was on even steeper curve and his joined Championship side Leeds on a free transfer that summer. He made 40 appearances during his only campaign at Elland Road, culminating in his first call-up to the senior Denmark squad in May 2011, before Eriksson moved to bring him to King Power Stadium a month later.