Through, thankfully, what he describes as the “hard episode” that forced the end of a truly glittering playing career, Iker Casillas is looking forward.
One of the most decorated goalkeepers in history, for some time recognised as the best, the former Real Madrid man is happy and healthy, his recent ordeal seemingly confined to the past.
In April last year, while representing Porto, Casillas suffered a heart attack during training and spent five days in hospital. A professional athlete for more than two decades, he was only 37.
Fortunately, 20 months on, he both looks and sounds good.
"I'm feeling great, very well" Casillas smiles, speaking to The National from his base in Madrid. "The first couple of months it was a bit difficult; I was a bit scared. But after three or four months of seeing that I was fine, that I was getting better and I was able to start doing some exercise again, I feel OK with it.
“I think having played sports at such a high level professionally for such a long time also helped me recover quicker.”
The rehabilitation included a remarkably swift return to Porto, when a couple of months later Casillas joined the coaching staff. He eventually announced his retirement this August, closing a career that spanned 725 appearances for Madrid, 156 for Porto and 167 for Spain – the latter second only to Sergio Ramos. He is a World Cup winner and twice lifted the European Championships trophy, all as captain.
Understandably, though, the decision to retire - taken out of his hands - was initially tough to take.
“At first I was a bit sad because obviously stopping playing football at the time was very hard,” Casillas says. “So it takes a bit of adaptation trying to redefine where to find yourself in life and what to do next.
“But what we need to keep in mind is that the most important thing is to look after our health. I had the misfortune of going through a hard episode with my health, but eventually thankfully everything went well.
"So right now I’m just trying to enjoy what I’m doing and enjoy life, living accordingly of course and trying to keep my health at its optimum. It’s true that I was in a way forced to retire at a young age, 38 or 39 years old. And the truth is that I enjoyed football for a long time and obviously it is hard to finish your career, particularly when you’re not the one deciding the terms it's going to end in.
“But over the last few years when I was playing I was thinking what I could do next and what to do when my footballing career finished. So in a way I don’t think it was as bad as perhaps I thought it could’ve been.”
I had the misfortune of going through a hard episode with my health, but eventually thankfully everything went well
What comes next includes work with his foundation and “another project I have in my head”. Also, Casillas had intended to run for presidency of the Spanish Football Federation earlier this year, but withdrew once his country became gripped by the pandemic.
As to what could be ahead, a return to Madrid in a non-playing capacity has obvious potential. Casillas grew up there, at the club during his formative years before his first-team debut, aged 18, through the “Galacticos” era and trophy-laden years.
By the time he left, in 2015, he had won three Uefa Champions League titles - the Spaniard remains the youngest goalkeeper to contest the final, the 1999/2000 showpiece arriving four days after his 19th birthday - five La Liga crowns and the Copa Del Rey twice.
There was numerous other silverware; records, too. Still, Casillas possesses the most appearances in the Champions League, at 177.
It’s no surprise, then, that an advisory position at Madrid to Florentino Perez, the club president, has been mooted. Irrespective of the role, patently Casillas would bring with him a wealth of experience.
“Obviously this is something that would be really good,” he says about the possibility of working once more at Madrid, in any capacity. “I have a very long history with Real Madrid, about 25 years, when I started as a very young child only nine years old and up until I was 34. So clearly I have great feelings towards the club.
"Of course, I wouldn’t rule out this possibility, particularly being from Madrid and living here. That’s something that I would particularly enjoy in time.
“I think that in the short-term, sooner rather than later, I will again be working in something related to football. I’m still not sure exactly on what or when, but that is what’s in the future.”
Even without Casillas involved, Madrid’s immediate future has begun to look bright after a difficult start to the season. Impressive victories have been secured against Sevilla, Borussia Monchengladbach, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, breathing life back into the La Liga title race and rescuing progression to the Champions League knockouts.
Sunday's 2-0 victory against Atletico - their first defeat in 26 matches and inflicted by their cross-city rivals - brought Madrid to within three points of the summit. Wednesday's 3-1 win against Athletic keeps them third, but now level on points with Atletico and Real Sociedad at the top.
“They had some very positive results over the past few weeks, both in Champions League and in La Liga, which I think gives a very good stability,” says Casillas, who describes Madrid's next opponents in the Europe, Atalanta, as "dangerous".
The criticism Zidane has been receiving has been unfair because he's been a very good coach and he's earned his right to lose
“In fairness, stability is a constant for Real Madrid. They’re doing well and it’s good for the competitiveness of the season. They should keep at this level until March, which is really when everything starts to get decided. They are where they need to be.”
For Casillas, Zinedine Zidane is where Madrid need him to be, also. The Frenchman’s second stint as manager was said to be under threat not long ago, after losses to Cadiz, Alaves, Valencia and Shakhtar Donetsk (twice). Zidane, though, did simply what he always seems to do: maintained his cool and carried on. After all, it’s an approach that makes him, even at 48, the most successful manager in European Cup history.
Asked if the recent criticism of his old colleague and his team has been fair, Casillas says: “Let’s start from the point that Real Madrid is always a target for criticism. Right now, this is a bit out of place because it’s not a catastrophe; it’s not until May that competitions are decided.
“The criticism Zidane has been receiving has also been unfair because he’s been a very good coach and he’s earned his right to lose. He’s won three Champions Leagues, two leagues in Spain and he’s doing a great job. So I don’t think we can demand a lot more from him.
“He’s giving that continuity that's really important for the team. And we cannot forget that, while Real Madrid is a club that has many big names - Ramos, [Luka] Modric, [Toni] Kroos, [Karim] Benzema - it has a very young pool of players that also need to find their place and come through.”
Knowing Zidane - they shared the Bernabeu dressing room from 2001-2006 - Casillas is in little doubt his fellow World Cup winner can maintain success at Madrid. He always thought Zidane would thrive.
“The reason is his style is very suited to the intensity of the situation,” Casillas says. “Also, he is able to surround himself with the right staff. And besides that, given his career as a football player himself, he can read and understand the life of the players, and realises the mentality that going from competition and from game-to-game requires.
“He has won many titles; he has lived through it all, both personally as a player and as part of a team. He’s been able to take this experience onto the pitch as a coach as well.
“Other than that, besides a coach, he’s also a great manager, because it’s a very difficult skill to be able to manage a club and a team.”
A genuine Madrid great, Casillas understands the pressure and the politics, the need to perform as football's lead club. He has competed alongside some of the finest players in history, Zidane included. Both Ronaldos, as well.
Casillas marvels at Cristiano Ronaldo's longevity, the Portuguese departing Madrid with more goals there than anyone ever had and then transitioning seamlessly to Juventus. When earlier this month Ronaldo reached 750 career goals, Casillas joked on the forward's Instagram, "Only 750? I'm sure you can do better".
It's basically down to his professionalism and ambition; that has taken him to the top of the footballing world
Having witnessed Ronaldo’s work ethic close hand – “after every game for two or three hours he would stay behind with the physiotherapist” – he isn't surprised that he's sustained at the summit.
“I could have easily imagined that,” Casillas says. “Obviously he’s a good professional, he looks after himself, eats well, gives the necessary importance to rest also. So this is just a result of being what a footballer is. Other than that, he’s also a great athlete.
“The reason is he’s always hungry and always wanting to improve and better himself. Perhaps also his small rivalry with [Lionel] Messi has helped him better himself. But it’s basically down to his professionalism and ambition; that has taken him to the top of the footballing world.”
As for how much longer Ronaldo can keep going at the apex, Casillas says: “I hope he can continue to play for a very long time. But, of course, football and its nature is what it is. We all know that everything must come to an end and time does go by for everyone. Hopefully we will be able to still enjoy his football for a long time, but it’s difficult to say.”
Casillas is acutely aware of how quickly it can come and go. After a taxing 2019 personally, and the testing 2020 globally, he looks to next year with optimism.
“I think what’s coming in 2021 is that hopefully they will be able to find a vaccine for this situation and we’ll all be able to go back to normal and how things were before,” he says.
“If we can take anything out of this year and the whole situation, it's a lesson for all of us to improve ourselves mentally. And hopefully it would have made us more aware of the fact that we can all help people. That is something that is always needed.”
Iker Casillas was nominated for Player of the Century at the upcoming Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, which take place in conjunction with the Dubai International Sports Conference at Armani Hotel on December 27. The awards are held in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council.
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88
Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883
The five pillars of Islam
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
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Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT
2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals
2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals
2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
How to invest in gold
Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.
A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.
Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”
Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”
Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”
By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.
You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.
You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
RACE CARD
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
