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Goal.com 50: Iker Casillas (40)
Goal.com's countdown of the best players of 2010-11 continues with a man regarded as a saint in parts of the Spanish capital thanks to his miraculous hands.
Jul 31, 2011 4:00:00 AM
By KS Leong
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50.
It was always going to be difficult for Iker Casillas to emulate in the 2010-11 campaign what he had achieved last summer in South Africa when he captained Spain to a historic World Cup triumph.
Having added the greatest prize on earth to his collection of Champions League, La Liga, Intercontinental and Euro 2008 medals, the Madrid shot-stopper entered the season needing just one more piece of silverware to complete the full set of major club and international titles.
The arrival of Jose Mourinho as Madrid's new coach gave Casillas something in goal that he was rarely afforded in his 12 years so far at the Santiago Bernabeu: a solid, dependable defense.
Indeed, as the new center-back partnership of Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho quickly flourished, 'San Iker' found himself with little to do compared to past seasons in which desperate saves would very much make up a normal day in the office.
Real's stingy defense saw him concede just six goals in the first 12 league games of the season as he looked on course to finally break rival Victor Valdes' strangle-hold on the Zamora Trophy.
But a morale-sapping 5-0 defeat to Barcelona in the first Clasico encounter in late November became the catalyst of a sudden dip in form and confidence, culminating in a mistake against Real Zaragoza that led to a shock 3-2 home loss towards the end of the season.
Despite what would be an average campaign by his high standards, Casillas did prove once again that he is the man to deliver when it comes to the biggest of occasions.
His multiple heroics in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona won his team the much-coveted trophy. He denied Lionel Messi, Pedro and Andres Iniesta with three glorious saves in the final 15 minutes, forcing the game into extra-time when Cristiano Ronaldo netted the winner.
In doing so, Casillas was finally able to win the one club title that had been missing from his trophy cabinet. Following his career milestone in South Africa in the summer of 2010, the Copa del Rey triumph was another momentous landmark, as, for the very first time, he was given the honor to grace the Goddess Cybele during the celebrations at the Cibeles fountain following former captain Raul's departure.
Debate will continue to rage on about whether Casillas is the best goalkeeper in the world, but having now won every major club and international title, there's no doubting that he has become one of the most successful in the game.
It was always going to be difficult for Iker Casillas to emulate in the 2010-11 campaign what he had achieved last summer in South Africa when he captained Spain to a historic World Cup triumph.
Having added the greatest prize on earth to his collection of Champions League, La Liga, Intercontinental and Euro 2008 medals, the Madrid shot-stopper entered the season needing just one more piece of silverware to complete the full set of major club and international titles.
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"What a keeper! It is one thing to have him in front of you and another to see him on television." - Victor Valdes |
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| COPA DEL REY FINAL: BARCELONA 0-1 REAL MADRID |
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| In a heated cup final against eternal enemy Barca, Casillas pulled off three miracle saves in a six minute spell late in the second half as Madrid eventually went on to lift the Copa del Rey after extra-time. |
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Real's stingy defense saw him concede just six goals in the first 12 league games of the season as he looked on course to finally break rival Victor Valdes' strangle-hold on the Zamora Trophy.
But a morale-sapping 5-0 defeat to Barcelona in the first Clasico encounter in late November became the catalyst of a sudden dip in form and confidence, culminating in a mistake against Real Zaragoza that led to a shock 3-2 home loss towards the end of the season.
Despite what would be an average campaign by his high standards, Casillas did prove once again that he is the man to deliver when it comes to the biggest of occasions.
His multiple heroics in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona won his team the much-coveted trophy. He denied Lionel Messi, Pedro and Andres Iniesta with three glorious saves in the final 15 minutes, forcing the game into extra-time when Cristiano Ronaldo netted the winner.
In doing so, Casillas was finally able to win the one club title that had been missing from his trophy cabinet. Following his career milestone in South Africa in the summer of 2010, the Copa del Rey triumph was another momentous landmark, as, for the very first time, he was given the honor to grace the Goddess Cybele during the celebrations at the Cibeles fountain following former captain Raul's departure.
| "He may not be the most imposing or the most commanding, but he makes saves when it seems dead certain that his opponent will score. That's why he's the best at what he does. That's why he is 'San Iker'." |
Debate will continue to rage on about whether Casillas is the best goalkeeper in the world, but having now won every major club and international title, there's no doubting that he has become one of the most successful in the game.
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