Raul Interview - Real Madrid Exclusive - 31/07/09
When you think of iconic legends in football, they don't come much bigger than Real Madrid's Raul. The name has become synonymous with records in the world of football, Raul has played hundreds of matches and scored hundreds of goals, and SoccerBible got the chance to interview the legend!
When we joined up with the Real Madrid squad for pre-season we knew we were in the presence of greatness. We're talking about the man who first played for Real when he was only 17, becoming the youngest player ever to wear a Real Madrid shirt and who has since gone on to become the club's all-time top goalscorer! So, here's what the man who embodies Real Madrid s values of commitment, hard work, and composure every time he dons the team shirt had to say...
Which player, past or present would you most like to play alongside?
Diego Maradona, he is the player I would most like to play next to.
Who was biggest influence when growing up?
When I started playing, Valdano (former Real Madrid and Argentina player) was my mentor. He was a great influence on me, he worked hard to mould me and gave me confidence to be the player I am.
Raul began the 1994-95 season in Real Madrid's C team, but after a flurry of sixteen goals in seven games he was promoted to the first team by coach Jorge Valdano. And at seventeen years and four months he became the youngest player ever to play for the Real Madrid senior side.
What has been the best goal you've scored to date?
For me the best goal was my first goal in La Liga for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernebau. Even more special as it was against Atletico Madrid, a goal I will never forget.
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What is the most important goal you've scored for Real Madrid?
Most important has to be my goal in the 1998 Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo, Japan. We won the game 2-1 against Vasco da Gama and mine was the winning goal, I was very honoured to be named man of the match. The 1998 Intercontinental Cup was a match played on 1st December 1998 in front of 51,514 fans. The game was played between Real Madrid (winners of the 1997-98 Champions League) and Vasco da Gama (winners of the 1998 Copa Libertadores). |
Raul's goals have been crucial not just to Real Madrid, but also to the Spanish national team. Not only is Raul Madrid's all-time top goalscorer, he is the all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League and has scored more goals than any other player for the Spanish National team. Raul is prolific in front of goal, and the football boots he has chosen to wear throughout his career are the adidas Predator football boots.
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The adidas Predator football boots Raul is currently wearing are the ninth generation of the iconic adidas boots. Benefiting from innovative technology to generate more power, more swerve and more control. |
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Increased power comes from the addition of an extra 30g of tungsten powder to the PowerPulse insole, giving a pendulum-style effect when kicking, which means shots become harder and faster.
Also, when the SoccerBible met up with Raul we couldn't help but notice he was trying out a new pair of blacked-out adidas football boots. Possibly a first glimpse of the new adidas Predator football boots, so stay tuned to the SoccerBible for the latest football boots news...
2002, Raul playing in Predator Mania 2009, Raul wearing adidas Predator X?
