It's a small municipality between Toledo and Madrid and an extensive search of famous inhabitants draws a blank despite it being populated since the prehistoric age.
But that is about to change. Illescas will soon be on the map.
And that's thanks to United's imminent signing of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea.
At the age of 20 he is set to become for the first time in centuries a recognised son of Illescas.
Tall, athletic, a £20m fee, a pop star girlfriend, Edurne, and on the payroll of the most famous club in the world.
On the surface De Gea ticks the boxes when it comes to your archetypal modern day footballer.
But it seems that the modest and media-shy Spaniard breaks the mould.
“He's very educated, there are no big scandals surrounding him, is very much a family guy and doesn't go in for the night life. He's a kind of Fernando Torres type.” a source in Spain declared.
It was a potted biog backed up by his former headmaster at the prestigious Castilla School in the area.
“David was a very, very good student,” Jose Luis Garcia told M.E.N. Sport.
“He came from a very good family background and always had a very positive attitude. He was with us from the age of four to 17.
“Academically he was very good, although not so much in English - he wasn't very good at that!
“But, of course, he was brilliant at all sports. He excelled at basketball and football. He had very big hands so it is no surprise to us he's a goalkeeper.
“His father was a goalkeeper as well in the Third Division in Spain so it is in his genes.
“But, for all his success with Atletico Madrid, David hasn't changed a bit. He has always been a modest lad and very down to earth. He is not big headed at all and I don't think anything will change that either. He's just very normal.
“He is often back in school and always wants to see his old teachers. He brings in autographs and pictures and will always spend some time with the children talking to them about doing well in school and their ambitions.
Proud
“He is such an inspiration to our pupils and we're so proud of him.”
But it hasn't always been a smooth ride to super stardom. In fact, only two years ago the future at Atletico looked a bit grim.
Despite helping Spain to the Under-17 European Championships in 2007 and the final of the Under-17 World Cup in Seoul the same year, the club were ready to let him go out on loan to the Second Division. Atletico's first team was a distant and disappearing hope at the time.
But, out of the blue, with first choice Sergio Asenjo away on international duty, he was promoted to the seniors.
His La Liga debut at home to Real Zaragoza was a bitter-sweet affair. After just 19 minutes he gave away a penalty but proceeded to redeem himself by saving the spot kick.
It was onwards and upwards from that point as his form graph rose while that of Asenjo dipped. He was eventually to become the number one choice of manager Quique Sanchez Flores.
And it was his form in the Europa League campaign of 2009-10 that began to alert a wider audience.
De Gea played eight times in the tournament including the final win against Roy Hodgson's Fulham.
The 'keeper was now being talked about as the new Iker Casillas. The Real Madrid goalkeeper became the Bernabeu's number one as a teenager and was the youngest goalkeeper to appear in a Champions League final in 2000 just four days after his 19th birthday.
Casillas himself is backing United's imminent new recruit to take his place as Spain's numero uno.
“He will soon be fighting for my place. He's a great keeper,” said Casillas.
“We have to take care of him because he is the future. He is 20 years old. He will pension us all off.
“I hope he does great things for his club and the Spanish national team. He will learn a lot from the fact he has started so young. I had it as well.
“The people of Atletico Madrid have to be so proud that such a great keeper has come out of their academy. Everyone has seen what he's been doing and praising his performances. Watching him reminds me a lot of when I started 12 years ago.
“He has a long road in front of him and when he least expects it he will get a call-up to the national team.
“I'm not suddenly discovering De Gea now. Everyone has seen what he is capable of doing. He's a good professional and a great person and that for me is very important."
And with the spotlight expected now to intensify on the homely Spaniard and his WAG how does he expect to cope.
“I don't think kit will be a problem. Edurne will keep singing ballads and I will keep stopping balls. Everyone else can say or do what they like,” said David.
Edurne won't be the only one singing if De Gea, nicknamed Van der Gea by some of his colleagues because of his likeness in style to Edwin, can replace the retired Dutchman and help United avoid the keeper-related woes of the post-Peter Schmeichel era.
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I hope to see one of his best moments tonight, when he's in action for the Spanish U23 team
i supposed da gae arrived on monday & signed for und.j.mifsud.siggiewi .malta.
Along with a few other posters on here, I have been very privileged indeed to see three of the greatest goalkeepers on Earth who have played for us. Each of these guys would not have been out of place representing a World eleven: Harry Gregg, Peter Schmeichel, and Edwin van der Sar were superb keepers. Each one of these legends was very professional in all aspects of what it takes to be a real Manchester United player.
I know that I will never see anyone in my lifetime that could surpass the stature of those guys and what they achieved. However, maybe in time, another keeper will be regarded as their equal, and therefore earn the respect to be mentioned in the same breath as them?
I am delighted to submit the name, David de Gea, as a very strong contender to join that illustrious trio. I am very optimistic about his future. He ticks all the right boxes on his CV, with perhaps his age being the only factor in causing any concern? But what the hell, being young has never been an obstruction to any player progressing to great heights within our Club.
United ‘til I die!
Welcome to the Theatre of dreams....Van da Gea
I am certain that he is already one of the best in Europe and he will continue to improve. If he is ready for the Premier League, then that is a bit of a concern, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I would also get his team mate with the Spain U/21 team....Thiago Alcantara....goodness me what a player. He will be much better than what we have right now and all the players that are being mentioned for our midfield. True, there is always the risk that he would want to go back in a few years time, but so brilliant is this player that he is worth the risk.
think he's worth trying. i watched the european under 21 games and although i must admit de gea spent most of the times resting coz his team kept the ball longer than all their opponents, i believe he got great skills
if he's the new number 1 then so be it
I think he is a great keeper and yes a lot of people will question his age but he has proven a lot of doubter wrong.Last season he was fantastic and is improving a lot in every game he plays in. I have watched a lot of the U21 championship and some of his saves and performances have been world class. For what I have seen he similar to VDS but his advantage is his age and his improvements too. He is very confident and is in charge of his penalty box.
He is a fantastic keeper and with help from Sir Alex and the coaching staff, there is no doubt De Gea will be the best keeper in the world in the next 2-3 seasons.
He seems level headed,assured,confident and his build and stature does remind me of Edwin.I hope we can confirm this signing soon(July 1st)
I am veru excited for the coming season and i think that De Gea,Lindergaard and Amos will be a quality trio.I rate Amos and Lindegaard above Kuszcak and if De gea is as confident as it seems then we will be in safe habds!
The right signing, for me it was de gea or neuer or possibly llorris.
I would love to see us sign another spaniard in javi martinez for central midfield,ive watched some of him in the u21 tournament and he keeps the ball really well,passes beautifully,plays deep as a defensive midfielder but also can push forward and play the killer pass,has the ability to beat players and is physically big and strong so could play playmaker defensive and attacking roles,i think he'd really suit us.
A second midfield signing could be nasri if we could wangle it or possibly martin marvin a player who creates scores and beats players.
What De Gea really needs is another Spaniard from the victorious Under 21 team at Old Trafford to keep him company. I'd suggest Martinez.
I like what I see. Just hope he doesn't have the infamous "i've always dreamed of playing for Real Madrid" syndrome! Last season was a strange season that turned out way above any legitimate expectations I might have had 12 months ago. Can't wait to see the next squad SAF is building for the next decade. Oh, the joy of being a UNITED supporter. Red till I'm dead!
david will be a second van da sir
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Hope he will bring great success to united. I can see him bcoming legend like peter & edwin vds, their is hope in him....
The fact he is physically the same in stature too VDS was probably a big factor in our persuit of him. Our Defenders are use to playing with a tall keeper who will come for the ball. He looks a confident lad but with Kuszack likely to move on we are left with to fairly young Keepers.