OFFICIAL: Iker Casillas announces retirement
Spain and Real Madrid legendary goalkeeper, Iker Casillas has officially announced his retirement from football.
Casillas retires from the game with over one thousand professional games (1,119) to his name, including a 16-year stay at Real Madrid where he amassed 725 appearances before moving on somewhat unceremoniously to Portuguese league giants, FC Porto where he spent five years.
He was a loyal servant for his country, making an appearance for Spain in every rank from the under-15 to the senior team. He made his senior debut for Spain at age 19 and went on to appear in 167 games for La Roja between 2000 and 2016 in what is currently the second-highest number of appearances in the history of the Spanish national team.
39-year old Casillas had an illustrious career, winning the Spanish La Liga five times, the Spanish cup twice, the Spanish super cup four times, and the UEFA Champions League on three occasions. He lifted the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup two times each and the Club World Cup once.
In Portugal, he won the Purtuguese league twice, and only lifted the Portuguese Cup and Super cup on one occasion. Casillas also had a trophy-laden international career, winning the World Cup in 2010 and the European Nations Cup in 2008 and 2012.
In April 2019, Casillas suffered a heart attack while training for Porto which led the club to give him a role on their coaching staff later that year.
Casillas in his announcement on Twitter said “The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination to which it takes you. I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the path and the dream destination.”
Good luck Iker!
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