(mini) biography

Íker Casillas Fernández was born in Madrid, 1981 to Jose Luis Casillas and Maria Carmen Fernandez. He joined the Real Madrid youth team at the age of eight. Since then his football caree has been full of luck. Before his breakthrough in the season 1999/2000, Iker Casillas was only a substitute goalkeeper, but when Real Madrid's first goalkeeper, Bodo Illgner, got injured he was offered a chance in the 2000 Champions League final. Real Madrid won 3-0, with Casillas making some amazing saves. Casillas was part of the Spain Euro 2000 squad, but was only an unsued substitute.

His break in the national team came also thanks to an injured first goalkeeper. When Santiago Cañizares dropped an ftershave bottle on his foot and was unable to play in the World Cup 2002, Iker Casillas was made first goalkeeper. He impressed in the round of 16 when Spain beat Ireland on penalties. After that he has been named the first goalkeeper of Spain national team and his club team, Real Madrid. With Real Madrid, he has won the Champions League twice (2000, 2002) and has also been the Primera League winner two times (2001, 2003) with the Madrid team.

Iker Casillas is known to be a down to earth (he has said that money is something he does not care about) and a calm guy (as is required of a good goalkeeper). He believes that success is made of hard work and determination. On his job as a goalkeeper, he has said that he belives a goalkeeper can easily go from Hero to Villain. He is very fond of his current club team and the team he grew up with, Real Madrid and has said that he wants to play there for the rest of his career.

Since 2003, when Real Madrid became champions in the Spanish league, Real Madrid has chased another title but failed. In the last three seasons they have finished fourth (2003/2004) and second (2004/2005, 2005/2006), both years after rivals Barcelona. Real Madrid hasn't enjoyed success in the UEFA Champions League either the past years. The past two seasons Real Madrid has been knocked out in the round of 16.