Football
ESPN staff 8y

Spain's Iker Casillas hints at retirement after equalling caps record

Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas says the day he plans to retire from football is "getting closer and closer" after equalling the European record for international appearances.

Casillas, 34, kept a clean sheet in the 0-0 friendly draw against Romania on Sunday as he won his 166th cap for La Roja.

In doing so, the Porto keeper matched retired Latvia midfielder Vitalijs Astafjevs' haul -- a landmark he said afterwards that he is thrilled to reach.

"I am happy to reach 166 games and be the player with the most games for the national team," he is quoted by Marca as saying via Periscope. "In these years I have lived good times and bad times, but I will stick with the good ones."

However, Casillas, who will turn 35 in May and is competing for Spain goalkeeping duties with David De Gea, acknowledged the time to hang up his boots is not too far off.

"The time of my retirement is getting closer and closer," he said. "It's clear that time passes everyone and I am no exception of that. But I have hope and I would like to be with this team full of youngsters. I don't know if it's my last year with Spain, I only think about enjoying each day."

Former Spain goalkeeper Santiago Canizares on Monday said he felt De Gea should start at goalkeeper over Casillas for Euro 2016.

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