Kiko Casilla

Kiko Casilla

Casilla in action for Espanyol in 2013
Personal information
Full nameFrancisco Casilla Cortés
Date of birth2 October 1986
Place of birthAlcover, Spain
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Espanyol
Number13
Youth career
Gimnàstic
Real Madrid
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2005Real Madrid C
2005–2007Real Madrid B5(0)
2007–2008Espanyol B25(0)
2008–Espanyol107(0)
2008–2010→ Cádiz (loan)68(0)
2010–2011→ Cartagena (loan)35(0)
National team‡
2005Spain U193(0)
2008Spain U211(0)
2014–Spain1(0)
2010–Catalonia5(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 December 2014
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Casilla and the second or maternal family name is Cortés.

Francisco "Kiko" Casilla Cortés (born 2 October 1986) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Alcover, Tarragona, Catalonia, Casilla didn't enjoy much playing time in his two-year stint with Real Madrid reserve side, Real Madrid Castilla. In the 2005–06 season he played in the second division after having graduated from the C-team, being only third-choice after Jordi Codina and David Cobeño.

After only four appearances, Casilla was expected receive more opportunities after the departure of first-choice Cobeño. However, Codina became the starter and Antonio Adán, a fellow youth graduate, the backup, and Casilla ended up playing only in the last game of the campaign, with an eventual relegation befalling.

Espanyol

In August 2007, Casilla was acquired by RCD Espanyol on a free transfer. On 20 January 2008 he made his debut in La Liga in a 1–2 away loss against Real Valladolid, coming on as a substitute for injured Iñaki Lafuente two minutes after half-time as first-choice Carlos Kameni was away on international duty;[1] that month, news surfaced that Arsenal were interested in acquiring the young Spaniard's services.[2]

Barred by Kameni and new signing Cristian Álvarez, Casilla joined third level side Cádiz CF on loan for 2008–09.[3] The move was extended for the entirety of the following campaign after the Andalusians returned to division two, and he again started most of the season, but the team was immediately relegated back.

Casilla still sat on the bench for Espanyol's first game in the 2010–11 campaign but, on 31 August 2010, moved again on loan, to second division's FC Cartagena.[4] Subsequently returned to the Pericos, he constantly battled for first-choice status with Álvarez.[5]

After the Argentine left, Casilla became the undisputed starter. On 1 February 2015, he was sent off against Sevilla FC for handling Iago Aspas' shot outside of the penalty area, and his replacement Pau López could not prevent an eventual 2–3 defeat.[6]

International career

On 29 August 2014, Casilla was called up to Spanish manager Vicente del Bosque's 23-man squad for matches against France and Macedonia in September, as third-choice behind Iker Casillas and David de Gea.[7] He only made his debut, however, on 18 November, replacing the former for the last 14 minutes of a friendly with Germany in Vigo and being beaten by Toni Kroos for the game's only goal.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Llorente tumba al Espanyol (Llorente downs Espanyol); Marca, 20 January 2008 (Spanish)
  2. ↑ Arsenal interested in youngster; Tribal Football, 2 January 2008
  3. ↑ Kiko Casilla, al Cádiz; Fredson, al Goias (Casilla, to Cádiz; Fredson, to Goiás); El Mundo Deportivo, 26 July 2008 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ Casilla jugará en el Cartagena una temporada (Casilla will play with Cartagena one season); Marca, 1 September 2010 (Spanish)
  5. ↑ Casilla: "La competencia con Cristian Álvarez es bonita" (Casilla: "The competition with Cristian Álvarez is a beautiful thing"); Marca, 24 July 2012 (Spanish)
  6. ↑ "Iago Aspas' late winner gives Sevilla vengeful win against Espanyol". Fox Sports. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "These are the players called up for the matches against France and Macedonia". Sefutbol. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Experimento pasado por agua" [Soggy experiment] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.

External links

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