Iker Casillas (Part 3)

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21 Mar 2024

Iker Casillas (Part 3)

Casillas etched his name in history as the first goalkeeper-captain to hoist the UEFA European Championship trophy, a testament to his exceptional leadership and goalkeeping abilities. Casillas and his understudy Pepe Reina etched their names in Spanish football history by setting a national record for the longest time without conceding a goal, an impressive streak spanning 710 minutes. This milestone surpassed the achievements of legendary Spanish goalkeepers Andoni Zubizarreta and Paco Buyo, underscoring Casillas's enduring impact on the game.

Despite the individual accolades bestowed upon him, including being ranked fourth in the prestigious Ballon dOr and being named the world's best goalkeeper by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), Casillas remained grounded, continuing to excel on both the domestic and international stages. His remarkable contributions to the sport further solidified his status as one of football's greatest goalkeepers of all time, leaving an indelible mark on the beautiful game.

Casillas's journey with the Spanish national team during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa saw him excel as the starting goalkeeper, making four appearances as Spain secured a commendable third-place finish. His stellar performances continued on the international stage, as he achieved significant milestones in Spanish football history.
On 5 September 2009, following a dominant 5–0 victory over Belgium in a World Cup qualifying match, Casillas equaled the esteemed Andoni Zubizarreta's national record of 56 clean sheets. Just days later, during Spain's match against Estonia on 9 September 2009, he surpassed Zubizarreta to become the record holder for the most Spanish international clean sheets, a remarkable feat achieved in his 98th appearance for the national team.
Further etching his name in Spanish football folklore, Casillas reached his 100th appearance for Spain in a friendly triumph over Argentina, becoming only the third player in the nation's history to achieve this milestone.

Despite a rare error in Spain's opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Switzerland, Casillas showcased his resilience and leadership as he captained Spain to their historic first World Cup title on 11 July 2010. His exceptional performance throughout the tournament earned him the distinction of being voted the tournament's best goalkeeper and receiving the prestigious Golden Glove award. Casillas's pivotal saves, including a crucial penalty stop against Paraguay in the quarter-final and two decisive interventions against Arjen Robben in the final, solidified his status as a legendary figure in Spanish football.

Casillas continued to rewrite the record books, surpassing Andoni Zubizarreta to become Spain's most capped player on 15 November 2011. He further demonstrated his goalkeeping prowess by equaling Edwin van der Sar's record of 72 international clean sheets and setting records for the most international victories and clean sheets with 95 and 74, respectively, showcasing his enduring excellence and contribution to the Spanish national team's success.

Casillas's leadership and diplomacy were instrumental in resolving tensions within the Spanish national team ahead of Euro 2012. Amidst growing animosity between players from rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid, Casillas, along with Carles Puyol and Xavi, organized a crucial summit with manager Vicente del Bosque and their teammates to address the issue. His efforts in fostering unity within the squad were widely praised, highlighting his influential role both on and off the pitch.
On 1 July 2012, Casillas etched his name in the annals of football history by becoming the first player to achieve 100 international wins for Spain during their dominant 4–0 victory over Italy in the Euro 2012 final. Spain's triumph marked their third consecutive major international trophy, with Casillas playing a pivotal role in their success.

Additionally, Casillas set a remarkable record during Euro 2012 by keeping five consecutive clean sheets, totaling an impressive 509 minutes without conceding a goal. This accomplishment surpassed the longstanding record of 494 minutes set by Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff, further solidifying Casillas's reputation as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation.
Despite his exceptional defensive prowess, Casillas's record-breaking unbeaten streak with Spain eventually came to an end at 817 minutes, as Olivier Giroud scored a late goal for France in a 1–1 draw during a 2014 World Cup qualifying match on 16 October of that year. Nonetheless, Casillas's contributions to Spain's dominance on the international stage during Euro 2012 and beyond underscored his enduring impact and legacy in football history.

On 5 September 2015, Casillas marked his 100th game as Spain's captain with a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Slovakia in a Euro 2016 qualifying match at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo. This significant milestone underscored his enduring leadership and influence within the Spanish national team.
Less than two months later, on 13 November, Casillas achieved another remarkable feat by securing his 100th international clean sheet with Spain during a 2–0 friendly win over England in Alicante. In doing so, he became the first goalkeeper in history, male or female, to reach this extraordinary landmark, further solidifying his status as a legendary figure in the world of football.

Casillas continued to etch his name in the record books on 27 March 2016, as he equalled the European record for the most international caps, reaching 166 appearances, during a friendly against Romania. This impressive accomplishment highlighted his remarkable longevity and consistency at the highest level of the sport.
Despite his illustrious career, Casillas's international journey came to an end after Euro 2016. Although he was named to Vicente del Bosque's final 23-man squad for the tournament, Casillas served as the second-choice goalkeeper behind David de Gea and did not feature in any matches. Spain's campaign ultimately ended in disappointment as they were eliminated in the Round of 16 following a 2–0 defeat to Italy. Nonetheless, Casillas's unparalleled contributions to Spanish football will forever be remembered, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.

Iker Casillas is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, earning the nickname San Iker for his exceptional performances, particularly in his youth, and his ability to make decisive saves. Renowned for his agility, reflexes, consistency, and shot-stopping prowess, Casillas was a spectacular and well-rounded keeper during his prime. His footwork, positioning, concentration, and speed off his line in one-on-one situations were also highly praised, along with his penalty-saving abilities.
Despite his reserved demeanor, Casillas was esteemed for his strong personality, calmness under pressure, defensive organization, and leadership on the field. He was hailed by Gianluigi Buffon as the best goalkeeper of his era. Known for his ability to save with his feet, Casillas drew comparisons to Spanish goalkeeping legend Luis Arconada for his quick reactions and movement.

Casillas's longevity and consistency at the top level, coupled with his disciplined approach to training, have earned him widespread admiration. However, he faced criticism for his relatively short stature and occasional struggles in commanding his area, especially against aerial threats, as well as for occasional errors and less consistent performances later in his career as his physical abilities declined.
Despite these criticisms, Casillas's distribution with both hands and feet remained reliable, and he was capable of launching the ball into deep areas of the pitch with his long throws and left-footed kicks. In 2016, he was recognized as the fourth greatest goalkeeper in history by France Football.