PLANET EARTH - Iker: We interview the most human player of the Milky Way
This is my very subjective, not proof-read, translation from Spanish to English of one of the two articles in December's issue of Men's Health. The other article is shorter and pretty much just about his fitness level/regimen. I might translate that one at a later date. Enjoy! (This is for you Michelle :))
PLANET EARTH
Iker
We interview the most human player of the Milky Way - by Alberto Saborido
Blurb 1:
They say that no man is a prophet in his own land, but the most difficult thing is being one in all lands at the same time. They adore Iker Casillas like a saint at the Bernabéu, but it’s also true that many people (including Barça fans) would not mind making him a place at their altars (or at least in their team of 11). Whether it’s because of his ability on the field or his affable character, sincere and 100% down to earth, Casillas has been showered, now more than ever, with praises and recognition: Best Keeper in the World 2009, Best Keeper in La Liga 2008/2009 and candidate for the Balón de Oro 2009. Men’s Health has wanted to discover what it is that converts a superstar into a man of flesh and bone.
Blurb 2:
Let’s say that we’re not meeting under the best circumstances. Yesterday, Real Madrid went up against AC Milan in the Champions League, and left with a 2-3 loss in the Bernabéu. We’re at the beginning of the season, and because of that, it’s still too early to get bitter because of a defeat, although it’s equally true that the messy defeats of last season are still being felt as something relatively recent. Especially now that, with the resurrection of Florentino’s project, the expectations - and the salaries - are higher than ever. Personally, I’m scared of finding myself with a demotivated, perhaps sad, or even worse, angry, Iker. Those who have seen him a little while ago assure me that this is not one of his best days, which means, he could find himself in all three states at the same time. I pluck up my courage and shake his hand.
Q: How do you see this year? You’re a candidate for the Balón de Oro, Best Keeper in the World…
A: Personally great, because when things in your life go well it’s often reflected in your professional life. Right now I feel content: it’s not easy to be nominated for the Balón de Oro - and I’ve already been nominated 5 or 6 times - and, additionally, I’m content because this year we have a team [Real Madrid] that can do great things.
Q: To stand out as a keeper is worth twice as much, in a world where forwards/strikers seem to receive all the glory…
A: They’re always going to reward the labors of the other players more than that of the keeper, especially when in the same year there have been players that have had a magnificent season. But it’s worth it that I and my other fellow keepers continue fighting, in order that one day we will receive the recognition that we deserve.
Q: A prediction for who will win the Balón de Oro?
A: Messi, without a doubt.
Q: And the World Cup?
A: I think we made a mistake winning the Euro Cup! Now they’re asking much more of us, but it’s not going to be easy: the World Cup doesn’t allow for errors. Just as we saw in the Confederations Cup, when a rival that in years past was inferior to us, in this case the US, ended up sending us home.
In any case, we have all the ingredients to make a good salad, we’re just missing the salt, the olive oil and the vinegar. We’ve had a great group since 2006 and a good atmosphere reigns in the Selección.
Q: What more can you strive for after so many successes? What do you feel you lack?
A: Growing is something that is always a bit painful, because it means that you’re coming closer to the end, but what’s certain is that I don’t focus on that. The most important thing is to always want more.
My dream was to win something with the Selección before I retired. After winning the Euro Cup, my body and my mind ask for more, they ask for a World Cup title. That’s great, since the day that I become complacent with what I have will surely be the day that I am no longer worthy of this profession.
Q: And what about the far future?
A: I would love to continue with Madrid, although in order to do that I need to have the adequate education. The world that I have known through football has given me a lot, and I would like to be able to continue helping my team. I’ve been with Real Madrid since I was 9 years old - I’m now 28 - I know what it means to wear this jersey and what it is to sweat for it, and that experience may be able to help me further down the line.
I need to take courses on sports directing, becoming a trainer, and about the things that are further than the sport itself, to know everything that moves around it: journalism…you have to know a great deal in order to have a good base for that job.
Q: How does a Real Madrid player gain admirers among all the different fan bases?
A: It hasn’t only happened to me with Barça, but also with Atlético de Madrid. The key is to show yourself exactly as you are without hiding anything. It must work, because the truth is that I feel that in general people are very well behaved and respectful with me.
Q: How does one with your humility learn to live within an environment often too focused on superstars?
A: I have the luck of being born and bred in Madrid. I have the same friends as always. I leave training and I receive a thousand messages from my colleagues of all my life, and all of this makes everything easier for me…I understand that for someone coming from somewhere else it’s usually a bit more complicated, but, even so, with the other teammates we get together sometimes to have lunch or dinner, to get a drink…because we also spend a lot of time together with flights, matches, and you develop good relationships with everyone.
Q: Is it harder now for you to do the things you used to do before?
A: Not at all. I continue going to the same bars as always, and if someone tries to bother me, one of my friends will say something to them. I try to always be well behaved with people, and I hope that they will be so with me. If I didn’t, I’d break the chain of respect.
Q: How do you manage your private life?
A: You manage to have a private life if you want to have a private life. I understand that a lot of people enjoy the fascination of knowing what public figures like myself do, but they must understand that I dedicate myself to seeing if I can stop a ball or not. Whoever wants to can sell their life to the highest bidder, but I won’t. And that deserves some amount of respect; although the truth is that in this country that doesn’t matter much.
I’m sure that the day they annoy a judge, they’ll pass a law against the harassment of celebrities, or better said, of known figures, since I don’t consider myself a celebrity, but rather a sportsman. There are a lot of third-rate celebrities that don’t count for anything and dedicate themselves to living off of the masses. That’s what I don’t like.
Q: Ok, but it seems as though they respect you reasonably, isn’t that so?
A: No, not at all, sure they harass me. What happens is that it gets to a point where you can’t confront every person that wants to take a picture of you in a pubic place. Even more, 50 meters further, it’s certain that there’s someone else with the same intentions.
Look, you have to be natural. I believe that a large part of success stems from simplicity; from being normal. I don’t need to sell my life to anyone because I consider myself a privileged footballer. Economically, I can’t complain, and I don’t need to earn a living with these things.
Q: We know that you have certain societal worries: you’re the standard bearer for causes that benefit children…Are these initiatives you took yourself or did they contact you?
A: No, the truth is that I wanted to dedicate myself to these causes for a long time, but I wasn’t able to do it before. Now I value much more the things that we have, given that in Spain, in spite of the economic crisis, the unemployment that affects a lot of people, and the corruption that is able to occur in any municipality of this country, the majority of people live very well, and we are not able to complain, something that is not true in other parts of the world.
Q: Do you have any interest in fashion?
A: I’m not a maniac about dressing always in the latest fashion or the latest designs, but I like to dress well, to feel comfortable, to seem…not handsome, but to feel good about myself. I don’t feel good if I’m slovenly.
Q: A favorite garment?
A: It’s always been track suits (sweats - like the team suits). Although, now I also like jeans, and something that is comfortable and allows me to move as I want to, be mobile.
Q: A designer?
A: For being Spanish, Victorio y Lucchino or Amaya Arzuaga, who is a bit daring.
Q: The makeup artist said you have amazing skin, does that mean that you take care of it? That you use products to make it better?
A: No, the most I use is body milk. Brands? Avena, Kinesia.
Q: And what about the beard?
A: Nothing, I let it grow this summer, and my mother told me that it suited me, and…
Q: But you trimmed it down a bit?
A: Yes, I got rid of it the other day (in the game against Sevilla) and we snuffed it. Although, truthfully, yesterday it didn’t help me much to have the beard back again…
Q: A wish for 2010?
A: That all of the good things that have happened to us this year be actually the worst of that which is coming.
PLANET EARTH
Iker
We interview the most human player of the Milky Way - by Alberto Saborido
Blurb 1:
They say that no man is a prophet in his own land, but the most difficult thing is being one in all lands at the same time. They adore Iker Casillas like a saint at the Bernabéu, but it’s also true that many people (including Barça fans) would not mind making him a place at their altars (or at least in their team of 11). Whether it’s because of his ability on the field or his affable character, sincere and 100% down to earth, Casillas has been showered, now more than ever, with praises and recognition: Best Keeper in the World 2009, Best Keeper in La Liga 2008/2009 and candidate for the Balón de Oro 2009. Men’s Health has wanted to discover what it is that converts a superstar into a man of flesh and bone.
Blurb 2:
Let’s say that we’re not meeting under the best circumstances. Yesterday, Real Madrid went up against AC Milan in the Champions League, and left with a 2-3 loss in the Bernabéu. We’re at the beginning of the season, and because of that, it’s still too early to get bitter because of a defeat, although it’s equally true that the messy defeats of last season are still being felt as something relatively recent. Especially now that, with the resurrection of Florentino’s project, the expectations - and the salaries - are higher than ever. Personally, I’m scared of finding myself with a demotivated, perhaps sad, or even worse, angry, Iker. Those who have seen him a little while ago assure me that this is not one of his best days, which means, he could find himself in all three states at the same time. I pluck up my courage and shake his hand.
Q: How do you see this year? You’re a candidate for the Balón de Oro, Best Keeper in the World…
A: Personally great, because when things in your life go well it’s often reflected in your professional life. Right now I feel content: it’s not easy to be nominated for the Balón de Oro - and I’ve already been nominated 5 or 6 times - and, additionally, I’m content because this year we have a team [Real Madrid] that can do great things.
Q: To stand out as a keeper is worth twice as much, in a world where forwards/strikers seem to receive all the glory…
A: They’re always going to reward the labors of the other players more than that of the keeper, especially when in the same year there have been players that have had a magnificent season. But it’s worth it that I and my other fellow keepers continue fighting, in order that one day we will receive the recognition that we deserve.
Q: A prediction for who will win the Balón de Oro?
A: Messi, without a doubt.
Q: And the World Cup?
A: I think we made a mistake winning the Euro Cup! Now they’re asking much more of us, but it’s not going to be easy: the World Cup doesn’t allow for errors. Just as we saw in the Confederations Cup, when a rival that in years past was inferior to us, in this case the US, ended up sending us home.
In any case, we have all the ingredients to make a good salad, we’re just missing the salt, the olive oil and the vinegar. We’ve had a great group since 2006 and a good atmosphere reigns in the Selección.
Q: What more can you strive for after so many successes? What do you feel you lack?
A: Growing is something that is always a bit painful, because it means that you’re coming closer to the end, but what’s certain is that I don’t focus on that. The most important thing is to always want more.
My dream was to win something with the Selección before I retired. After winning the Euro Cup, my body and my mind ask for more, they ask for a World Cup title. That’s great, since the day that I become complacent with what I have will surely be the day that I am no longer worthy of this profession.
Q: And what about the far future?
A: I would love to continue with Madrid, although in order to do that I need to have the adequate education. The world that I have known through football has given me a lot, and I would like to be able to continue helping my team. I’ve been with Real Madrid since I was 9 years old - I’m now 28 - I know what it means to wear this jersey and what it is to sweat for it, and that experience may be able to help me further down the line.
I need to take courses on sports directing, becoming a trainer, and about the things that are further than the sport itself, to know everything that moves around it: journalism…you have to know a great deal in order to have a good base for that job.
Q: How does a Real Madrid player gain admirers among all the different fan bases?
A: It hasn’t only happened to me with Barça, but also with Atlético de Madrid. The key is to show yourself exactly as you are without hiding anything. It must work, because the truth is that I feel that in general people are very well behaved and respectful with me.
Q: How does one with your humility learn to live within an environment often too focused on superstars?
A: I have the luck of being born and bred in Madrid. I have the same friends as always. I leave training and I receive a thousand messages from my colleagues of all my life, and all of this makes everything easier for me…I understand that for someone coming from somewhere else it’s usually a bit more complicated, but, even so, with the other teammates we get together sometimes to have lunch or dinner, to get a drink…because we also spend a lot of time together with flights, matches, and you develop good relationships with everyone.
Q: Is it harder now for you to do the things you used to do before?
A: Not at all. I continue going to the same bars as always, and if someone tries to bother me, one of my friends will say something to them. I try to always be well behaved with people, and I hope that they will be so with me. If I didn’t, I’d break the chain of respect.
Q: How do you manage your private life?
A: You manage to have a private life if you want to have a private life. I understand that a lot of people enjoy the fascination of knowing what public figures like myself do, but they must understand that I dedicate myself to seeing if I can stop a ball or not. Whoever wants to can sell their life to the highest bidder, but I won’t. And that deserves some amount of respect; although the truth is that in this country that doesn’t matter much.
I’m sure that the day they annoy a judge, they’ll pass a law against the harassment of celebrities, or better said, of known figures, since I don’t consider myself a celebrity, but rather a sportsman. There are a lot of third-rate celebrities that don’t count for anything and dedicate themselves to living off of the masses. That’s what I don’t like.
Q: Ok, but it seems as though they respect you reasonably, isn’t that so?
A: No, not at all, sure they harass me. What happens is that it gets to a point where you can’t confront every person that wants to take a picture of you in a pubic place. Even more, 50 meters further, it’s certain that there’s someone else with the same intentions.
Look, you have to be natural. I believe that a large part of success stems from simplicity; from being normal. I don’t need to sell my life to anyone because I consider myself a privileged footballer. Economically, I can’t complain, and I don’t need to earn a living with these things.
Q: We know that you have certain societal worries: you’re the standard bearer for causes that benefit children…Are these initiatives you took yourself or did they contact you?
A: No, the truth is that I wanted to dedicate myself to these causes for a long time, but I wasn’t able to do it before. Now I value much more the things that we have, given that in Spain, in spite of the economic crisis, the unemployment that affects a lot of people, and the corruption that is able to occur in any municipality of this country, the majority of people live very well, and we are not able to complain, something that is not true in other parts of the world.
Q: Do you have any interest in fashion?
A: I’m not a maniac about dressing always in the latest fashion or the latest designs, but I like to dress well, to feel comfortable, to seem…not handsome, but to feel good about myself. I don’t feel good if I’m slovenly.
Q: A favorite garment?
A: It’s always been track suits (sweats - like the team suits). Although, now I also like jeans, and something that is comfortable and allows me to move as I want to, be mobile.
Q: A designer?
A: For being Spanish, Victorio y Lucchino or Amaya Arzuaga, who is a bit daring.
Q: The makeup artist said you have amazing skin, does that mean that you take care of it? That you use products to make it better?
A: No, the most I use is body milk. Brands? Avena, Kinesia.
Q: And what about the beard?
A: Nothing, I let it grow this summer, and my mother told me that it suited me, and…
Q: But you trimmed it down a bit?
A: Yes, I got rid of it the other day (in the game against Sevilla) and we snuffed it. Although, truthfully, yesterday it didn’t help me much to have the beard back again…
Q: A wish for 2010?
A: That all of the good things that have happened to us this year be actually the worst of that which is coming.