Thank You Iker !!! A Tribute Article to the Legend

Every story has an end. Even our soul comes to peace at last. And so does Casillas fairytale at Madrid. The club icon since 1990 has said his last words yesterday and today it is the first day of life for all Madridistas without San Iker.

Casillas deserves a lot of respect and he is one of the most humble persons the sport has ever seen. And moreover, the best goalkeeper the world had ever witnessed. Like Xavi said, "When all hopes are gone, Iker suddenly appears and saves you".

And it has been like that for the past 16 years in Santiago Bernabeau. Every moment when you think it's all over, Casillas appears at 7/3 post and gives you a lifeline. When you mess up again, he gives another lifeline.

There are a lot of justifications for Xavi's claims. One was during the WC10' final in which Casillas produced the most important save in world history by tucking a Robben shot with his legs. That moment gave Spain the chance to go on and win the final.

And in the 2002 Champions League final, a game in which Zidane struck a wonderful volley-winner, Casillas came off the bench for injured Cesar Sanchez and made a number off historic saves. Two years before the final, Casillas became the youngest player ever to play in a Champions League final against Valencia which Real won 3-0.

Since then, it was all an era of world's best goalkeeper. Casillas clinched his Real's 31st La Liga in 2007-08 and was awarded the Zamora trophy. However, Madrid failed to clinch a silverware next season as Barcelona grabbed a sextuple in 2009.

That year saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka arrive at Real Madrid. Another season without glory passed and Casillas still was short of domestic cup glory. But during 2010-2011, Raul and Guti left the club and the captaincy was handed to Iker.

And then, he turned out from a goalkeeper to a leader.

                                                "When all hopes are gone, Iker suddenly                                                                                                              appears and saves you"- Xavi

And finally, his 11-year wait for Copa triumph was ended when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a terrific header to down Barcelona. The new season saw Jose Mourinho's side lose to the Catalans in Super Coppa but it was just the beginning of success. 

Real Madrid and Casillas became the first team to reach 100 points in the league and definetely, the skipper was an essential part of the club. But 2013 proved to be a turning point in Casillas' career. 

He was injured after getting kicked in his finger by fellow man Arbeloa. That meant Casillas was out for three months and Mourinho bought Diego Lopez from Sevilla. Lopez continued to hit the peak and even after recovering from injury, Casillas was benched. He fell out with Mourinho and was even snubbed in the Portugese' last match as head coach of Real Madrid.

Months after Mourinho's deparure, Ancelotti arrived and he found a new way to sort out things. He used Lopez for league matches and Iker for cup rounds. And the season witnessed Casillas' and Real Madrid's best season in the decade. They clinched the prolong 'La Decima' though Casillas blundered in the final. And his second Copa del Rey was delivered when Gareth Bale scored the most memorable goal in the tournament.

2014-2015, the most recently finished season, wasn't good for Casillas at all. He was booed simultaneously by his own fans and endured another trophyless season. 

Meanwhile, with Spain, Casillas is the most capped player with 162 appearances and led the team to a hattrick of tournament glory from 2008-2012. The six years saw Spain win all the Euro 08', WC10' and Euro 12'. But he was snubbed recently after a poor run of performances with Spain in which the defending champions crashed out of WC 14'Group Stage.

But after all, Casillas has stepped down after serving from the age of 9. He has done a lot to the club and of course, it would never be the same Iker without the Real Madrid crest. And this isn't a departure Iker!!. 

Hoping you soon. Good Luck Captain and Long Live Iker. You are always welcome at Santiago Bernabeau!!!!

                                                                  GRACIES SAN IKER CASILLAS!!!