Although Zinedine Zidane and Nacho Fernandez have denied the reports, multiple outlets in Spain have corroborated Fernando Burgos of Onda Cero’s report that the manager told his players that he will officially step down as Real Madrid coach at the end of the season.
Regardless of the veracity of this meeting or not, there’s a very real possibility that Zidane is burned out and will walk away on his own terms once more. Real Madrid did not miss a beat on Sunday, grinding out a 1-0 win over Athletic Club at San Mames, accomplishing what neither league leader Atletico Madrid nor Sevilla could in recent weeks.
As Zidane’s future remains cloudy, Madridistas are contemplating the club’s next move. Max Allegri seems to be a favorite, but some are nostalgic for a Carlo Ancelotti reunion.
However, here are three reasons to back up Raul as the next guy.
Raul can bring new ideas to the table
Raul has achieved a great deal of success with Real Madrid Castilla. They won the UEFA Youth League in 2019-2020 under his managing, and he nearly led them to promotion this season. Los Blancos have a prized manager on their hands, as even Eintracht Frankfurt are pursuing the former Bundesliga striker as Adi Hutter’s successor.
It’s important for Real Madrid to remain on the cutting edge as an organization. They need to be evolving and finding ways to adapt to the times in football. Hiring a promising manager who can blend basic tactical ideas with newer concepts and young players is a good way for Real to get a leg up on the competition. He is just 43 and has the ability to grow with the team, including the players he trained at Castilla.
Real Madrid can continue to build their identity
The youth teams at Real Madrid usually utilize the same 4-3-3 and take on the same attacking principles and core identities of the club so that transition up the ranks can be as seamless as possible. This is common among successful youth sides around European football.
Zinedine Zidane got his start in the youth system of Real Madrid as a manager after being a legend for the club. Raul can take a similar path with Los Blancos en route to managing the team in the 2021-2022 season.
There’s something to be said about this kind of continuity and stability. Bayern Munich are well-known for grooming and hiring former players to executive positions, and that’s what has helped lead to a simple succession plan and a cohesive team-building strategy throughout the years.
Real Madrid are more of a carousel in that regard, but you can see Florentino Perez has the makings of doing this if he’d like to. He has a wide variety of talent to draw upon, such as Raul and Xabi Alonso as future managers or even Iker Casillas in the front office.
So why not pick Raul and try to build around a cool-headed, 43-year-old former striker and manager who is known for his leadership qualities? Raul has some of what has made Zidane so successful in the “dugout”.
Raul can help further Real Madrid’s youth movement
I wrote not too long ago that Zinedine Zidane is the best man for the current transition period Real Madrid are going under. If he leaves, it’s going to be a huge blow for Los Blancos, but they can find someone else who is tailor-made to help the team move forward with the next stage of the project, which is blending youth with the “old guard”.
Raul is such a great candidate compared to other managers, because he’s worked with many of the players who are rising up the ranks. Madridistas have been struck by how Marvin Park, Victor Chust, Sergio Arribas, Antonio Blanco, and Miguel Gutierrez have played this season. These five Castilla players have made quality first-team appearances with minimal mistakes, smart decisions, and plenty of intent and intensity.
Some credit should go to Raul, then, if he is the common denominator in how these players perform with confidence and competence. Managers need to empower young players and instill in them the club’s ideals, and you can see Madridismo in the way these young men play.
Raul always had that fighting spirit in him, and he was such a natural when he played, always making the right decisions and never looking slightly rattled no matter the occasion. He can relate to young players in a way most managers cannot, including some of the other names linked to Real Madrid.