Iker Casillas (left), Saeed Hareb and Michel Salgado (right) pose for photograph.

Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

Real Madrid and Spain legend Iker Casillas is all set to take a fresh guard on a new turf with his maiden foray into the Middle East’s football academies market.

The iconic goalkeeper will launch his academy named as Iker Casillas Goalkeeper Training Centre’ in a joint venture with Fursan Hispania and Dubai Sport Council (DSC), it was announced amid fanfare in press conference on Wednesday.

The press conference was attended by Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of DSC; Iker Casillas, Michel Salgado and Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Council.

This will be his first training centre for goalkeepers outside Spain.

The academy will be fully dedicated to nurturing the talent of the aspiring goalkeepers as well as established club and country professionals and goalkeeping coaches.

Casillas is seeking a new lease of life with the launch of his dream project after a fatal heart-attack, which forced him to quit the game prematurely.

“As you guys know, my football career was brought to an early and premature end due to health reasons. This training centre is like starting a new second life for me,” said Casillas.

The former Real Madrid goalkeeper had suffered a cardiac arrest in 2019 and after recovering from the fatal disease, he announced his retirement from football.

“I have always harboured a dream of giving back to the sport which has given me everything, and I have always wanted to open a training centre dedicated to honing the skills of goalkeeping,” he added.

“There are very few such training centres, which are totally dedicated to the goalkeepers across the globe. I am really delighted to launch this dream project in Dubai, a city where I have always received a warm welcome.”

“I would like to express my gratitude to Dubai, first and foremost, and then my friend Michel Salgado and DSC for making my long-held dream come true,” he concluded.

The academy will offer three customized products, – Weekly Programme, Programme for Goalkeeping Coaches and Comprehensive Fursan Goalkeeping Implant Programme --which are tailored to suit needs of different people.

These programmes have been designed by the best people in the industry, including Casillas himself. The former Real Madrid star is considered as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time for his keeping acumens and impeccable record both with the national team and the club.

Casillas has won almost everything there is to win in football, which includes five La Liga titles, two Champions League crown along with many accolades and laurels both at the club and international level.

He also steered Spain to the World Cup glory in South Africa in 2010.

“The launch of the ‘Iker Casillas Goalkeeper Training Centre’ in Dubai is great news for young goalkeeping talents and coaches from not just the UAE but around the region,” said Hareb.

“The programme has been developed by one of the finest goalkeepers in football history. He has a few equals in football history.

“He chose Dubai to launch this academy reaffirms the city’s position as one of the world’s leading centres for the development of sports talent and the preferred destination for investment in the sports sector,” apprised Hareb.

“Both Casillas and Salgado will bring a wealth of experience and to the centre, wherein the aspiring and professional goalkeepers and goalkeeping coaches will get a chance to refine their skills,” concluded Hareb.