Although Casillas was asked by Jupp Heynckes to travel with the
First Team for a match against Rosenborg two seasons earlier, he continued
playing for Real Madrid C until being promoted to Castilla the following
season. His rapid ascent didn’t go unnoticed by the Spanish national team youth
system, and in 1996 Iker won the Under-15 European Championship. Two years
later he repeated as an Under-17 champion after saving a penalty kick, and in
1999 he returned from the Under-19 European Championship with another gold
medal around his neck. The following year he was awarded the Bravo Trophy,
which is presented to the best European footballer under the age of 21.
No one has challenged Casillas as the the starting keeper of the
First Team since 1999/00, and he is one of the squad’s most experienced players
and a team captain. The press hailed him as one of the “Heroes of Glasgow”
after he stepped in for an injured Cesar in the second half of the 2002
Champions League Final against Bayer Leverkusen only to make three brilliant
saves in the waning minutes of the match. A few days later he was called up by
Spanish national team, and an untimely injury suffered by Cañizares days before
the World Cup in Japan and Korea gave Iker the starting role between the posts.
He has been the number one keeper for Real Madrid and Spain every since,
leading his national team as its skipper to Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 glory.
Agile, quick, intelligent, and nearly unbeatable, Casillas is
arguably the best active goalkeeper in the world.
Personal
Many
consider Iker Casillas to be the best goalkeeper in the world, but if anyone
has their doubts, he’s definitely among the top three. He has won more titles
and accolades than most players win throughout their careers.
Casillas
is quite superstitious, and whenever one his teammates scores, he has to touch
the crossbar of his own goal. Two things he misses most since becoming a
household name are visiting the local amusement park and traveling on the
city’s subway, and he’s been quoted as saying that he’d like to be President of
Real Madrid at some point down the road.
Honours
·
La Liga:
2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2011/12
·
Spanish
Super Cup: 2001, 2003, 2008
·
UEFA
Champions League: 1999/00, 2001/02
·
European
Super Cup: 2002
·
InterContinental
Cup: 2002
·
Under-15
European Championship: 1995
·
Under-17
European Championship: 1997
·
Under-19
European Championship: 1999
·
European
Championship: 2008
·
Bronze
Medal, Confederations Cup: 2009
·
World
Cup: 2010
·
Copa
del Rey: 2011
·
Adidas
Golden Glove: 2010
·
IFFHS
best Goalkeeper of the Year: 2008, 2009
·
FIFA
best Goalkeeper of the Year: 2009
·
UEFA
best Goalkeeper in Europe: 2008, 2009
·
L'Equipe
best Goalkeeper of the Year: 2009
·
Bravo
Trophy: 2000
Career
·
Real
Madrid youth system (1990-1999)
·
Real
Madrid (1999-present)
·
La
Liga debut: 12
September 1999 Match: Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Real Madrid
·
Real
Madrid debut: 12
September 1999 Match: Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Real Madrid
·
International
for Spain
Source : http://www.realmadrid.com
