Iker Casillas officially announces end of his playing days

By: Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press Posted: 7:56 AM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 Last Modified: 11:10 AM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020

Advertise with us

MADRID - Former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas officially announced the end of his playing days on Tuesday, more than a year after his last match.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

MADRID - Former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas officially announced the end of his playing days on Tuesday, more than a year after his last match.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/08/2020 (2250 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MADRID – Former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas officially announced the end of his playing days on Tuesday, more than a year after his last match.

The 39-year-old Casillas was with Portuguese club Porto but hadn’t played competitively since a heart attack in May last year.

“What is important is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination to which it takes you,” Casillas said on Twitter. “With hard work, you will always arrive where you want. I can say, without a doubt, that it has been the path and the destination that I’ve always dreamed about.”

Porto former goalkeeper Iker Casillas, center with hat, celebrates with the players on the pitch at the end of the Portuguese League soccer match between FC Porto and Sporting CP at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Porto defeated Sporting 2-0 to clinch the championship with two rounds left to play. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

In a long letter, Casillas said announcing his retirement was one of the “hardest” and “most difficult” days of his career.

His contract with Porto ended after the team defeated Benfica last weekend to win the Portuguese Cup. He didn’t play but celebrated with his teammates and lifted the trophy.

Casillas joined Porto in 2015 after helping Real Madrid win five Spanish league titles and three Champions League trophies. He also helped Spain win one World Cup and two European Championships.

Real Madrid called Casillas “one of the biggest legends of our club and of world football” and “the best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football.”

“Today one of the most important footballers in our 118 years of history calls it a day as a professional player, a player we love and admire, a goalkeeper who has made the Real Madrid legacy bigger with his work and exemplary behaviour both on and off the pitch,” Real Madrid said in a statement. “He was formed here and defended our shirt for 25 years, becoming one of our most emblematic captains of all time.”

Casillas played 725 matches with Madrid’s first team over 16 seasons, winning 19 titles. He joined the club at age 9.

With Porto, Casillas won two Portuguese league titles, in addition to the Portuguese Cup and a Super Cup.

He played 167 matches for Spain and won the Under-20 World Cup.

“You’ve always been an example to be followed on and off the field,” Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué wrote on Twitter. “Thank you for everything.”

Former Spain and Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos posted a photo of him receiving a kiss on the cheek from Casillas during a game.

“Soccer thanks you, my friend,” Ramos said. “A legend forever.”

Porto former goalkeeper Iker Casillas, center with hat, joins the players celebrating on the pitch at the end of the Portuguese League soccer match between FC Porto and Sporting CP at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Porto defeated Sporting 2-0 to clinch the championship with two rounds left to play. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

Several clubs and players from other teams also sent messages honouring the former goalkeeper.

“They say competition makes us better than others but not perfect faced with ourselves. Maybe this futile pursuit of perfection is what made us who we are,” former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said. “#Grac1as Iker, without you, everything would have been less meaningful.”