“I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” - Jonas Salk, an American virologist and medical researcher who developed one of the first successful polio vaccines. Today's post is a story you could call luck, chance, or opportunity, but whatever you may call it, it led to one of the greatest careers a goalkeeper could ever have.
The Start
Iker Casillas was the first-choice keeper for Real Madrid from 2000 until February 2002. Real Madrid had gone on a chain of bad results. Three 2-1 losses in five games, came against Espanyol, Valladolid, and Athletic Bilbao led the Spanish media to cause Vicente del Bosque to drop Casillas as goalkeeper in favor of veteran César Sánchez. Casillas remained an unused sub until the last game of Real Madrid's season.
On May 15, 2002, Real Madrid came against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final. Sanchez got injured that game and it was time for Iker Casillas to reclaim his spot. Iker had an impressive goal-denying form that contributed to Real Madrid winning that year's title. You can watch the game highlights Here.
In Spain
José Antonio Camacho, Spain's manager from 1998 to 2002, had a lot of faith in Casillas even when the latter was on the bench. He had made Iker the second-choice keeper for Spain despite some criticism. Casillas was second-choice to another experienced keeper in Santiago Cañizares. Iker had some games under Camacho when the games were easy.
When the time came to announce Spain's list for the 2002 World Cup, Casillas had just come out of the Champions League final with legendary performance. While his performance justified the call-up, his absence from first-team action since February meant he wasn't going to be the first-choice keeper.
Santiago Cañizares Choice was Justified
Having Santiago Cañizares as the first-choice keeper was the safest bet. The goalkeeper had 35 games under his belt, he had played in the World Cup before and was even called up to the World Cup before that.
A Change of Fortune
While Santiago Cañizares was preparing himself to travel with Spain, he had just finished shaving and dropped a bottle of aftershave perfume on his foot. An incident that is common enough. Santiago Cañizares' misfortune, however, was that the bottle broke with a piece of glass going into his foot. That piece of glass had cut an artery which led to him being taken to the hospital immediately.
Cañizares thought it would take only a few days for him to return. However, he was shocked to learn that it would take him a month to go back to playing. Cañizares' injury happened on the 17th of May, meaning that the World Cup would already be halfway through by the team he returns. So, Cañizares was cut out of the squad called.
Cañizares was actually a positive person stating “No-one makes their way in the world of football without having to overcome obstacles."
He also told reporters that he doesn't consider himself unlucky “I do not consider myself to be unlucky by any means. From the start of my career, I have had several strokes of good luck."
Cañizares was in Fact Fairly Unlucky
By the time Cañizares started his career, Spain already had a legendary keeper in Barcelona's Andoni Zubizarreta. It was difficult getting off the bench for the legendary Zubizarreta who retired in 1998. So, Cañizares' career with Spain really started in 1998 and ended in 2002 as a first-choice keeper.
Enter Stage Right: Iker Casillas
Instead of Cañizares, Camacho called up Malaga's keeper at the Pedro Contreras. However, the first-choice keeper title went to someone non-other than Iker Casillas. The Madrid media and his outstanding performance against Bayer Leverkusen were enough for Camacho to make that decision for a keeper he already believed in.
Casillas had famously said regarding the injury "It was a terrible piece of bad luck for Canizares... and I am certainly not happy because a teammate has been injured,", making it clear that he wasn't happy with the whole ordeal.
Casillas Got his Reward and Started Doing More
Casillas had a great performance in the World Cup. Spain was on top of their group and went on to face Ireland in an epic match. Ireland had played bravely but Casillas was the star of the match. Iker kept his team in the game stopping a parade of chances including a penalty. It took Ireland another penalty to draw against Spain.
Spain went through but lost to South Korea in the round of 8. Casillas did have a great performance that solidified his position as Spain's number 1.
A Legendary Career Ensued
Casillas remained Spain's first-choice keeper for 14 years later. A legendary career for Spain with 167 appearances that saw him win a World Cup between two Euros titles. Also, with Real Madrid, he had won everything there is to win, and he did so more than once. A career that went unhinged until the last year with Mourinho at Real Madrid, the subject of next Friday's post. His career even extended to winning two titles with Porto until he retired from football.
In Conclusion
Some people may consider Iker Casillas lucky, and they'd be right to think so. However, there's no denying that Iker Casillas had done his best to capitalize on his luck and go on to have a great career. A career that broke records, he was the most capped goalkeeper in Spain's history, and the second most capped after Sergio Ramos.
Iker Casillas retired with Spain unable to have another shot-stopper of his caliber.
Side Story
In 2004, Cañizares was called up to Spain's squad in the Euros. A disappointing Euros for Spain as they had left the competition from the group stage. During that tournament, Cañizares was given the number 1 shirt despite Casillas remaining the first-choice keeper.
The idea was shared by Iñaki Sáez as a sign of respect, something Casillas didn't mind at all. Also, Cañizares did get his wish to represent Spain in another World Cup as he was the keeper for Spain in their 1-0 win against Saudi Arabia in the 2006 World Cup. That match was the first World Cup win for Cañizares.
In the End
The Independent described the ordeal as a perfume misery for Cañizares. But, it can also be looked at as a God's gift to Casillas, and to Spain in the long term as it prepared Spain to have a legendary keeper.