Special: Hala Iker!

It was in September 1999 and it was my debut at the Bernabeu together with an 18-year-young spaniard. The only difference was that I was sitting in the stands and he was standing between the posts in the back of Real Madrids defense. With Illgner injured the youngster got a chance to prove himself in Madrids goal. And he raised everyones eyebrows when he debuted in La Liga one week before in Bilbao. Also on that day against Deportivo he made some awesome saves and my friend from Madrid who invited me for that game told me hes a very talented goalie and one day he will be one of the worlds best if he continues that way. Nevertheless he made a mistake in that game, and goalie's mistakes almost always lead to goals like his one against Djalminha. Raul saved the game 7 minutes from time. That time everyone thought Iker was just a temporal solution, but my friend was right and nowadays its usually him who saves Real Madrid.

Although having some problems in the air, he early proved that he has the potential to stay in Real Madrids goal and made Illgner, Bizarri & Cesar feel the hard bench. With being only 19 years of age he won his first Champions League title with Real Madrid. Till 2003 he had added a second one, 2 spanish Liga titles, an European Supercup and an Intercontinental Cup. And in the spanish national team he established himself as the number One.

With his club being in a trophyless crisis he is the only player who performs on a constant high level. This is especially important since traditionally Real Madrid hasnt the strongest defense. Widely respected and recognized by fans & experts as one of the Worlds best goalkeepers, he was missing the respective honor. With the Bernabeu in his back fighting for him and chanting "Iker, Iker" , now a new 5-years "galactico" contract not only honored 6 years of superb work, but also his love and commitment to the club, something whats more worthy than any money and earns the love by the fans.

They call him Ikerman, related to Superman what he truely is when he once again makes an impossible save; he also is for all the kids in the Cantera, Real Madrids Youth, that he joined himself being only 9 years of age. An idol, that went though the complete Cantera system to become a worldstar. A worldstar right from Mostoles, this southerly quarter of Madrid.

The day he signed his renewal his eyes were glowing of pride and happiness and showed how big his relief was. Leaving Madrid wasn't actually what he wanted. Hes a grown madridista and his heart is closely tied with this club that he hopes to finnish his career in.

an introduction by LaBlanca

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more:
more editorials
Players profile Iker Casillas
Quest of Ikerman
iker-spain.com

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"Brilliant save by Iker Casillas!" the commentator screamed of his save against Fernando Torres in the Real Madrid match against Atletico Madrid on 25th October 2005. However, this is not the first nor the last time you would hear this comment in any match that Iker is in. In fact, it would not be too much to say that in almost every Real Madrid match that Iker has played in, there would be no less than one such comment coming from the commentators.

Anyone who watches Real Madrid matches frequently would know that the team depends heavily on their number 1 goalkeeper, and it seemed even more so in the recent years. Fans of Iker would know the famous last minute call-up he received when he was just 16, still in school and was informed by his principal to pack his bag and leave for the airport immediately. This uninformed order sent Iker and his mother into a nervous frenzy, not knowing what was going on, or what to expect. Later, he found out that he was going to Norway with the first team for a Champions' League match. Even though he did not play for that match, it was already an experience for young Iker.

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back to start

In 2002, a couple of months before Iker's terrific display of his goalkeeping skills in World Cup 2002, Iker was called on as Cesar's replacement in the Champions' League final against Leverkusen. He made 3 crucial saves that helped keep the scoreline at 2-1 as it was when he came on and went on to win the last Champions' League trophy Real Madrid has had in recent years.

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In World Cup 2002, Iker replaced the original number 1 of Spain, Cañizares - who injured himself after dropping a bottle of aftershave on his left foot - to bring Spain into the competition as far as to the semi-finals. The young lad, then only at a tender age of 21, saved 3 out of 5 shots in the penalty shootout against Ireland. He was even hailed as "Saint Iker" by numerous news sources from Spain and AS's Tomás Roncero even wrote, "Iker isn't human, the day he came to earth, light shone down upon his house like it did at the gate of Bethlehem when Jesus Christ arrived in the world. He's immune to pain, mistakes and bad luck. "
"He's like a comic book hero, an angel fallen from the sky. When the penalty shoot-out was about to start and Iker was smiling I said to myself 'Iker, you are the messiah, the chosen one. You know we're through ... and you're going to take us to the final. Does anyone doubt it?"

Such was his amazing performance during the World Cup that even though Spain lost to South Korea after a controversial match, the world had seen enough to know what gem Spain has found in between the post.
Iker's important presence in Real Madrid's goal was even more exemplified when Madrid's defense was less than desirable, especially so in the 2003-2004 season. Even when Perez's 'los galaticos' failed to perform, Iker was and is always there with his safe pairs of hands. Never mind if Perez did not think much of this homegrown talent (he was too busy setting his sights abroad), to the fans, Iker Casillas is the club's seventh Galactico.
In season 2004-2005, it is even said that it was only thanks to Iker that Real Madrid got its undeserving second placing, right behind title holders Barcelona.

Much debate went on about Iker's chances of becoming Real Madrid's captain. Currently Raúl carries the honor of being the inspirational captain, with Guti as the deputy captain. Roberto Carlos follows behind and two out of these three players are already nearing their prime. Surely with all the contributions Iker has given to the team he would deserve some consideration for the post? In fact, Iker Casillas is already wearing the captain armband for some of Spain's National Selection games. ...And with some time he will be given the captains armband at Real Madrid as well, of playing the longest time in the first team.

Unfortunately, Perez has the habit of favoring his hand-picked Galaticos than the homegrown talents. This favoritism was made even more evident when Beckham, whose previous contract with the club would only run out in year 2007, got renewed in September 2005, even before Iker, whose contract would have ran out in June 2006, did.

At the beginning of season 2005-2006, Iker Casillas's performance was not exactly rock solid. Speculations that the lack of contract coming from Real Madrid was affecting his performance did not prompt any action from the Madridista's club, but certainly got the attention of several big clubs in England, such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and even Spanish rival Barcelona was ready to break the 'transfer truce' with the Whites with a rumored $10 million euro offer to Iker. Yet whenever Iker was asked of the renewal issue, his reply would always be the same, "My wish is to remain in Real Madrid."

It was not all about the money, even if the negotiations hit a stalemate in late October because Perez was not willing to entertain Iker's request of $6 million euros initially. It was about getting what he deserves. Other clubs were willing to provide him with more than what he was asking for, a prominent example would be Barcelona, whose $10 million euro offer was $4 million more than what the goalkeeper was asking from the club he grew up playing for. But Iker chose not to negotiate with other clubs, nor play up the speculations, merely waiting for Perez to accept his none-too-demanding request. With the enticing offers from other big clubs which were waiting to pounce on this great player, the fans were getting nervous at the prospect of losing their 'El Talisman'.

2 months short of Iker's possible start of negotiations with other clubs, Las Peñas talked about having a petition to gather signatures asking Perez to renew Iker during the match against Getafe.

30th November 2005, 3 days before the Getafe match, Perez acceded to Iker's request and signed him on for another 5 years. Finally, there was some joy in the club that was going through yet another performance crisis. Iker's display of loyalty to the club gave the fans more reasons to love him, and assuring them that all their faith and support had not gone to waste.
Here's to another 5 more years, Iker Casillas!

by Xue from iker-spain.com.

MADRID, Spain (AP) - Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas agreed to a new five-year contract which ties him to the club until 2011.

Madrid's announcement Wednesday ended speculation about Casillas' future after reported difficulties in negotiations. Spanish media had suggested the 24-year-old goalkeeper, whose present deal expires in June 2006, could join Manchester United or FC Barcelona.
Click to learn more...

"It's a happy day. I always said I wanted to stay here more than any other club. I'll be here until I'm 30. Let's hope in 2010 we can renew until 2016 or 2017,'' Casillas was quoted as saying by news agency Efe. Madrid gave no financial details.

Casillas made his league debut for Madrid as an 18-year-old in December 1999. Since then, the Madrid-born goalkeeper has gained two Spanish league winner medals and kept goal in Madrid's Champions Cup triumph in 2000. In 2002, he was left on the bench for the Champions Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen, but made a starring 25-minute substitute appearance to help Madrid lift the trophy for the third time in five years. Since then, Casillas has been Madrid's first-choice 'keeper.

He is expected to be Spain's No. 1 in next year's World Cup in Germany.

“MAYBE there should be a Golden Gloves award,” Iker Casillas said as he contemplated the Golden Boots, Golden Balls and general slaps on the back flying around for Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho, the Barcelona pair. Despite another extraordinary season for the Real Madrid goalkeeper, Casillas did not make Fifa’s top-30 shortlist for World Player of the Year. Although, as consolations go, a new five-year contract, worth about £6 million a year, is not bad.

At 24, Casillas has already made more than 350 appearances for Real Madrid and Spain. He has two Champions League winners’ medals and two Spanish Championship medals and last month Real Madrid finally came up with the cash for his new deal, making him the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world.

The contract was handed out a little begrudgingly. Casillas is home-grown, not an expensive import who helps to market the club abroad. And he stops goals — he does not score them. “It’s goals that count, and all Casillas ever does is stop them,” you can almost imagine someone in the Madrid boardroom saying as the money men hesitated over his new deal. Sanity reigned eventually, though, and Real decided to put their future in a safe pair of hands.

Casillas rejected the club’s original offer, closer to £4 million, and next month would have entered the final six months of his contract, leaving him free to talk to the likes of Manchester United and Barcelona. Outraged fans were preparing to collect names for a petition before Saturday’s home game with Getafe. The queues to sign the protest would have been almost as long as the queues to get into the ground. In the eyes of most supporters, the club of Galacticos has had only one player worthy of the description in the past two trophyless seasons — their goalkeeper.

So, was the delay in tying him down a sign of how undervalued the goalkeeper is at Real Madrid? “I hope not,” he said. “It’s a basic point, really. A goalkeeper makes a mistake and you lose a game. It’s very important to have a good keeper — it gives the whole team security. Goalkeepers win matches, too. I always thought in the end we would end up arriving at an agreement. But in this situation it’s down to the club — if they they want you, they initiate the process. If they don’t want you, there is nothing you can do.”

That Real left it so late to tie their star man down and his absence from that Fifa top-30 list, last week whittled down to a top three, reinforce the point that good goalkeepers have a tough time getting noticed. Raúl, who by his own admission has struggled in recent seasons, made the Fifa top-30 but Casillas, who has been in the form of his life, did not. “I just have to keep working hard,” he said . “It can annoy you but the best thing you can do is just use it to motivate yourself to get into the top 30 next year. A goalkeeper does have to be extra special to be recognised in that way. Maybe there should be an award for the best goalkeeper . . . Golden Gloves or something like that.

“There are lots of good goalkeepers around, all with different styles. Petr Cech, at Chelsea, is a great goalkeeper. But you also have [Gianluigi] Buffon at Juventus and Dida at Milan. Each one has his own particular qualities. I’m pleased if people think that I’m in that category because it means I am doing things properly. But I have to keep working hard to keep proving that I am one of the best.”

The bumper pay deal that still leaves him trailing Ronaldo, Raúl and Zinedine Zidane has at least put him in line with Real’s next bracket of earners, such as Roberto Carlos. Casillas has been at Real Madrid since he was 11. He travelled in Europe with them as second goalkeeper at the age of 16. He was training with the first team before he was old enough to drive and used to get the train into work while his team-mates pulled up at the training ground in sports cars. He made his debut at 18 under John Toshack. He has come a long way since and the reaction of the fans at the thought of losing him prompted the club to offer him the £6 million-a-year deal. It is still not Galactico money but, as Ginés Caravajal, Casillas’s agent, said: “It is the going rate for the best young goalkeeper in the world.”

England may be next stop
When Iker Casillas was 11, he wanted to be like Peter Schmeichel. If things had not worked out with his contract negotiations, the Spaniard was in little doubt where he wanted to go — the league in which his idol became a legend.

“Schmeichel was my hero,” Casillas said. “I would not say he was what made me want to become a keeper because ever since I was old enough to think for myself, that is what I wanted to do. But as an 11-year-old I watched the 1992 European Championship, Denmark won the tournament and Schmeichel was fantastic.

“I admired everything about him. He was a great presence in the goal. His distribution, his clearances from crosses and his shot-stopping were all superb.”

And on the possibility of following his hero to the Premiership, Casillas said: “If I had to leave Spain, I think it would be to move to England: for the people involved in the game there and for the fans. The game is valued in a different way. The people have a good understanding of it and respect good players.”
by Times Online. thanx to iker-spain.com