Spanish goalkeeper, Iker Casillas retires from football at 39

Former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper, Iker Casillas has called it quits with professional football at age 39 after playing over 1,000 matches.

Casillas won the World Cup, two European Championships, five La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies during his time as a footballer.

He featured 725 times for Spanish giants Real Madrid during a 16-year career at the club and won three Champions League titles and five La Liga crowns at the Bernabeu, before leaving Real Madrid to join FC Porto in 2015 but has not played since suffering a heart attack during training in April 2019.

He was given a role on the club’s coaching staff in July 2019 during his recovery.

He won two Primeira Liga titles and one Portuguese Cup in his 156 appearances for the Portuguese side.

He also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and two successive European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

Casillas won 167 international caps for Spain between 2000 and 2016. Only Sergio Ramos has made more appearances for the national side.

Real Madrid defender Ramos posted a photo of himself with Casillas on Twitter as a tribute to his former team-mate.

Casillas announced his retirement on Twitter, writing: “The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination to which it takes you.

“I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the path and the dream destination.”

Real Madrid said Casillas, who joined the Spanish giants at the age of nine, was the best goalkeeper in the 118-year history of the club.

“Real Madrid wants to show its appreciation, admiration and love for one of the greatest legends of our club and world football,” reads a statement on the club’s website.

“Iker Casillas belongs to the heart of Real Madrid and will be so forever.”

He had announced his intention to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in February but had to withdraw because of the “exceptional social, economic, and health situation” the country was suffering during the Covid-19 pandemic.