Eight saves that turned Casillas into 'Saint Iker'

Iker Casillas has announced his retirement from football.

His glistening 21-year career saw him win 25 titles, and many of those trophies came directly as a result of his superb interventions.

Out of the thousands of saves Casillas made in that time, we remember eight stops that will live long in the memory.

1. Champions League final 2002: Real Madrid 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen

His saves were decisive in securing a ninth European Cup for Real Madrid at just 20 years of age.

When the ball fell to Dimitar Berbatov at the far post, the Bulgarian was expecting to see the net bulge when he connected on the stretch but Casillas spread himself to make a crucial stop.

2. Spanish Super Cup 2003: Real Madrid 3-0 Mallorca

The Galacticos of Real Madrid welcomed David Beckham to Spain and the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was packed to see his debut as the team looked to come back from 2-1 down in the first leg.

Casillas' finger-tip save from Arnold Bruggink's 30-yard freekick was a key moment in the tie to avoid the game going to extra-time.

3. Copa del Rey last 16 2004: Eibar 1-1 Real Madrid

Casillas put together a whole collection of saves up against then Segunda Division side Eibar.

With Gaizka Saizar's header seeming unstoppable, Casillas reached for the ball before the player had even made contact with the ball to stop a certain goal.

4. Champions League group stage 2007/08: Real Madrid 4-1 Olympiacos

Luciano Galletti's move down the right flank set up Darko Kovacevic who couldn't find a way past the omnipresent Casillas.

Even with Sergio Ramos seemingly obstructing his vision, the Spaniard was still able to make an incredible stop from a little over six yards out

5. LaLiga 2007/08: Real Madrid 3-0 Athletic Club

Casillas remembers this game as one of the best of his career, with the highlight being a save to deny Francisco Yeste's header, leaving the league title decided with four games left to play.

6. LaLiga 2009/10: Sevilla 2-1 Real Madrid

"A bit of merit I must have had," Casillas remembers of his historic save from Manu del Morali, even though the game ended in defeat.

The winger's eyes lit up when the ball fell to him unmarked in the area and with the goal gaping, yet Casillas somehow managed to tip the ball onto the post.

7. Copa del Rey final 2011: Barcelona 0-1 Real Madrid

Andres Iniesta appeared in the box looking to score a winner, but Casillas' fingertips denied him the crucial goal that the Catalans needed.

8. Champions League last 16 2013/14: Schalke 1-6 Real Madrid

Casillas prevented Julian Draxler from scoring from inside the six-yard box, even after errors from Pepe and Sergio Ramos, when it would have levelled the tie at 1-1.

The German attacking midfielder could not believe what he had witnessed.