Alongside Xavi and Iniesta, he is a pillar of the Spanish national team. And at 34—a birthday he is celebrating today, Wednesday, May 20, 2015— Iker Casillas is far from done… Here is his profile, brought to you by LEC, in anticipation of your next football language trip.
A story that begins in Móstoles…
Iker Casillas Fernández, whom you’ll surely hear about during a language trip to Spain if you talk about soccer, was born on May 20, 1981, in Móstoles, a city in the autonomous community of Madrid. This explains the player’s fierce attachment to the capital…
With Real Madrid since 1990
It’s no small thing to speak of Iker Casillas’s total, unconditional devotion to Madrid! A product of Real Madrid’s youth academy, he began his junior career in 1990. Eight years later, he made his debut with the first team and began a careerwith the prestigious Spanish club that continues to this day…
Iker Casillas: an icon in Madrid…
A legendary goalkeeper and charismatic player standing 1.85 meters tall, Iker Casillas boasts an impressive list of achievements with Los Merengues. With FC Barcelona’s archrival, he has won:
- 5-time Spanish champion
- 2-time Copa del Rey champion
- 3-time Champions League winner
- 2-time Club World Cup champion
… and throughout Spain
But Iker Casillas, as you may recall from your soccer language study trip, isn’t just known for his brilliant career at Real Madrid: he also boasts an impressive track record with the national team. As captain of the Spanish national team when he was a starter, he won the following titles with the squad:
- the European Championships in 2008 and 2012
- the 2010 World Cup
We also remember the now-legendary kiss he shared with the reporter who was interviewing him just minutes after his victory in Johannesburg!