Kasper Schmeichel has revealed his father’s legendary status nearly drove him away from football for good.
Schmeichel has since emerged as a star keeper in his own right at Leicester .
He won the title with the Foxes in 2016 and starred in the Champions League last term, and also has a World Cup to look forward to next summer after helping Denmark qualify.
But the shot-stopper has admitted growing up watching his famous father winning trophies at Manchester United was overpowering at times.
Peter Schmeichel went on to make 398 appearances for United and won 15 trophies, including the treble in 1999.
Schmeichel junior admits now: “There was a point in my life where I had enough of football.
“Football was so over-awing, so intense, just everything in your life. You couldn’t go anywhere, really, with my dad and the circus around football became too much for me at a young age.
“I fell back in love with it probably around 13-14. It was much to do with the camaraderie, the team-work and being part of a team. Training every day — I loved everything about that.”
Schmeichel came through the ranks at Manchester City but had to move to Notts County and then Leeds for regular action before joining the Foxes in 2011.
The 31-year-old, who signed a £100,000-a-week deal after Leicester won the title, this week joined up to the ‘Common Goal’ campaign becoming the 32nd footballer to sign up for Juan Mata’s charity initiative.
Players pledge a minimum of 1% of their wages to a collective fund and it is allocated to football charities worldwide.
Ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle, Schmeichel added: “From my time in football the common thread has always been team-work, togetherness. That’s what is going to help you achieve your goals in the end.
“That is the beauty about sport, it brings people together. You can be from anywhere in the world but when you are on the pitch you are all working together for the same goal.
“I think being part of Common Goal is a chance to be part of a different team using our influence on the pitch to try to build something off the pitch.
“I’ve worked myself into a position now where I can try to make a difference to some people.That’s something I have always wanted to do – to use the position I have worked for to try and help as many people as possible.”