Real Madrid

Raul 'did not see Zinedine Zidane as a coach'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 13 July 2016

Former Real Madrid forward Raul admits that he was surprised when former teammate Zinedine Zidane decided to seek a career as a coach.

Former Real Madrid forward Raul has admitted that he was surprised when former teammate Zinedine Zidane decided to seek a career as a coach.

Zidane took charge of Real Madrid's Castilla team from 2014 to 2016, before being appointed as first-team manager of the Spanish giants in the middle of last season.

Raul, who played alongside Zidane in Madrid between 2001 and 2006, has said that he found the Frenchman "uncommunicative" and was surprised when he pursued a career in the managerial game.

"Zidane? It was just a feeling I had. He was uncommunicative. I don't know. I didn't see him as a coach. Sometimes you see players discuss aspects of the game with others and he didn't," Raul told AS.

"But it was like a process. He was in different areas of Madrid, then with Carlo Ancelotti... in the end he decided he wanted to be a coach. He went to Castilla and the opportunity has come. Now they're all very happy. And what I can say is that since he joined the first team I see him more as a coach."

Zidane led Real Madrid to their 11th European Cup last season.