Legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has announced his retirement from football.
Casillas was also an iconic figure in the Spain national team, having led them to a memorable victory at the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and two successive European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
Casillas, who started his football career with Real Madrid in 1998, rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut with the club the following year. He remained with Santiago Bernabeu until 2015, where he made up to 725 competitive appearances and won several laurels, adding three Champions League trophies, five La Liga titles and other trophies.
After spending 16 years at Real Madrid, Casillas had composed tactics with his training years club when he signed for Portuguese Porto in the summer of 2015. He played four full seasons in Portugal, collecting 156 games and was also part of the team. who won four trophies this period.
Photo through Iker Casillas: Getty Images
During an educational consultation with Porto in April 2019, Casillas suffered an attack on the center. While recovering, the goalkeeper received a role on the club’s educational staff in July 2019. He never played at Porto again.
The 39-year-old doorman went to social media on Tuesday to announce the news of his retirement. “The vital thing is the path you and the others who accompany you, not the destiny to which it leads you. I think I can say, without hesitation, that this has been the dream road and fate,” Casillas wrote on Twitter. .
Sergio Ramos, who won El palo de Casillas in the Real Madrid and Spain national team, paid tribute to the eminent patron.
Real Madrid, a club that had hosted a nine-year-old Casillas in its quarry, has rated the veteran as the goalkeeper of its 118-year history.
“The top productive goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football joined us at the age of 9. He trained here and defended our jersey for 25 years, fitting one of our all-time iconic captains. Real Madrid needs to show their appreciation, admiration and love for one of the greatest legends of our club and world football. Iker Casillas belongs to the center of Real Madrid and will remain forever”, reads the Real Madrid website.