EXCLUSIVE: The Real Madrid captain is out of sorts this season and his future is anything but certain. Can he get back to his best? Goal asks his former team-mate Jerzy Dudek
Once a saint, now a sinner, Iker Casillas is losing his reputation as a born winner. Real Madrid's much-maligned goalkeeping great gained fame for his divine interventions in the very biggest matches for club and country, earning him the pious moniker of "San Iker". But even the believers are now losing faith in Casillas after some torrid times over the last year.
A god-like and almost untouchable figure for so long at the Santiago Bernabeu, Casillas' problems began when he was left on the bench by previous coach Jose Mourinho, before suffering an injury and losing his place permanently to Diego Lopez in early 2013.
The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as coach the following summer looked set to see Iker return to past glories, but Lopez was again preferred in La Liga. Iker may have had the last laugh by winning the two competitions in which he started, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, but question marks still remained after his blunder in the final against Atletico Madrid so nearly cost Madrid La Decima in Lisbon.
Two terrible displays for Spain at the World Cup contributed to damaging defeats against Netherlands and Chile in Brazil, but still Casillas vowed to carry as other key men such as Xavi and Xabi Alonso retired from international duty. At Madrid, meanwhile, he has regained his starting spot in the first XI after Diego Lopez was sold to AC Milan in the summer, although a high-profile error against Atletico and several versus Schalke recently have seen his position placed under severe srutiny once again.
So can Casillas get back to his best and rescue his career at Real Madrid?
The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as coach the following summer looked set to see Iker return to past glories, but Lopez was again preferred in La Liga. Iker may have had the last laugh by winning the two competitions in which he started, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, but question marks still remained after his blunder in the final against Atletico Madrid so nearly cost Madrid La Decima in Lisbon.
Two terrible displays for Spain at the World Cup contributed to damaging defeats against Netherlands and Chile in Brazil, but still Casillas vowed to carry as other key men such as Xavi and Xabi Alonso retired from international duty. At Madrid, meanwhile, he has regained his starting spot in the first XI after Diego Lopez was sold to AC Milan in the summer, although a high-profile error against Atletico and several versus Schalke recently have seen his position placed under severe srutiny once again.
So can Casillas get back to his best and rescue his career at Real Madrid?
There may be a reason for his slump and it may just be temporary, according to one man who has been through similar troubles.
"Iker’s son is around a year old now and maybe the focus is different at the moment," former Madrid team-mate Jerzy Dudek told Goal in an exclusive interview.
"Iker’s son is around a year old now and maybe the focus is different at the moment," former Madrid team-mate Jerzy Dudek told Goal in an exclusive interview.
"Iker has played so many years at the top. Everyone talks about your mistakes after just one bad game, especially at a club like Madrid."
When Dudek deputised for Casillas at the Bernabeu between 2007 and 2011, Iker was widely considered to be the world's finest goalkeeper and led Spain to success at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with some stunning saves at key moments in both competitions.
However, a significant dip in form over the last two years has seen others overtake the 33-year-old shot-stopper and now nobody speaks of Casillas as the world's best.
However, a significant dip in form over the last two years has seen others overtake the 33-year-old shot-stopper and now nobody speaks of Casillas as the world's best.
"Right now I think Manuel Neuer from Bayern Munich is the most complete goalkeeper in the world," Dudek added.
"He’s very strong in every part of his game. I also like David De Gea of Manchester United while Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea is very good and is still young. But Neuer is the number one for now."
And he added: "The position is special, it needs experience. That’s why you don’t see so many young players in goal for top teams, who don’t want to take a risk on younger ones."
"He’s very strong in every part of his game. I also like David De Gea of Manchester United while Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea is very good and is still young. But Neuer is the number one for now."
And he added: "The position is special, it needs experience. That’s why you don’t see so many young players in goal for top teams, who don’t want to take a risk on younger ones."
So should Madrid keep faith in their chastised captain and does he have a future at the Spanish side?
"I hope he will be back on form soon because Madrid need him," the retired Real, Liverpool and Poland goalkeeper said. "All the best trophies Madrid won in the last 15 years, La Liga, the Champions League, they came thanks to Casillas. And with Spain too in the European Championship and World Cup.
"I hope he will be back soon because Madrid is now in a very important period and they really need him."
They certainly do, starting on Sunday against Barcelona in La Liga at Camp Nou - just the kind of game in which Casillas once thrived. A mistake in that one could cost Madrid the chance of winning the Primera Division altogether and also threaten Iker's long-term future at the club where he has spent his entire career.
For the 33-year-old keeper, it is time to restore that saintly status. "San Iker" has been badly missed.
For the 33-year-old keeper, it is time to restore that saintly status. "San Iker" has been badly missed.
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