Being a captain and a goalkeeper at the same time is not an easy task. But this is where the 29-year old Real Madrid and Spanish National Football Team’s Iker Casillas excels. What made him so applauded and respected within the football community are his deadly reflexes than can direct the pace of the game, as welll as dexterity, terrific speed and calm demeanor in one-on-one situations.
Arguably, the most remarkable time that made his leadership ability shone brightest was when he led the national team to its first ever European Championship title after more than four decades, 44 years of drought to be exact. Casillas ranks second in number of caps in Spain’s history books with 105, behind by top ranked Andoni Zubizarreta with 126.
He currently plays for Real Madrid at La Liga and holds the vice captain position and is the first choice goalkeeper of the team. Casillas first set foot in Real Madrid when he was nine and was part of the youth camp of the club. He played for the junior side of the club and became a member of the starting line-up in 1997 at UEFA Champions League in a game against Rosenburg. But it was in 1998-1999, when he made his debut as a senior in the same league when he came off the bench as a substitute for Bodo Iligner. Soon after he sent Iligner to the bench and became the starting goalkeeper of the team. He became the youngest goalkeeper to ever play in Champions League as Real Madrid hammered Valencia with a 3-0 victory.
However, with the odds going against him, Casillas again became a substitute as the club decided to start Cesar Sanchez. But as fate strikes, Sanchez suffered a bad injury in the 2002 Champions League Finals. He came of the bench with hot hands and contested major goals that dejected Bayern Leverkusen’s attempt to win the crown. From that day forward, he has not lost the starting post to anyone.
In 2007-2008, Casillas claimed the Zamora trophy as he powered Real Madrid to its 31st La Liga. He only surrendered 32 goals in all their 36 games. His contract was extended until 2017. This new contract came with a clause that automatic extension and a takeover clause worth £113 million will be granted should he complete 30 competitive games within the final season.
At 27, he already surpassed Paco Buyo’s 454 games played as he became the most capped Real Madrid goalkeeper ever. There were rumors that sprouted about Manchester City bidding £129 million for his transfer. The club denied the reports and Casillas relayed in an interview that he had no intentions of leaving the club that he’s been with for almost two decades.
At the age of 27, he became the most capped goalkeeper in Real Madrid's history surpassing the 454 games record of Paco Buyo. With his impressive performances, rumors circulated that Manchester City offered £129 million to acquire his services. However, Casillas quickly declared that he has no intention of leaving the club he's been with for almost two decades.
Castillas made headlines in the world when he made an incredible point-to-point save rejecting the crucial attempt of Sevilla FC's Diego Perotti. After that game, English legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks praised Casillas for his outstanding reflexes. He also said that those kinds of play will place Casillas in the record books as one of the best goalkeeper in the history of the most celebrated sports in the land.
Iker Casillas and the Spanish National Team kicked off their campaign against another European Country, Switzerland. The match ended in a shocking upset with the Swiss team defeating one of the favorite teams in the World Cup, 1-0. Wounded but not unarmed, the Spanish National Team will march on to their next games with a lot of sense of urgency in their minds which will make them more dangerous in the currently ongoing 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
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