Kasper Schmeichel signed for Man City in 2002. He was promoted to the first team in 2005, after starting the season as number 1 keeping a number of clean sheets including a penalty save against Arsenal he was dropped and replaced, furthermore Kasper was sent out on loan despite his good performances.
Kaspers First stop was Darlington. Who were low down in the football league. After 4 appearances he was then loaned to Bury and played 29 games. All of this was in less than a year! This was a long way down from where he had started as Premier League number 1 at Man City.
38 more loan games followed including a spell in Scotland, a permanent move to Notts County followed, now no longer a Premier League player and not needed by City. One season with Notts County and Kasper was on the move. He moved to Leeds United. This only lasting a season before moving to Leicester City. Kasper Was part of Leicester’s most famous team that won the Premier League in 2016. The following season Leicester City and Schmeichel reached the Champions League quarter final, not bad for someone sent out on loan and let go 6 years earlier.
Jack Butland the biggest talent in the Birmingham City academy signed for Birmingham in 2007, he flourished at the Birmingham, Training with the first team as a schoolboy and was promoted into the first team squad in 2010. He was on the bench during the playoffs against Blackpool prior to becoming the first choice keeper. Before becoming first choice Butland was loaned out. He having two spells at Cheltenham Town! One game he made a mistake and I remember hearing how he stood on his six yard box looking lost after the game! This was all part of his learning.
Butland quickly became Birminghams number one before signing for Premier League side Stoke City. Butland was immediately loaned back. Between 2013 and 2014 he racked up 35 games on loan at Barnsley, Leeds and Derby.
He was later promoted as Stoke City’s number 1 keeper working his way into the England squad before getting injured against Germany.
Joe Hart signed for Shrewsbury in 2003 making 54 appearances in the Football League before Joining Manchester City in 2006. Despite playing Hart was replaced when City Signed Newcastle United’s Shay Given. Hart was then dropped and sent out on loan.
First Stop for Hart was Tranmere Rovers, followed by Blackpool and then to Premier League side Birmingham City. After a fantastic season Hart then returning to become City and England’s number 1. Hart had to go on loan to secure game time. With City looking to bring in yet another keeper the question is what’s next for England’s number 1?
Between the 3 keepers they have played 203 games.
They have 3 Premier League Titles
94 senior international caps
66 U21 caps
All gained a massive amount of experience and game time while out on Loan.
The Path to the top for all of the Goalkeepers are different in terms of where they played their football and gained experience.
At the age of 20 Kasper Schmeichel was playing on loan at Falkirk then went on to Cardiff City.
Jack Butland was at Birmingham City before signing for stoke, to then be loaned back to his former club.
Joe Hart was on loan at Tranmere Rovers and then Blackpool before making a return to the Premier League.
The Path to the top is different for all Goalkeepers.
Each of the Goalkeepers mentioned had different paths but they all gained experience while playing competitive football out on loan before returning to their parent clubs.
