What Happened to Raúl González Blanco?
Raúl González Blanco, widely regarded as one of Real Madrid's greatest players, transitioned from a legendary playing career to football management. After retiring as a player in 2015, he coached Real Madrid's youth teams and Real Madrid Castilla until June 2025. As of June 2026, he is currently without a club, having been linked with a sporting director role under a Real Madrid presidential candidate who ultimately lost the recent elections.
Quick Answer
Raúl González Blanco, the iconic former Real Madrid forward, retired from playing in 2015 after stints with Schalke 04, Al Sadd, and New York Cosmos. He then embarked on a coaching career within Real Madrid's youth system, managing Real Madrid Castilla from 2019 until June 2025. As of June 10, 2026, Raúl is currently without a club, following the Real Madrid presidential elections where the candidate who proposed him as sporting director was defeated. He remains a highly respected figure in football, with a stated desire to return to Real Madrid in a suitable role in the future.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in Madrid, Spain
Raúl González Blanco was born in the San Cristóbal de los Ángeles neighborhood of Madrid.
Real Madrid First Team Debut
Raúl made his senior debut for Real Madrid at 17 years old, quickly establishing himself as a key player after being promoted from Real Madrid C.
Wins First UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid
Raúl was a vital part of the Real Madrid squad that won the UEFA Champions League, ending a 32-year drought for the club in the competition.
Appointed Real Madrid Captain
Following Fernando Hierro's departure, Raúl was appointed captain of Real Madrid, a role he held until his departure in 2010.
Leaves Real Madrid for Schalke 04
After 16 seasons, 741 appearances, and 323 goals, Raúl left his boyhood club Real Madrid to join German side Schalke 04.
Joins Al Sadd in Qatar
After two successful seasons with Schalke 04, Raúl moved to Qatari club Al Sadd, where he continued to play and win trophies.
Retires from Professional Football with New York Cosmos
Raúl officially retired from professional football after leading the New York Cosmos to the NASL Soccer Bowl title.
Begins Coaching Career at Real Madrid Youth Academy
Raúl returned to Real Madrid to start his coaching journey within the club's youth setup.
Appointed Manager of Real Madrid Castilla
He took over as head coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve team, where he spent six seasons developing young talent.
Wins UEFA Youth League with Real Madrid U19
As manager of Real Madrid's U19 team, Raúl guided them to victory in the prestigious UEFA Youth League.
Departs as Real Madrid Castilla Manager
Raúl concluded his tenure as Real Madrid Castilla coach after six seasons, reportedly seeking new challenges and frustrated by the lack of progression to the first team.
Expresses Desire to Return to Real Madrid
In an interview, Raúl stated his conviction that he would return to Real Madrid 'when the time is right' and also considered coaching the Spanish national team.
Proposed as Real Madrid Sporting Director by Presidential Candidate
Real Madrid presidential hopeful Enrique Riquelme announced Raúl as his choice for sporting director if he won the club's elections.
Florentino Pérez Wins Real Madrid Presidential Election
Incumbent president Florentino Pérez won the Real Madrid elections, meaning Raúl's potential role as sporting director under challenger Enrique Riquelme will not proceed.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Raúl González Blanco, born on June 27, 1977, established himself as one of the most revered figures in Spanish football history. His illustrious playing career spanned over two decades, primarily with Real Madrid, where he became a club legend. From 1994 to 2010, Raúl made 741 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 323 goals and winning numerous titles, including six La Liga championships and three UEFA Champions League trophies. He also captained the team from 2003 to 2010.
After leaving Real Madrid in 2010, Raúl continued his career abroad, playing for German club Schalke 04 (2010-2012), where he won the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup. He then moved to Qatari club Al Sadd (2012-2014), securing the Qatar Stars League title, before concluding his playing days with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL), retiring in November 2015 after winning the Soccer Bowl. Throughout his extensive playing career, Raúl was notably never shown a red card.
Following his retirement as a player, Raúl transitioned into coaching. He returned to Real Madrid in 2018, initially working with the youth academy. He managed Real Madrid's UEFA U19 team, leading them to a UEFA Youth League title in 2020. In July 2019, he was appointed manager of Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve team, a position he held for six seasons until June 2025. During his tenure with Castilla, Raúl was credited with developing several young talents who subsequently progressed to the first team.
Raúl's departure from Real Madrid Castilla in the summer of 2025 was reportedly due to frustration over the lack of opportunity to manage the first team, despite his success and deep understanding of the club's values. He publicly expressed his conviction that he would return to Real Madrid "when the time is right" and also left open the possibility of coaching the Spanish national team in the future.
The most recent developments in Raúl's career unfolded in June 2026 during the Real Madrid presidential elections. Challenger Enrique Riquelme announced on June 2, 2026, that Raúl González Blanco would serve as his sporting director if Riquelme won the presidency, highlighting Raúl's deep knowledge of the club and his 'madridista' values. However, incumbent president Florentino Pérez secured an overwhelming victory in the elections held on June 7, 2026. Consequently, Raúl's proposed role under Riquelme will not materialize. As of June 10, 2026, Raúl is officially without a club as a manager, with his immediate future uncertain, though his strong connection to Real Madrid suggests a future return remains a possibility.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Raúl González Blanco made different choices?