FOOTBALL LEGENDS-RAUL

PROFILE:

• FULL NAME: Raul Gonzalez Blanco
  
• NICKNAMES: Babystar,El Pichichi del Madrid(Madrid’s striker),Raulito
• DOB: 27/06/1977
• BIRTH PLACE: Madrid, Spain
• HEIGHT:1.80 m(5 ft 11 in)
• WEIGHT:68 kg/150 pounds
• POSITION: Forward
• NUMBER: 7
• PREVIOUS CLUBS:

1988-1989 San Cristobal de Los Angeles

1990-1992 Atletico Madrid

1992-1994 Real Madrid

• CURRENT CLUB:

1994-Present Real Madrid

• NATIONALITY: SPAIN

• HOBBIES: Reading, Music, Hunting 

          and Video games.

STATS:

SPAIN: (1996-Till Date)

• OVERALL APPEARANCES:102
• GOALS:44

CLUB LEVEL:

REAL MADRID:(1994-Present)

• OVERALL APPEARANCES:686

• GOALS:311(still counting)
• EUROPEAN RECORD:66(UEFA CL:64)

HONOURS:

Real Madrid:

1. La Liga Titles:1994-95,1996-97,2000-01,2002-03,2006-07,2007-08

2. Spanish Super Cup Titles:1997,2001,2003,2008

3. UEFA Champions League Titles:1997-98,1999-00,2001-02

4. UEFA Super Cup Title:2002

5. Intercontinental Cup Titles:1998,2002

INDIVIDUAL HONOURS:

1. Premio Don Balon(Young Player in La Liga):1994-95

2. IFFHS World Goalgetter: 1999

3. ESM Team of the year: 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00

4. Pichichi Trophy: 1998/99, 2000/01

5. UEFA CHAMPIONS League Top Scorer: 1999-00, 2000-01

6. FIFA World Player of the Year BRONZE Award: 2001

7. European Footballer of the Year SILVER Award: 2001

8. UEFA Club Football Awards, Best Forward: 2000, 2001, 2002

9. Best Spanish Player in La Liga: 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02

10. Trofeo Alfredo Di Stefano: 2008

11. MARCA LEGEND 2009

12. Royal Order Gold Medal for Sports Merit: 2006

13. FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004

14. King’s Cup Top Scorer: 2003/04

15. Spanish Outstanding Sportsman: 2000

16. Spanish Player of the year: 1996/97

17. Bronze Boot of Europe: 1999, 2001

18. Intercontinental Cup Man of the Match: 1998

19. Spanish La Liga Player of the season: 2008

CAREER/PERSONAL LIFE: Raul was a product of Atletico Madrid’s Youth Team. Atletico Madrid had to sell him due to lack of funds. Raul began his career in Madrid’s C team, but after having scored 16 goals in 7 games, he was promoted to the first team. He made his debut when he was just 17 yrs old(17 yrs and 4 months),youngest player ever to play for the senior side. He scored a goal in his second senior game against Atletico Madrid. Raul has never received a red card throughout his 14 years at the professional level. Raul helped his team win the league title in the first season itself. Raul is known for his famous goal celebration which consists of kissing his wedding ring as an acknowledgement to his wife. Raul married a Spanish model(Mamen Sanz),with whom he has 4 sons: Jorge, Hugo, Twins-Hector and Mateo.All the sons were named after his childhood hero and legends. His Football Idol is DIEGO MARADONA. He enjoys reading, especially the books of Arturo Perez Reverte. He is passionate about football, he also likes hunting and Bullfighting. He currently holds the record for scoring the highest number of goals for Real Madrid, recently surpassing Alfredo Di Stefano’s record. His current contract expires in 2011, after which he is expected to retire and play football for 1 year in NORTH AMERICA.