Iker Casillas: A Decade In Red

Göteborg, July 3rd, 2000: Camacho gave a boy, who just two weeks earlier had turned 19, a chance to be the Spanish national team goalkeeper.

Fast forward 10 years, that same guy is now captain of the Spanish national team, European champion, is the second guy with most appearances with the team (102), and holds the record for most games with a shutout and longest winning streak in team history.

His name: Iker Casillas.

Ten years ago, after playing for the youth categories, he made his debut with the national team against Sweden in a friendly match, which ended in a one goal tie.

Later that same year he would play his first official game; on September 2nd against Bosnia, this time Spain won 1-2. For the next two years he was the backup to then first choice goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares.

His great opportunity came in 2002, when Cañizares suffered a strange, self caused injury, and handed him the goalkeeper job for the World Cup.

He was one of the keys for Spain in the tournament, especially against Ireland, when he stopped three penalty kicks, two of them in the penalty shootout that would mean Spain advancing to the next round, where they ended up losing to South Korea in another penalty shootout.

Since then, he has been the unquestionable selection as goalkeeper for the Spanish national team.

In his 80th match with the team, he proved to be fundamental, as he was named player of the game after once again stopping two penalties in a penalty shootout, this time against Italy, en route to the Euro Cup.

Casillas, as captain of the team, would be the one who first held the Cup high above his head.

Last year he would gain a new accomplishment, after not allowing a goal for 707 playing minutes.

This year could be special for him, since today marks a decade since he first wore Spain's jersey, and he may hold another Cup high above his head once again, but this time being the best in the world.