‘Saint Iker’ retires, leaves behind rich soccer legacy

Hardly anyone can forget the Spanish national football team that won the 2010 World Cup. For most Indian football fans like me, this was the team that introduced dominance in international football to us. They had won the Euros in 2008, World Cup in 2010, and the Euros again in 2012. Most of the legends that played for this side then played for elite Spanish club FC Barcelona. Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, Puyol, Fabregas, David Villa, all the talismanic feet would conjure victories with magical game play.

Most Indian football fans remember this side as a mirror of the great Barcelona team. The way they played, the players — all just too similar. But a face that featured in every single match was their captain Iker Casillas. To better remember his contribution to their success, we will have to rewind to the 2010 World cup final. Spain was playing against the Netherlands. Arjen Robben beat Puyol and Pique to the ball and was through on goal. The entire Netherlands team was ready to celebrate but Casillas pulled off a magical save with his legs. “Casillas saves Spain again,” the awestruck and perplexed Commentators said. Robben couldn’t believe what had just happened. Spain won the game 1-0. Casillas won 24 titles in a 21-year long career, where he played for Real Madrid and Porto.

He is the youngest ever goalkeeper to play in the Champions League, debuting as an 18-year-old in September 1999 when Madrid’s two ace goalkeepers were injured. He soon became a regular at Real Madrid, winning 2 Champions League titles in three years and establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Casillas has won it all, 5 La Liga titles, 4 SuperCopas, 2 Copa Del Ray titles, 3 Champions leagues, 2 Uefa Super Cups, one Fifa Club World Cup and one Intercontinental cup. He holds the record for the most number of clean sheets in the UEFA Champions League, as well as for Spain. He has also featured in the Best World 11 a record 5 times for a goalkeeper.

Casillas is Real Madrid’s greatest ever football player. He spent 25 years at Real Madrid right from the age of 9. The man was Madrid through and through. Casillas signed for Porto in 2015, ending a 25-year-old career. He was given the title Saint Iker for his performances for the country.

Sadly Casillas’ career did not end on an energetic note after he suffered a heart attack at Porto training on May 1st, 2019. He recovered but couldn’t really get back to the field and officially retired on 4th August 2020.

His stature for Real Madrid is unmatched and which is why there is speculation that he will return to the club as an advisor and could very well go on to play a larger directorial role for Los Blancos.