Chapter 1: The Saving Grace
Robben was through on goal. A vertical pass from Wesley Sneijder cut open Spain’s defense like a knife through butter. Arjen Robben had to do only one thing: beat the goalkeeper, his former team-mate Iker Casillas.
Casillas raced out of his zone and made himself big for the Dutchman, closing the space for his adversary to shoot at. It worked. Robben, in the heat of the moment, lost his decision-making calmness and shot it towards the then Spain captain’s extending legs.
That became the image of the World Cup 2010 final. Iker Casillas saving Spain to help his country win its first ever World Cup.
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Even though Iniesta’s goal in the end was what gave Spain the lead, and eventually the win, it was Casillas who earned a lot of plaudits for his performance in the final. That save came at a crucial juncture and kept his team in the game.
Casillas had sealed his name as a legend with that triumph. His legacy established, as people’s love for him increased beyond the scope of measurement. Six years down the line, however, the image that he created has been tarnished and the legacy now has a spot on it: and it is all his own doing.
Chapter 2: The Downfall
It all began when he suffered a hand injury during a game against Valencia in 2013. As he tried to lash on to a rebound from a corner, his left hand took a hit from Alvaro Arbeloa’s boots. The full-back was trying to clear the ball and his trailing leg caught the legendary goalkeeper’s hand. It took him a long time to make a full recovery, but by the time he came back, Diego Lopez had already established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Jose Mourinho always prefers his goalkeepers being tall and aerially commanding—something that the former Real Madrid captain never was.
Ever since he stamped his place in the team, the now Porto keeper never had to worry about competition as he was the undisputed starter. Being the captain and the image of the club meant that he was indispensable, for a certain period of time.
With the then Real Madrid manager clearly favouring Lopez over his captain, things began to go south for Iker Casillas. His relationship with Mourinho strained and, all of a sudden, he didn’t seem like a saint anymore to one portion of the fanbase; the section that adored Mourinho.
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The self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ always doubted Casillas and was almost certain that he was the one who leaked inside information to the press. In the end, the newly-appointed Manchester United manager left the club, giving Casillas a ray of hope.
In came Carlo Ancelotti. In his first season with the club, Diego Lopez was his first choice in the league, while Casillas played the Cup games, but the latter enjoyed total domination during the Italian’s second season. By the time Carlo Ancelotti was sacked after completing his second season, however, the former youth product of Real Madrid seemed all but washed-out.
However, it wasn’t his decline as a player that disappointed people, it was body language towards the coach after being dropped.
Chapter 3: The Last Straw, Legacy Disfigured
When Arbeloa and Mourinho hinted about Casillas' ill behaviour, not many people believed them. However, with the former Real Madrid VicenteDel Bosque recently revealing that his captain’s poor attitude towards the coaching staff was the reason for dropping him, most have no choice but to believe now.
It is in Mourinho's character to bad mouth others, it was never an ill associated with Del Bosque. It was highly uncharacteristic of him. A man like him––who had always been one of Casillas’ staunchest supporters––had to be really fed up to not send his captain a departing “thank you” letter like he sent to the rest of the players after resigning from the national team as its coach.
Former Spain manager and the late Luis Aragones ripped Raul apart many times with his scathing words after Spain’s painful exit from the World Cup 2006. The reason for it was not for anything Raul did—because he never really did any wrong––but because his fans criticised the former coach for dropping the idol. Yet, Raul never once criticised Aragones. In fact, he always maintained that Aragones was a good coach.
On the other hand, Iker Casillas was just dropped—and rightly so—and he made his displeasure apparent to the coaching staff.
Yes, it is hurting to be dropped from the team, especially if you are a legend and the captain of it. However, people labelled him as the Saint of Madrid for his exceptionally mild-mannered nature and supposed humility—something that doesn’t go with his recent acts.
When you are loved and respected and built your reputation as a wonderful personality, acts like these are uncalled for. It makes one wonder whether Jose Mourinho was right all along: that the Spain number 1 was indeed the problem at the club.
Regardless of all this, Casillas will remain Spain’s best ever goalkeeper and most successful captain—this is something that can never be changed.
However, the injury ruined Casillas’ career, but his behavior desecrated his legacy.
