Iker Casillas (Part 2)

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21 Mar 2024

Iker Casillas (Part 2)

A serious injury sidelined Casillas, prompting Mourinho to secure the services of Diego López from Sevilla. Lopez swiftly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, edging out Adan, and retained his position even after Casillas return from injury. Mourinho decision sparked controversy, with Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta publicly criticizing the manager for sidelining Casillas.

Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as Real Madrid's head coach for the 2013–14 season. The season kicked off with a 2–1 victory over Real Betis, where Casillas found himself benched once again. He made his first start in 238 days during a Champions League group stage match against Galatasaray, only to suffer an injury in the 14th minute due to an accidental collision with Sergio Ramos. Despite being relegated to the second-choice keeper in La Liga behind Diego Lopez, Casillas retained his position as the first choice in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, setting a new record of 962 minutes without conceding a goal in the latter competition.

Casillas became the first goalkeeper to play in every round of the Copa del Rey prior to the final without conceding a goal. He captained Madrid in the final, leading them to a 2–1 victory over rivals Barcelona at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium on April 16. Later that year, on May 24, Casillas captained Real Madrid to victory in the 2014 Champions League final, securing his third title in the competition with a 4–1 win over Atlético Madrid in Lisbon, marking Real Madrid's tenth Champions League triumph. Despite an early error leading to a goal by Atletico Diego Godín, Casillas leadership helped Real Madrid equalize in injury time and ultimately secure the title in extra-time.

Casillas reclaimed his position as the club's first-choice goalkeeper despite competition from Keylor Navas. He played a pivotal role as Real Madrid secured victories in the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, making his 700th appearance for Madrid in the latter competition's final. However, the season ended disappointingly as Real Madrid was eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals by Juventus, losing 3–2 on aggregate.

After much speculation surrounding his future, on July 11, 2015, Casillas made a significant move by signing with Portuguese Primeira Liga side Porto on a two-year deal, with the option for a one-year extension. However, his departure from Real Madrid was marred by criticism towards the club handling of the situation. Casillas parents alleged that he was being pushed out by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, prompting calls for Perez resignation from disgruntled fans. Former international teammate Xavi also voiced his disapproval, accusing Real Madrid of being ungrateful towards Casillas years of service to the club, echoing sentiments similar to his own departure from Barcelona earlier that summer.

Casillas made his Primeira Liga debut for Porto on August 15, 2015, keeping a clean sheet in a convincing 3–0 victory over Vitoria de Guimarães at the Estádio do Dragão. He wasted no time in making his mark in European competition, surpassing Xavi's record to become the player with the most appearances in the Champions League, reaching his 152nd appearance in a match against Chelsea. Furthermore, he broke Edwin van der Sar record for the most clean sheets in Champions League history during the same season. However, his time at Porto was not without its challenges, as he faced criticism for a high-profile error in a league match against Vitória de Guimarães in January 2016.

Throughout his tenure at Porto, Casillas continued to set personal and club records. He achieved a new personal best for clean sheets in a single season and surpassed Paolo Maldini to become the player with the most appearances in European club matches. Casillas also equaled Ryan Giggs record for playing in 19 consecutive UEFA Champions League campaigns. He reached a milestone by playing his 1,000th professional match. Despite facing health setbacks, including suffering a myocardial infarction during training in May 2019, Casillas's commitment to the game remained unwavering. He continued to make significant contributions to Porto successes, including winning the 2017–18 Primeira Liga title, renewing his contract with the club, and surpassing Giggs's record for the most UEFA Champions League campaigns played. Casillas's resilience and dedication throughout his time at Porto solidified his status as one of football's enduring legends.

Just two months after his heart attack scare, Casillas exhibited remarkable resilience by returning to pre-season training with Porto. Demonstrating his enduring commitment to the sport, Porto announced later in the month that Casillas would take on a role within the club's coaching staff as he continued his recovery journey. His inclusion in Porto's squad for the 2019–20 season in August further underscored his determination to overcome adversity.
Casillas took to social media to share the results of his medical tests, providing fans with updates on his progress. Despite his remarkable progress, Casillas remained cautious about his return to the pitch, revealing that he would wait until March of the following year to assess his recovery before making a decision regarding his future in football. In October, he further demonstrated his dedication to rehabilitation by sharing a photo of himself diligently working out in the club's gym on Instagram.

Casillas resumed training, marking another significant step in his journey back to full fitness. His perseverance and unwavering determination to overcome adversity continued to inspire fans and teammates alike as he worked tirelessly towards his goal of returning to the pitch.

Casillas has etched his name in the annals of Spanish football history as the second most capped player in the national team's illustrious history. His journey began with a full international debut at the senior level on June 3, 2000, against Sweden, a mere 19 years and 14 days old at the time. Despite his early introduction to the international stage, Casillas was initially an understudy during the UEFA Euro 2000 tournament.
However, fate intervened during the 2002 FIFA World Cup when Santiago Cañizares, the designated first-choice goalkeeper, suffered an unfortunate injury, thrusting Casillas into the spotlight. At just 21 years old, he became one of the youngest first-choice goalkeepers in the tournament. His pivotal moment came during the round of 16 match against the Republic of Ireland when he saved a penalty in regulation time and two more in the ensuing shoot-out, leading Spain to a dramatic 3–2 victory and earning himself the endearing nickname The Saint.

Casillas's heroics continued in the quarter-final clash against co-hosts South Korea, where one of his saves was hailed by FIFA as one of the top ten saves of all time. Despite his exemplary performance, Spain suffered a heart-wrenching elimination after a penalty shoot-out defeat to the Koreans, marking the end of their 2002 World Cup campaign. Nonetheless, Casillas's impact on the tournament and his burgeoning reputation as a formidable goalkeeper were undeniable, laying the foundation for a storied international career that would see him become a legend of the game.