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Now would be the time to drop Iker Casillas

By on August 22, 2014

There are two types of goalkeepers – the early bloomer and the late bloomer.  Tim Howard is one of the latter; at 35 he seems to be reaching his prime after an incredible World Cup this summer, in which he beat the all time tournament record of most saves in a single match.  Iker Casillas is part of the former group.  Still a teenager he became the youngest ever goalkeeper to play in a Champions League final, and at the same time had already installed himself as Real Madrid’s starting No1.  Now, at the end of this coming season he is likely to pass 500 appearances for Los Blancos, while he has already become the Spanish national team’s most capped player of all time, captain, and most senior player at the 2014 tournament.  And he is still just 33 years of age.

So at 33, just like an outfield player, he is seeming to have passed his prime. Under Jose Mourinho last season he was rather unfairly dropped from Madrid’s starting 11. It was undoubtedly due to a split dressing room and bust-up with the manager. But as the season moved into the next, Mourinho’s replacement Carlo Ancelotti stuck with the Portugese manager’s decision to put Diego Lopez, whom Mourinho had signed to short term replace Casillas as he was out injured for a month, ahead of Casillas in the starting lineup. However, Ancelotti did play Casillas in the cups.

Fast forward one season, and Casillas has looked rusty from the lack of playing time. At World Cup 2014 his mistake against the Netherlands helped contribute to Spain’s 5-1 loss. Already his reputation has been dented because of that. Mourinho’s decision was controversial, but if Ancelotti continues the trend now, even releases Casillas, it would no longer be such a big decision. Costa Rica star Keylor Navas has also joined the club, further softening the consicuenses and taking attention away from dropping Casillas. Today the Spaniard played in Real Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup loss to Atletico Madrid, the first time in 28 matches he has played against Madrid’s cross-city rival in which he has lost.

Casillas has gradually been rotated out. The situation is right for him to be let go, if Ancelotti choses to. And best of all, he will go out with La Decima, Madrid’s elusive 10th European title.

Undoubtedly, without Mourinho’s actions Casillas could still be on top of his game. Even now he could star for a world class club. Madrid could get a good amount of money for him, another plus that would make his exit smoother. And Casillas’ career at the top level would be far from over.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.