Iker Casillas has officially announced his retirement after fulfilling his contract with Porto, with whom he recently raised the Taça de Portugal. Despite the fact that the news was already known, the mythical goalkeeper has wanted to confirm it through his social networks, where he has published an emotional letter saying goodbye to the sport of his life.
The goalkeeper, yes, will continue to be linked to the world of football. He already announced in his day his intention to stand for election to the Royal Spanish Football Federation, although he finally ended up retiring due to the electoral advance marked by the Higher Sports Council. However, it is not ruled out that it may be the head of future applications.
The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination to which it takes you, 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 #Grac1as pic.twitter.com/xb8ucs9REh
– Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) August 4, 2020
The former Real Madrid player hangs up his gloves at 39, after a faultless trajectory between the white club, the Spanish National Team and Porto. His award-winning record has two Euro Cups, one World Cup, five Leagues, three Champions, four Super Cups, two King's Cups, two European Super Cups or two Portuguese Leagues (including this season's).
In addition to the attached text photograph, Iker Casillas wanted to write other lines to bid farewell to an unforgettable career: “The important thing is the path you are traveling and the people who accompany you, not the destination to which it takes you, because that with work and effort, He arrives alone and I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the way and the dream destination“
This has been your full statement
“Hi all,
Today is one of the most important and, at the same time, most difficult days of my sports life: the time has come to say goodbye.
My journey into the world of football started 30 years ago, it has been a long journey and, like every journey, it has had good and less good moments, joys, but also sadness. At this point in my life, and with perspective, I can say without a doubt that it was worth it.
I have been very lucky to be able to dedicate myself professionally to what I am passionate about, it fills me up and makes me happy: FOOTBALL.
I remember when I was a child, and I started to play in the dirt fields of my town, Navalacruz, in the fields of Móstoles or those of the old Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid, to later get to play in the most important stadiums in the world, and among them, especially, in which I have developed my professional career, the Santiago Bernabéu and Do Dragao.
As I look back, I realize how lucky I am for all that I have accomplished, and I'm not just talking about the titles, but the human side.
Today is a difficult day, but not a sad day, I consider myself lucky to have come this far, for how I have come, for having achieved everything I have achieved, for all this … I am happy.
I do not want to finish without thanking all those who have accompanied me on this trip:
To my family, for the sacrifices you made so that I could get where I have come and that allowed me to make my wishes come true. You are participants in everything I have accomplished throughout my career.
To my wife, and to my children Martín and Lucas, thank you for all your support, for all those hours that I have not been able to spend by your side in this last part of my sports life. Thank you for understanding me and encouraging me to enjoy this life that I chose. Without a doubt at your side everything is easier.
To my clubs: Real Madrid where I spent a lifetime, they educated me, they saw me and they made me grow, by instilling in me their values and, ultimately, for being what I am.
To FC Porto, for welcoming me as he did, for teaching me to see things from another angle, to give me the opportunity to get to know a club and a city that I have fallen in love with and will always carry in my heart. You will always be part of me.
To the presidents of the clubs where I played, for allowing me to achieve all my dreams.
To my teammates, without them I would never have achieved anything. A team is the sum of each and every one of its components, paddling in the same direction to achieve a common goal.
To my coaches, for trusting me, listening to me and teaching me everything.
To the selectors of the different categories of the Spanish Selection for calling me to be part of the team of my country and achieve the greatest successes.
To the followers of the teams I played for, for supporting and accompanying me, but also for having demanded the maximum from me to get the best version of myself.
to all the people who worked and work in the clubs I've been to for making our lives easier.
to my rivals and their fans for the respect they have always transmitted to me and in which I always felt for them.
To my lifelong friends, therefore, for enduring a lifetime. To the friends that I have been forcing throughout all these years, thank you for crossing my path.
I am indebted to each and every one of you, you have remained absolutely vital in all this adventure.
But above all, thanks to football, for allowing me to be part of it, for being a wonderful sport, for allowing me to live a life full of passion and emotions, for giving me moments of happiness, for making me grow as an athlete and as a person, for giving me the opportunity to meet and share moments with so many incredible people. In short, THANK YOU FOR GIVING IT TO ME.
The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination it takes you, 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.
I am clear that it is not an end point, the trip does not end here. This continues and we will surely meet again soon.
Today I leave behind those three sticks that saw me grow as a goalkeeper, the ones that at all times put me in my place and forced me to keep my feet on the ground, those three sticks that I owe so much to and that I will surely miss. And there I will also leave you, my faithful allies, there I will hang the gloves“
This is how Madrid fired him
After the official announcement of Iker Casillas, the reactions of the world of soccer quickly arrived. For example, Movistar Plus announced for the autumn a report on how he has lived his last year in Portugal. But perhaps the most anticipated is Real Madrid, the club of his life and with which he conquered most of his titles. The club, perhaps aware of the goalkeeper's decision ahead of time, soon issued a long statement:
“Given the announcement by Iker Casillas about his retirement from soccer as a professional player, Real Madrid C. F. wants to show his appreciation, admiration and affection for one of the greatest legends of our club and world soccer.
The best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid and Spanish football came to our house when he was 9 years old. Here our shirt was formed and defended for 25 years, being forever one of our most iconic captains. Iker Casillas has earned the love of Real Madrid and is a benchmark of the values that represent Real Madrid.
Today, one of the most important footballers in our 118-year history, a player whom we love and admire, a goalkeeper who has enlarged the legend of Real Madrid with his work and with exemplary behavior both inside and outside, says goodbye as a professional player. the playing fields.
With the first team he played 725 games during 16 seasons in which he won 19 titles: 3 European Cups, 3 Club World Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 5 Leagues, 2 King's Cups and 4 Spanish Super Cups. In Portugal, with Porto, he has achieved 2 Leagues, 1 Cup and 1 Super Cup. And he has been international with Spain on 167 occasions with which he has won 1 World Cup, 2 Euro Cups and 1 U-20 World Cup.
Iker Casillas was included 5 times in the FIFA FIFPro World XI and chosen 5 times best goalkeeper in the world by the IFFHS. His impressive sports career has been recognized with the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sports Merit, the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit and the Gold Medal of the Community of Madrid.
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“