IKER CASILLAS AND XAVI HERNÁNDEZ

2012 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports

IKER CASILLAS ANDXAVI HERNÁNDEZ

Who have achieved the most important titles with their clubs and the Spanish Football Squad, are an example of fair play that is admired by all. They have jointly shown a conciliatory attitude that has smoothed out traditional differences between players and supporters.

IKER CASILLASBiography

Is the goalkeeper and captain of Real Madrid and the Spanish football squad.

Forged in the Madrid club's youth teams from the under-10s onward, he joined the first team in the 1999-2000 season.

IKER CASILLASOTHER MERITS

Considered the best goalkeeper in the world, he has won:

  • Under-16s European Cup (1997)
  • Under-20s World Cup (1999)
  • Five league titles with his club (2001, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2012)
  • One Spanish King's Cup (2011)
  • Three Spanish Super Cups (2001, 2003 and 2008)
  • One European Super Cup (2002)
  • Two Intercontinental Cups (1998 and 2002)
  • Two UEFA Champions Leagues (2000 and 2002)
  • Two time European Champion (2008 and 2012)
  • World Champion (2010) with the Spanish team

IKER CASILLASAWARDS

  • He has likewise received the trophy for world's best goalkeeper from the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011)
  • The Golden Glove for world's best goalkeeper (2010)
  • Included in FIFA's Ideal Team in 2010
  • The Gold Medal for Sporting Merit (2010).
  • Prince of Asturias Award for Sports (2012)

Committed to helping the needy, he has created the Iker Casillas Foundation to promote and develop activities that contribute to improving the health and quality of life of children and to promoting gender equality.

He is Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and collaborates in solidarity campaigns of other organisations such as Plan International.

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XAVI HERNÁNDEZBiography

Is midfielder for FC Barcelona and the Spanish football squad.

He played in Barça's first team in 1998, having come up through the youth teams.

XAVI HERNÁNDEZOTHER MERITS

Considered the brain and playmaker of the team, he has won:

  • Under-20s World Cup (1999)
  • Bronze medal in the Under-21s European Cup (2000)
  • Six Spanish league titles (1999, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011)
  • Two Spanish King's Cups (2009 and 2012)
  • Five Spanish Super Cups (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012)
  • Two European Super Cups (2010 and 2012)
  • Three UEFA Champions League titles (2006, 2009 and 2011)
  • Mundials clubs (2010 and 2012).
  • Silver medal at the Sydney Olympics
  • Two European Cups (2008 and 2012)
  • World Cup (2010) with the Spanish team

XAVI HERNÁNDEZAWARDS

  • Best Game Builder by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics on three occasions (2008, 2009 and 2010)
  • Best midfielder by the international players' union (FIFPro)
  • Included in the UEFA and FIFA Ideal Teams in 2008
  • Gold Medal for Sporting Merit (2010)
  • Medal of Honour of Terrassa (2010)
  • Prince Felipe Award at the Spanish National Sports Awards (2010)
  • Prince of Asturias Award for Sports (2012)

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Minutes of the jury

At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2012 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports, made up of Mr José María Abad Casamayor, Mr José Antonio Abellán Hernández, Mr Óscar Campillo Madrigal, Mr Miguel Carballeda Piñeiro, Ms Marisol Casado Estupiñán, Mr Josep María Casanovas i Punti, Mr Enrique Castro "Quini", Mr Ignacio Gómez-Acebo del Solar, Mr Juan Carlos González "Xuancar", Ms María del Carmen Izquierdo Vergara, Ms Laura Martínez Martin, Mr Javier Muñoz Gallego, Mr Santiago Nolla Zayas, Mr Ángel Rodríguez Berriguete, Ms María Rodríguez Escario, Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, Mr Josep Lluis Vilaseca i Guasch, chaired by Ms Arancha Sánchez-Vicario Santacana and with Mr Ignacio Martínez García acting as secretary, has decided by majority vote to confer the 2012 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports on the soccer players Iker Casillas y Xavi Hernández.

The Jury considers that these players of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona symbolize the values of friendship and companionship that go beyond the all-out rivalry of their respective teams. Their sportsmanship is a model for young people.

Both players, who have achieved the most important titles with their clubs and the Spanish Football Squad, are an example of fair play that is admired by all. They have jointly shown a conciliatory attitude that has smoothed out traditional differences between players and supporters.

Iker and Xavi have kept up a close friendship since 1999, when they won the Under-20s World Cup in Nigeria with the Spanish team, and this relationship has been strengthened over time above and beyond clashes and passions.

Oviedo, 5th September 2012

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