REAL MADRID hope to nurture club legend Raul as a future manager, in the same way they did Zinedine Zidane, according to reports in Spain.
France icon Zizou quit the club after collecting his third consecutive Champions League crown in a shock move.
And the Galacticos are expected to name an established boss, with Arsenal hero Arsene Wenger and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in the running.
But, according to Marca, the La Liga giants enjoyed the process of guiding Zidane from player to coach to reserve-team manager and eventually first-team boss and they want to repeat the plan.
At the end of May, Raul, along with Xabi Alonso and Xavi, received the UEFA B and A license which mean they can coach.
To be a first-team boss, Raul would only need to add his UEFA Pro diploma and he could have it next year.
Raul remains a God-like figure with the Bernabeu fans, is respected by the squad and even played alongside current captain Sergio Ramos.
Raul never enjoyed a close relationship with Madrid president Florentino Perez – and his 2010 move to Schalke did little to heal it – but they have grown closer in recent years.
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The 40-year-old spent 16 years of his career playing for Real Madrid and is the club’s second all-time top goalscorer with 323 goals.
In 2003, he was appointed captain of the team and retained that position until his departure from the club in 2010.
With Los Blancos, Raul won six La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, four Spanish Cups and one UEFA Super Cup.
Zidane was initially made a Madrid coach by Jose Mourinho and then then Carlo Ancelotti appointed him as his assistant to learn at the coalface.
It is hoped Raul will be offered the same opportunity by the next man handed the reins in Spain.
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