Charting the Career of New York Cosmos Signing and Real Madrid Legend Raul
The latest big name in world football to make the move Stateside has been announced, with Spanish legend Raul Gonzalez Blanco set to join New York Cosmos for the 2015 season.
In a long-term move ensuring continuity at the club, Cosmos announced that Raul will see out a "multi-year" contract to play while also acting as a technical advisor for the club's youth academy, before stepping up to a full-time role there once he retires from being out on the field.
"Confirmed! Welcome to New York, Raúl! http://t.co/lhJ7DlQiBQ #NYCosmos pic.twitter.com/HDifreXIM5
— New York Cosmos (@NYCosmos) October 30, 2014"
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The Cosmos—of the same name, but a new team to that which saw Pele and Franz Beckenbauer feature in the 1970s—currently play in the NASL, the second tier of American football, marking a difference between Raul and the likes of compatriot David Villa, who will join New York City FC in top-flight MLS.
Despite the lower standard Raul will play it, it is clearly to prepare him for the next phase of his career, life in the technical side of the club off the field, another important step on what has been an extraordinary career.
Atleti and Real
Despite initially joining Atletico Madrid's youth system, Raul was allowed to leave the club and instead went on to join Real Madrid as a young teenager. The move was clearly a good choice for the forward, who went on to become Real's all-time leading appearance maker, with close to 750 matches to his name with the Real Madrid crest on his shirt.
"A teenage Raúl seen receiving a tactical briefing from the man who handed him his debut run-out, Jorge Valdano. pic.twitter.com/hPxw0ur5uA
— AS English (@English_AS) October 30, 2014"
Not only that, but he remains the club's all-time record goalscorer, with 323 strikes to his name.
That latter record may well be broken within the year or so by a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, but the No. 7 shirt was made special in white long before the Portuguese forward came on the scene, with Raul the most famous proponent of it.
When Raul made his debut in the 94-95 campaign he became Real's youngest ever first-team player at the time, going on to score nine times in the league and winning a first La Liga title in the process.
The young forward's blend of composure, ability in the final third and consistency meant he would go on to net at least 20 goals in all competitions in eight of the next nine seasons. He notched a career-best 32 strikes in 2000-01 when Real won La Liga and the Supercopa, and he himself won La Liga's best player award, the top scorer award and came second in the Ballon d'Or.
Either side of that campaign, Raul helped Real to two Champions League titles, scoring in both finals against Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen.
From 2003 onward, he was Real Madrid's club captain, holding the honour for seven years. He hoisted two more league titles in that time.
The goals dried up a little as increased competition, advancing age and more than a few injuries began to all take their toll on him, but Raul still managed a pretty special—though bittersweet—end to his Real Madrid career, as he scored with his final touch of the ball. In so doing, he injured himself and missed the rest of the season in 2009-10.
Spain
A record goalscorer for club and country, Raul hit 44 goals for Spain between 1996—his first, against Yugoslavia—and 2006, his last coming in the World Cup against Tunisia.
Though his international career was ended before Spain's dominance and period of success started, and David Villa would eventually go on to surpass his scoring record, Raul was nonetheless a vital part of the team and, along with being a captain, was a hero and an idol to many in the country.
Even those who didn't support Real Madrid would appreciate his ability, by and large, and recognise his tremendous work ethic as well as his professionalism and sporting behaviour, which never saw him red carded for Real.
The legendary forward played on more than a century of occasions for the national team, 102 in all, and featured at five major international tournaments, scoring in all three World Cups.
Schalke
The end of an era must always come, and thus it was with Raul and Real.
With there never being any question of him playing for another Spanish side, he opted for the Bundesliga and Schalke 04, spending two seasons in Germany and being a roaring success with his new club. Raul helped them to a DFB-Pokal cup final in his first campaign, which they won—giving the forward his first ever domestic cup win.
During his time at Schalke, he notched more strikes in the Champions League and became the all-time highest scorer in the primary European competition, a record he still holds—just about.
"Today marks the 5000th day of RAÚL as single all-time top scorer in the CL. Ronaldo, Messi are likely to end his reign next week.
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) October 30, 2014"
"Nice graphic breaking down Ronaldo and Messi's race to Raul's Champions League scoring record http://t.co/LULjUOmosD pic.twitter.com/YQFOIQvgTt
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) October 23, 2014"
His two campaigns with S04 yielded 40 goals and the retiring of his No. 7 jersey for a year, before he headed off to end his career outside Europe.
Final Years
Raul is now USA-bound with the Cosmos, but he has spent the past two seasons with Al-Sadd in Qatar.
Success continued to follow the Spaniard as he won the Qatar Stars League with his new club, before a memorable pre-season match against Real Madrid saw him turn out for both clubs, one in each half, scoring for Madrid.
"I just uploaded "Raul Gonzalez Goal ~ Real Madrid vs Al-Sadd (footballcity.am)" to Vimeo: http://t.co/ABSUmdAn82
— footballcity (@footballcitytv) August 22, 2013"
With over 1000 matches to his name with club and country, and over 400 goals, Raul has been one of the most impressive, talented and consistently successful forwards to have graced the modern game.
He has a wealth of experience and no shortage of name-based impact that he can now take on the next part of his journey to New York, where a long-lasting legacy is awaiting to be put in place with his new contract, both on and off the pitch.
