Real Madrid has said goodbye to a lot of legends in the last decade. This includes Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably one of the greatest (if not the greatest) footballers to step onto the field, our elegant sniper Toni Kroos, or the most recent exit of the legendary Luka Modric.
Meanwhile, one thing that has often been talked about is the way Real Madrid say farewell to these iconic figures. While some have received a hero’s send-off, like in the case of Toni Kroos, others have moved on without Los Blancos giving them a proper goodbye fitting their contributions, with Cristiano Ronaldo being a prime example.
Nevertheless, another Real Madrid legend has recently decided to step away from the club. Although this time, it is a player turned coach who has departed. The individual in question is former Real Madrid player and Castilla manager Raúl.
However, the Spanish international’s Real Madrid journey might not be over yet, as he has not closed the door on a future return. In fact, the Spanish legend, while speaking to Mundo Deportivo, has said:
"I’ve been at the club where I wanted to be and where my home is, and I know I’ll come back again when the time is right, at another time."
“I’ll come back” – Real Madrid legend Raúl made a heartfelt promise to Madridistas
Raúl, in his time as a player, appeared in 741 matches while scoring 323 goals, and providing 135 assists for Real Madrid. He won a number of silverware including three Champions League trophies at the club.
Following his retirement, Raúl joined Real Madrid as a coach for the youth in 2018 and was soon appointed as the manager of Castilla. There, he managed 209 matches, winning 82 of them before calling it quits.
Real Madrid has seen former players as first-team coaches in the past. Zinedine Zidane, who won three back-to-back Champions League titles with the team, and current Los Blancos coach Xabi Alonso are two prominent recent examples. So, fans might be left wondering if something similar is in the cards for Raúl as well.
Indeed, it cannot be ruled out completely. But it’s also too early to draw conclusions or set any expectations. Only time will tell if Raúl and Real Madrid will cross paths again. And who knows, maybe we will see the Spaniard in the dugout at the Santiago Bernabéu again, only this time as a manager.