Updated: Aug 4, 2020 9:23 pm
Former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper retires
Iker Casillas, former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper retires from football at the age of 39.
Iker Casillas announced his retirement on Instagram and posted a lengthy retirement message. “Because that with work and effort comes alone and I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the path and the dream destination.”
Former teammate, Sergio Ramos replied to the tweet of Casillas.
El fútbol te da las gracias a ti, amigo.
Por siempre una leyenda @IkerCasillas. https://t.co/Sbg5odnd00— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) August 4, 2020
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Tottenham boss, Jose Mourinho after the news of retirement said, “His intelligence and maturity mean’t that we have always respected each other and years later, we have even been able to cultivate an honest friendship.”
Mourinho added,”Iker is one of the greatest goalkeepers in Real Madrid’s history, in Spain’s history and world football history.”
The Spaniard has finished his career in Porto. He joined the club’s academy at the age of nine. He has been a part of the La Liga giants for 16 seasons from 1999 to 2015, making 725 appearances for the club. He has been a part of five La liga titles and three Champions League titles with Real.
He has also won the World Cup and two European Championships.
Casillas has 167 caps for Spain and captained the the team to victory and won the World Cup in 2010. He ranks second in the list of all time appearances for Real after his former teammate, Raúl.
The 39 year old goalkeeper has also lifted two Portuguese titles during his time at Porto after leaving the Spanish club in 2015. He suffered a heart attack in training last year and stopped playing for the club.
Real tweeted a video bidding farewell to the Spanish goalkeeper and expressing gratitude towards the player.
⛔ Saves. Lots of saves.
🏆 Trophies. Lots of trophies.
🧤 @IkerCasillas#RealMadrid | #Grac1as pic.twitter.com/7vL3JNUQjG— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 4, 2020
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“Real Madrid wants to show its appreciation, admiration and affection for one of the greatest legends of our club and world soccer,” read a statement. “The best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football came to our house when he was nine years old.
“Iker Casillas belongs to the heart of Real Madrid and will be so forever. Real Madrid wants to convey to him and his family the affection of our club, which is the club of his life.”
Iker Casillas is one of the greatest footballers world has ever witnessed.
