El Gato - San Iker Casillas

It's almost hilarious how dominant this guy is. Any team who has him as their GK in a final wins ffs.

The Barcelona playmaker's father has revealed that the Real Madrid coach had issues with the duo's good rapport, and hailed their role in Spain's Euro 2012 success.
The father of Xavi has revealed that Spain captain Iker Casillas got into trouble with Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho because of his friendship with the Barcelona midfielder.
The two have been friends ever since they were teenagers, but their strong bond was put to the test during the heated encounters between Barca and Madrid over the past few years.

Casillas and Xavi managed to put any conflicts aside off the field, and although the Barcelona playmaker's father has cited the duo's behaviour as one of the reasons for Spain's success at international level, Mourinho was unhappy that his skipper remained friends with a rival player.

"Iker got into a lot of trouble with Mourinho over his friendship with Xavi. These problems became public last season and everybody knows about it. Xavi and Iker never had any intention to end their friendship," the Barcelona star's father said to Com Radio.

"If it weren't for Xavi, Casillas and Vicente del Bosque, Spain would not have come this far. The Clasicos led to difficult moments. Relationships between players who used to be friends were about to go sour.

"There were issues with [Alvaro] Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos among others. The behaviour of some players wasn't appropriate. Luckily Iker and Xavi then got involved."

Despite reports of a divided squad in the lead up to Spain's Euro 2012 campaign, La Roja successfully defender their European title this summer by beating Italy 4-0 in the final.

Xabi in dispute with other players???? Xabi who is more classier than Iker, really???

Yeh I think it must of been when Mourinho had a problem with the Spanish players or something.

Xabi has always been the guy who stops fights and never says anything bad even when they all clump together to pressure referees

i am surprised this Xavi dad actually had the nerve to include the classy Xabi amongst those players

"I respect Barcelona and what Guardiola does, but what interests me is Real Madrid and trying to win all possible competitions," he told Sport.

"We will start the season in a good way, facing Valencia, a team that plays very well and that always makes things very difficult. The goal is to keep winning titles.

"I want to win the four competitions with Madrid - the Spanish Supercopa, La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

"Clearly victory in the Champions League for Real Madrid would be very special as it would be the tenth success. Last season we were at the gates of the final of the Champions League - this campaign we want to play in it, and of course win."

Casillas also led Spain to glory at Euro 2012, leading many to tout him as a possible Ballon d'Or winner.

And although the 31-year-old admits that it would be nice to see a goalkeeper win the accolade, he insists that he is not concerned about individual honours.

"The Ballon d’Or should be won by the player most deserving," told reporters in Houston, Texas.

"Now they say that I can win it, but it's not something that I obsess over.

"Clearly, goalkeepers are not well appreciated in this type of awards, but I think we have the same right to win the Ballon d’Or as any of the other players that take the field in every game."

Iker Casillas gave a football clinic at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas. He also used the event to present a charitable project from the Realmadrid Foundation and BBVA Compass that aims to help those in need through sport, promoting values such as hard work, team effort and fair play in the Risk and Eliot academies, located in Houston districts affected by poverty. The event was highly anticipated, with more than 100 children gathering at the stadium that is home to MSL side Houston Dynamo.

"This is a fantastic programme to improve kids' education," said the Real Madrid captain, "Those who stand out will receive scholarships. I know there is a great football fan base in Houston and I am delighted to be here with the Realmadrid Foundation and Estudios Internacionales."

http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Fundacion_en/1330111201977/noticia/NoticiaFundacionRM/Casillas_clinic_in_Houston.htm?

Iker was here and I find out now

Real Madrid got their third win in three games in the American tour and the Whites’ captain, Iker Casillas, took stock of the pre-season and the aims they have in this period. "The feeling is that these matches are for what they are. For us to get up competition pace after more than a month without being together and gradually getting more pitch time. We’ve been together for three years now and the team are getting to know each other more and that is clear, and it makes the team run better. Players are becoming stand out picks in their national teams and now at the club. We are much better than two seasons ago and what we aim to do is to do better than last season".

The goalkeeper looked at Real Madrid’s match and already has in his mind the official start of the season: "The team has good touch and we are getting better. The league starts in ten days and there is no time for much else. We want to keep getting more pitch time and to start to the season in good form".

Today the two most successful clubs in the European Cup played and Casillas spoke of how the team will face the competition: "The last two years we’ve reached the semi-finals, we are very close and it is one of our major objectives. We'll try, but there are many teams that will fight for the Champions League. This is what we all want all Real Madrid but we know it will be difficult".

"Playing on the Yankees’ field of the has been a wonderful experience and it seemed like the crowd enjoyed it. It's a different stage to which we are accustomed to and we have shown that soccer, as they call it here, has some sort of pull" he admitted after the well received match. Finally he spoke about possible of additions to the team: "My job as captain is to be with my players and anyone coming to join the team will be well received".

Jesús replaced Casillas in the 85th minute. The academy was satisfied with his participation: "I am very happy. Anything to get more pitch time is important. Milan are a great team but in the second half we played very well and we managed to score four goals. We're very satisfied." The goalkeeper also highlighted the feeling of playing at Yankee Stadium:" You're in the match, but pay do not notice that it is a baseball field. The truth is that it was a good experience to see the support of the fans and playing in this legendary stadium".

http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Actualidad_Primer_Equipo_en/1330112761789/noticia/Noticia/Casillas:__Our_aim_is_to_do_better_than_last_season_.htm?

Casillas:

The Spanish International has told Spanish radio station La Sexta that he feels his future could lie away from Los Blancos.

“I would like to play out my football in the future in a more relaxed environment and if I have to play somewhere else then it would be for a team that would not come into direct competition with Real Madrid. For example in the USA, which I love.”

The International Federation of Football history and Statistics have chosen him as best goalkeeper in the world, ahead of Gianluigi Buffon and Petr Cech

Iker Casillas has added another award in his exceptional career, starting 2013 with the same award he has won in the last four years. The International Federation of Football history and Statistics IFFHS has once again picked him as the world’s best goalkeeper after a vote by journalists from all over the world.

Casillas saw off goalkeepers of the standard of Buffon and Cech After winning la Liga and the Spanish Supercup with Real Madrid and the European Championship with Spain.

Madrid’s captain has won this award the most often, ahead of Walter Zenga (Inter Milan) who was named best goalkeeper in the world in 1989, 1990 and 1991.

This year, Casillas scored 224 points, while Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) scored 128. Chelsea’s Czech goalkeeper, Petr Cech, was third on 92; the German Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich was fourth on 85; the English goalkeeper Joe Hart, of Manchester City, was fifth on 26; and Barcelona’s Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdés was sixth with 15 points.


http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Actualidad_Primer_Equipo_en/1330132596361/noticia/Noticia/Casillas_world%E2%80%99s_best_goalkeeper_for_fifth_year_running_according_to_the_IFFHS.htm?

Real Madrid goalkeeper, Iker Casillas was named the second best goalkeeper for the past 25 years, just being narrowly beaten out by Italian international and Juventus goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.

In the article ‘World’s Best Goalkeeper of the Last Quarter of a Century’ by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), Casillas falls 13 points short of Buffon for the top spot.

Buffon tops the list with 226 points, while Casillas has 213, former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar with 201, Peter Schmeichel with 179 and Oliver Kahn with 162.

Former Barcelona goalkeeper and current sporting director, Andoni Zubizarreta comes in at 9th place with 132 points, while current Barcelona goalkeeper, Victor Valdes cracks the Top 20 at the 18th position with 82 points.

The Top 20 finalists are all featured below:

1. G. Buffon (ITA) 226 points

2. Iker Casillas (SPN) 213

3. Edwin van der Sar (HOL) 201

4. Peter Schmeichel (DEN) 179

5. Oliver Kahn (GER) 162

6. Petr Cech (CZE) 154

7. J.L. Chilavert (PAR) 146

8. Walter Zenga (ITA) 132

.-. A. Zubizarreta (ESP) 132

10. Claudio Taffarel (BRA) 130

11. M. Preud’homme (BEL) 124

12. Fabien Barthez (FRA) 115

13. David Seaman (ENG) 114

14. Dida (BRA) 109

15. Vítor Baía (POR) 94

16. Gianluca Pagliuca (ITA) 90

17. Francesco Toldo (ITA) 82

.-. Víctor Valdés (SPN) 82

19. Jens Lehmann (GER) 81

20. Júlio César (BRA) 76

We are doomed.

After carrying out initial x-rays at the La Moraleja Sanitas Hospital it has been confirmed that the footballer Iker Casillas has suffered a fracture at the base of the first metacarpal on his left hand. It will be assessed again by a specialist later today to decide what treatment will be followed.

http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Actualidad_Primer_Equipo_en/1330134768712/noticia/ParteMedico/Iker_Casillas_s_injury_report.htm

Spanish media claiming between 6 to 8 weeks

We are dead lol

6-12 weeks... but we have seen Casillas play with a cast in his hand before

the man's a fighter and I hope he can fight through this

Wish him speedy recovery, he was picking up a bit of his old form before he got injured. We still need a new keeper though, Adan's contract is expiring at the end of the season and I've not been impressed with the performances of the other keepers in the youth ranks.

Ideally, Courtois would have been an excellent capture, he's in great form at Atletico and is still owned by Chelsea. I've been impressed with the form of Stoke City's Begovic, pretty sure a bid of around £10 million would sway them to sell, they have a great backup in Sorensen and they're not in any immediate danger of relegation.

buddytaller
Check Dani Pacheco
made the u-20 starting 11 at the WC at the age of 18
solid goalie he is
currently 3rd goalie for castilla and starting for C

It would be very naive of Real Madrid to send Adan and Pacheco or Jesus to face Barcelona and Man United, unless we're willing to concede defeat to them. There's still a few days left till the window closes and Real Madrid should purchase another goalkeeper if we're to keep our hopes of winning the CL and CDR alive.

Has resumed the on the ball training

Should be back in 3-4 weeks since the recovery went faster than expected

Hopefully he's back for the CL quarter-final.

Great news but Diego has been great. I don't think it would be fair for Iker to just slot back into the starting XI

I doubt he will either. it wasn't a leg that he injured it was part of his hand he will need at least three games playing in the lesser games to be fully fit

Iker Casillas says he is near "the end of the tunnel" of his recovery from a broken bone in his left hand, and looks set to be ready for a return to the Real Madrid goal in two weeks' time.

The Madrid captain suffered the injury in a challenge with team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa during their side's Copa del Rey quarter-final game at Valencia on January 23, and it was initially thought the Spain captain faced three months on the sidelines.

However, the recovery from the operation, in which two screws were inserted into his hand, has gone quicker than expected. AS reported on Thursday that he could be ready to face Real Zaragoza away in La Liga on March 30.

Casillas' return will give coach Jose Mourinho a decision to make as Diego Lopez, signed from Sevilla for €3 million in January, has impressed recently. Lopez had looked shaky on occasion, and was at fault for goals conceded against Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona in La Liga, but was outstanding in Madrid's Champions League win at Manchester United in early March.

On Wednesday 'San Iker' published videos of himself training and saving shots with his left hand on Facebook, entitled '47 days later'. He also uploaded an image of a man walking out of a train tunnel to his Instagram account.

"Thanks for all the messages of support that you have been sending me during these weeks," the Facebook message said. "The end of the tunnel is near."

Despite the quick return Casillas is not expected to be named in Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Finland [in Gijon on March 22] and France [in Paris on March 26]. Barcelona's Victor Valdes should continue between the posts for La Roja, in two games which are key to their chances of qualifying directly for next year's finals in Brazil.

He returned to the bench today but I don't see him playing a big part in the run in to the end of the season, unless Lopez gets injured or has a huge drop in form. Barring any unforeseen circumstances I can't see him starting any match of importance this season.