REAL MADRID ICON Raul is taking the first step towards starting a coaching career.
The former Spain striker retired from the game in 2015, going down in history as one of Europe’s most devastating poachers.
Raul won six La Liga titles with Madrid, as well as a trio of Champions League crowns, and now serves as an executive at the club.
But the 40-year-old could soon be ready to join former team-mate Zinedine Zidane in the Santiago Bernabeu dugout, as he is working towards his coaching badges.
“We have started the first year of the A and B licence,” Raul said.
“It’s a first step to train and be a coach at least up to youth level, and within a year we will be able to do the UEFA pro, which allows us to train any team.
“Now the important thing is to get the badges and in June to speak with the club [Madrid].
“We will have to analyse the possibilities. I’m seeing football from another point of view with the classes.”
Raul will have at least one familiar face on the coaching course as he is set to be joined by Barcelona great Xavi.
“There will be 16 of us,” Raul added. “And Xavi will arrive on Tuesday.
“Many of us have been team-mates or rivals and I’m sure that the course will be pleasant and we will learn everything possible.”
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Saw a picture of them yesterday in class , you could put out a very competitive team , Raul, Julio Baptista , Marcos Senna , Capdevila .. and Xavi Hernández to top it off . They get very little concessions even if they’ve been internationals , while France gives them the license straight away if they’ve played one full international. This is why Zidane had a difficult time getting the first jobs in Real Madrid , because the Spanish federation wouldn’t recognise his qualification because he didn’t have the proven experience of having coached teams ( underage etc) . Guti ( who is not the sharpest ) has won almost everything with Madrid youth teams .
@Limón Madrugada: ‘bird brain’ is how I believe one RTE pundit referred to Guti.
@Alan O’Riordan: I know he’s from the next town up the road from me , he even played u10 rugby for a season with us . He usually speaks without thinking . But his coaching record is outstanding and now he’s looking to get into the big leagues ..