'I have been very lucky': Iker Casillas released from hospital after training ground heart attack

Spanish goalkeeping legend Iker Casillas has been discharged from hospital five days after suffering a heart attack while training with Porto, with club chiefs admitting his professional career may have come to an end.

Former Real Madrid man Casillas was rushed to hospital after suffering a medical emergency last Wednesday morning at the club's training facility, CTFD PortoGaia. Soon after, medical personnel at the Hospital CUF Porto announced that his condition had become stable and after a battery of tests and analysis, Casillas was considered well enough to return home.

The 2010 World Cup winner and Spain's most capped player in history, addressed media outside the hospital where he thanked well-wishers and gave an update on the schedule for his full recovery.

"It's something that could happen in life at any point to any person and it happened to me and here we are," Casillas said. "It's difficult to talk right how but I'm very grateful because I have been very lucky.

"The support I've had in these last few days has made me feel really loved and you have to find a smile at these moments in time. I think I'm going to find it because seeing so many people here today makes me feel very emotional.

"I would also like to thank the thousands of people who showed their support on social media through videos and messages and in different spheres of football."

Casillas, who has played first team professional football since 1999, has one year remaining on his contract in Portugal though the recent health concerns have led to questions as to whether or not he will opt to step away from the game. 

For now, rest is top of the Spaniard's agenda. 

"I feel a lot better now," he said. "I'll be resting for a couple of weeks or even a couple of months. The truth is I don't know how long it will be and I don't care. The most important thing is being here today.

"It's been a few days but we had to wait till my heart settled down and my body and head settled down. I'm feeling emotional but I'm feeling good. I can talk about it as you can see. Many thanks once again for everything."

Casillas' agent, Carlos Cutropia, has refused to get drawn into speculation as to the player's future but Spanish publication Marca reports that Porto bosses are considering persuading Casillas to expedite his retirement in a move which would bring a sadly premature end to one of the most successful goalkeeping careers in history.