Vicente Jiménez, director of AS, was in charge of delivering Iker Casillas the award with the general applause of the room. The video, which served to present the award, made everyone present, including Casillas himself. 36 seconds to summarize a sports life of more than 20 years full of successes, titles and good times. With images such as Robben's decisive stop at the World Cup in South Africa, the European Cups with Madrid, the Euro Cups with Spain or that moment when, as captain of Spain, he lifts the World Cup in South Africa. Moments that we will never forget and that they place him in the olympus of the best goalkeepers in history.
The goalkeeper went through the microphone of AS to comment on the white news. In particular, Zidane's unstable situation on the white bench. “We are starting, Madrid depends on itself in the Champions League, the League is quite even … it is a different year,” said Iker, who threw a cape on his former teammate: “Zizou is a magnificent coach, a good friend and he will do everything possible to have Madrid as high up as possible. You cannot live from the past, but he has earned the right to trust him”. He also got wet on another protagonist, Sergio Ramos, and his renewal. “Sergio is an emblem of Real Madrid and the best must be in Madrid”. About his future, Iker is prudent but the illusion flows in his voice. Back to Madrid? “We have returned to Madrid, I will relocate and see in time … but Real Madrid is my home, if it arrives it will be nice to come back”.
Iker, dressed in a black suit, with a dark tie, arrived at the Royal Theater accompanied by Carlo Cutropía, his agent and trusted person. He continues to be an idol among young and old as was demonstrated upon his arrival at the venue when, despite sanitary restrictions, people came to take a selfie with him. Talkative and affable, as he has always been in his life, Casillas greeted everyone. Also to Nadal, to whom a good friendship joins him. “Rafa is exemplary, we all admire him, wherever he goes he bears the name of Real Madrid and Spain”.
The culmination was Iker's speech of thanks. Visibly moved, the man from Mostole took the floor. “It is a lifetime achievement award, it's been many years, along that path I have to thank many people that I had with me, not forgetting my coaches, all my teammates, the sacrifice of my parents and to the clubs I have owned, to Real Madrid, which is my home and to the one who gave me another opportunity to discover another way of life, Porto. And to the National Team, more emotion that we have given to this country… There are many experiences. I would like the next awards ceremony to be different, that will mean that there will be a vaccine and we will all be fine. Thanks to the newspaper AS for this award that fills me with pleasure and pride, thank you very much ”.
Casillas announced his retirement from professional football on August 4, 2020 through a statement on his social networks. It has a track record at the height of very littles. In addition to the 2010 World Cup, he has added two European Cups (2008 and 2012) with Spain (in addition to a U-20 World Cup and a U-16 European Championship in lower categories). With Real Madrid he won 3 Champions League, 5 Leagues, 2 Cups, 2 Intercontinental Cups, 1 Club World Cup, 2 European Super Cups and 4 in Spain. He signed for Porto in 2015 and won 2 Leagues, 1 Super Cup and 1 Cup. On May 1, 2019, a heart attack took him off the pitch.
His documentary 'Hanging the wings', star in the awards ceremony
“Hanging the wings” is the documentary that is already being broadcast on Movistar and that tells the best moments of Casillas' sports career. The first two chapters have been aired and there are still four to come out. The last will be on Christmas day. It is a documentary film in which Iker has been involved from the first moment and viewers will be able to know not only the most important moments of the athlete's career, but also their personal environment. The documentary is liking the world and they make it known to the protagonist wherever he goes. Yesterday at the AS awards ceremony he was able to receive first-hand the best reviews of all those who have already seen the first chapters. “When I see it I get excited, those images that have been rescued … it is to applaud, people will like it,” said Casillas.
One of the most striking moments and that nobody has left indifferent is the way of telling how the heart attack occurred on May 1, 2019. How he commented with all the people with whom he could talk, he wants to make visible and help all those people who go through the same situation. “Being able to show people that after having a mishap like this you can get ahead. There is also uncertainty. I don't have clear ideas, you keep changing. I have heard many times that I have no need, but those of us who have liked to compete all our lives and overcome challenges. We are that way”.