Casillas starts adventure in Dubai

The legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas opened his first training center for goalkeepers outside of Spain on Wednesday, in Dubai, in association with the club Fursan Hispania FC of his former teammate Michel Salgado.

This project, called “Iker Casillas Goalkeeper Training Center”, is aimed at “hone the skills of aspiring young goalkeepers from the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East region”, according to a statement from the Dubai Sports Council.

It will also train established professionals in different clubs from different countries, as well as the goalkeeper coaches.

During the press conference for the launch of the project in Dubai, Casillas stated that “this training center is like starting a second life”, since his football career was interrupted after suffering health problems.

“I have always dreamed of giving back to this sport that has given me everything, and I've always wanted to open a training center dedicated to goalkeeping“said the 2010 World Cup winner.

According to the legend of Real Madrid, although the main intention of the center is “the training of goalkeepers”, he insisted that it also seeks to “develop good human beings because it is the most important thing.”

The Iker Casillas center will offer a weekly program, dedicated to the training of players from the Persian Gulf; a goalkeeping coach program focused on the Middle East; and another program for the goalkeepers of Michel Salgado's Fursan.

In addition, Fursan Hispania will look for the most talented promises in the region and he will recommend them to study at the Iker Casillas academy in Madrid.