RAUL: The Angel of Madrid

Posted on 17/02/17

It takes a lot to become a true icon, let alone a legend but for Raul Gonzalez it looked almost effortless.

The Spanish starlet was the linchpin in perhaps the greatest club side of them all between 1994 and 2010, turning out in the famous white strip of Real Madrid.

Players of his nature are often nicknamed, and never did one seem as fitting as ‘El Angel de Madrid’. The forward who produced big goals on any occasion alongside his fellow Galaticos winning everything on offer.

Hailing from the city he’s remembered by so fondly, he would turn out for his club for the first time in the form of its C team. The new kid on the block swiftly introduced himself with no less than 16 goals in just seven appearances as a 17 year old.

The plaudits rushed in as his nation came calling in 1994, with four goals in his two games for the Spanish Under-18. He would go on to record at least a goal every 1.5 games at every youth level in Spain.

He wasn’t always a Real Madrid man however, having started life across the city with Atletico. But his switch at 15 to the Bernabeu will be the smartest move he’d ever make.

His full debut came once again in 1994, a huge year for the fresh faced Spaniard, coming on to replace Emilio Butragueno in what was a symbolic ‘passing of the crown’. His debut saw him briefly break the record for the youngest ever Madrid star.

With nine goals in his first season helping his side to the league title, it would be the first senior league title of six.

He conquered Europe for the first time in the 1998 Champions League but it was two years later in 2000 that he became a giant. He finished the tournament as top scorer with 10 goals and scoring the third goal in a 3-0 win over Valencia in Paris. It was made famous of course as the first time the final had ever been contested between two sides of the same nation.

His third and final Champions League honour came in 2002, the famous Zidane volley overshadowed Raul’s opening goal on eight minutes to seal a 2-1 victory at Hampden Park against Bayer Leverkusen.

The great man would go on to record 550 La Liga appearances, more than any other player but it wasn’t without its heartbreaks. The superb 2004/2005 side including himself, David Beckham, Ronaldo and Zidane couldn’t overcome a brilliant Barcelona side with the skill of Ronaldinho, the skipper Carlos Puyol and a little known youngster called Lionel Messi.

That season wearing Madrid’s gorgeous collared all white strip manufactured by the club and Raul’s sponsor adidas was iconic of its era with sponsors Siemens Mobile. The icon number seven shirt of Raul would be worn where he scored thirteen goals in all competitions earning even more recognition as a regular attacking threat from his lethal left foot.

The team and Raul’s class was best showcased in the El Classico against their rivals Barcelona, as they overpowered the Catalans in a 4-2 drubbing at the Bernabeu. The performance merited the shirt on their backs…clean, smart and to the point. The Spaniard was a fox in the box as he scored the third goal following wonderful work from left-back Roberto Carlos.

Other great results wearing the stylish 2004/2005 home strip which is available here on Vintage Football Shirts, includes the 6-1 La Liga win over Albacete, 5-0 victory over Levante and 4-0 drubbing of Espanyol.

He’d put his disappointment behind him to become the leading appearance maker for Los Blancos and internationally having already won a record five ‘Spanish Player of the Year’ titles and breaking the record for’ UEFA Club Forward of the Year’.

With Spain he’d be capped 102 times scoring 44 times at the nation’s front man. It remains one of football’s great shames that he would never go on to earn silverware with the national team having played at three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002 & 2006) as well as two European Championships (2000 & 2004).

He made way to hand over the red shirt along with the number seven to a new wave of Spaniards who would lift the Euro’s in 2008 and World Cup in 2010.

Voted the sixth greatest Real Madrid player of all time named only behind the likes of Di Stefano, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane, Ferenc Puskas and Paco Gent. It seems even after his departure from Madrid, stints at Schalke, Al-Sadd and New York Cosmos with whom he won seven other various titles and his retirement, he hasn’t been forgotten.

Perhaps maybe, just maybe his two sons Jorge and Hugo who are also playing out in America may just get on their dads level. Only time will tell if the Angel’s class runs in the family.

Raul’s famous #7 Real Madrid shirt is available in various sizes on our website here as well as his Spanish shirt which you can also take a look at by clicking here.