3 legendary goalkeepers who are still playing
With Petr Cech announcing his retirement at the end of this season, the footballing world will miss seeing another great keeper. On most occasions, goalkeepers are out of the limelight and the strikers get the majority of the media attention.
The best thing about goalkeepers is they enjoy a pretty long career span. While most players start retiring when they hit 30 years old, keepers can play till they are around 38 or older.
The world has seen its fair share of excellent goalkeepers from around the world such as Peter Schmeichel, David Seaman, and Oliver Kahn. Many of them have retired, but a select few remain in action.
Keepers are very important to any team. If a team keeps conceding, there is no way the team would be able to lift a trophy. Here are three legends who are still active.
#3 Iker Casillas (Porto FC)
The Porto goalkeeper remains in action for his club, as he remains the first choice keeper for the team. This season, the Spaniard has played all matches for his club in the UEFA Champions League and Primera Liga. It looks like the 37-year-old still does not have plans to retire from both club and international football.
Casillas was the second-choice goalkeeper behind David de Gea at Euro 2016, and for last year's World Cup, he was left out of Julen Lopetegui's final 23-men squad. Although the last time he made an appearance for the national team was in 2016, the 37-year-old has not announced his international retirement, as compared to other players such as Andrés Iniesta.
The keeper will be fondly remembered by fans for his contribution towards Spain's 2010 World Cup victory, and the multiple titles he won during his time at Real Madrid. Casillas is known for his reflex saves, and is extremely good at saving long-range shots.
In his latter years at Real Madrid, the Spaniard lost his place in the starting eleven, as his relationship with Jose Mourinho soured. Eventually, he decided to leave for Porto in 2015. Now, he has had 100 Champions League victories, a feat accomplished only by Cristiano Ronaldo previously.
All stats via transfermarkt