April 23, 200718 yr Making historyRaúl plays his 600th official match with Real MadridThe victory over Valencia on Saturday was special in more than one way for Raúl González, and that's because the match marked his 600th official game played throughout his career. A milestone for a player who has become the symbol of Madridismo and one of the most recognised Spanish footballers around the world.Time has flown since Raúl played his first match with Real Madrid. You have to go back to 29 October 1994, when a young 17-year old made his debut at La Romareda under the tutelage of coach Jorge Valdano. From then on, the player's career sky-rocketed. We didn't have to wait long for his first goal either, which came in the following match against Atletico Madrid. Same came be said for his first title -Real Madrid were crowned 1994/95 League champions-.Raul's career has unraveled at a frenzied pace, and he has won practically everything imaginable as a Madridista: Leagues, European Cups, InterContinentals... and all of them with Raúl taking centre stage. His talent, winning attitude, and constant fighting spirit have converted number '7' into the symbol of Madridismo, and even moreso since the departure of Fernando Hierro, who was responsible for Raúl taking over as team captain.Almost God-likeDuring these 600 matches donning the white shirt, Raúl has become one of the chosen ones in the history of Real madrid. Only four players have played more games for Real Madrid; Sanchís -son- (712 matches), Carlos Alonso Santillana (643 matches), Francisco Gento (605) and Fernando Hierro (601).And that's not the only historic list Raúl finds his name on. At 29 years old, the Madridista forward is also the all-time top scorer of the Champions League, with 56 strikes. In League play, number '7' is only one goal away from taking over the third spot, currently held by Santillana with 185. In terms of goals scored for Real Madrid, Raúl is third, only bested by two Madridismo institutions, Santillana and Di Stéfano, whose 307 goals continue making him the top scorer in Madrid history.With these 600 matches in the books, Raúl reaffirms his place among the most important figures in the history of Madridismo. But best of all, the captain has a way to go and will surely bring many more joys to Madridista fans.
April 24, 200718 yr Raúl, a gentleman of fair playThe captain hasn't been booked in two and a half yearsRaúl hasn't been booked since he pushed a Valencia player on 23 October 2004. The captain, a true gentleman of fair play, has embodied the utmost sportsman behaviour for the last 30 months, without giving up his competitive character and fighting spirit.On Saturday, Raúl played a match againts Valencia officiated by referee Pérez Lasa. The last time Raúl was booked he played against the same side in a match officiated by the same man. Two days prior to the game, after the act that commemorated the Foundation's X Anniversary, the captain talked to Realmadrid.com about this strange coincidence. Raúl has always been interested in figures and stats -he knew Saturday's was going to be his 600th official game-, but these didn't change his attitude against Valencia. He led his team with his usual drive and guts, fighting hard to get control of the ball, always showcasing his sportsmanship, now an integral part of his game.ANOTHER GAME WITHOUT A YELLOW CARDThe captain's personal record was compromised only once during Saturday's fixture. The referee awarded a free kick to Valencia in extra time. This was surely going to be the last chance for the visiting side to score an equaliser. Raúl placed himself in front of the ball to act as a one-man wall and Valencia's Miguel complained to him because he was too close to the ball. The full-back, hoping to gain some time, pushed Raúl, who immediately hit the ground. Referee Pérez Lasa approached both players and for a moment it seemed he would book the captain for diving. Nevertheless, he correctly settled the whole situation and Raúl positioned himself where the official told him to stand. The play wasn't threatening enough in the end and the Whites managed to defeat Valencia.Raúl was the last player to leave the Madridista dressing room after the fixture. Happy with the victory, he talked to Realmadrid.com about the controversial play. "I didn't deserve to be booked for that and I wasn't worried about it," he said, "The most important thing tonight was to win the game."NEW RECORD FOR "RECORD-MAN"Raúl hasn't been booked in 30 months, but this is but a mere figure in his career. He has only been booked 19 times in the 13 seasons he has played in the First Division. On average, he has been booked every 23 games out of a total of 439, and every 1,910 minutes out of a total of 36,290. The captain has never been suspended. The largest number of bookings he's ever seen in one season has been four (1995/96). He was booked three times in the 2000/01 season. Since the 2002/03 edition of the League, he has been booked once per season, if at all. Since the 2004/05 season he hasn't been booked at all. His goal scoring figures are equally impressive. He has netted 185 goals with Real Madrid, holding an average of one goal every two games.A GENTLEMAN OF FAIR PLAYRaúl is the Gentleman of fair play, a title he inherited from Emilio Butragueño, as well as inheriting his number '7', which he proudly wears on his shirt. Both players have been regarded as gentlemen in world football for their incredible sportsmanship.Raúl has never been sent off during a game as a professional. In fact, he's only seen a red card once in his life, as a youth, on 9 February 1994 against Alcalá Juvenil. Between 1992 and 1994, he only saw one yellow card. He joined the first team in 1994.Raúl's style has set an example for many kids and he is the role model of every youth system player at Real Madrid. They all study his quality, how easily he wins his position, his personality on the pitch, his determination, his fighting spirit, the sacrifices he makes for the team... From now on, future generations of football players will also have to study his unequalled sportsmanship. Raúl's figures speak for themselves, but his modesty makes him prefer to hear about collective figures. Generous as always, he prefers to do things for the good of the team.
April 25, 200718 yr Real Madrid: Raul Gonzalez is a hero of fair play Raul Gonzalez, who captains Spanish soccer league team Real Madrid, has gone more two years without a yellow card, without losing his competitive sprit and will to win, the club's web page said on Tuesday, calling him The Gentleman of Fair Play.Raul's last sporting sanction was a yellow card in the Oct. 23,2004 Madrid-Valencia game, and in Raul's 439 games during 13 seasons at Madrid he has only received 19 yellow cards: around once every 23 games.On average he commits a serious offense less than once in every1,900 playing minutes. Even in 1995-1996, his peak season for bad behavior, he received only four yellow cards.For many years Raul's sportsmanship has been a model for younger players, the club said. All the younger players look up the quality of his play, his facility for winning a position, his personality, his determined marking, his tenacity and his continual efforts, the club added.
April 26, 200718 yr Out with Jorge & Hugo in Madrid APR092007 (Let's hope we find MORE & HQ's, it was over 2 weeks but let's see)
April 28, 200718 yr Thanks for the pictures Chic_Raul_ista and LuNo! I can't wait till we start seeing pictures of them with the twins!
April 28, 200718 yr ^^ I agree we need to see the twins, we haven't seen them since Jorge's b-day day out.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.