Diario AS: Raul González chosen as new head coach of Real Madrid

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Spanish football newspaper Diario AS on Saturday reported that Real Madrid has decided to choose 40-year-old Raul González and one of the team's legendary players as the new head coach.

Since Zinedine Zidane announced he was stepping down from the post earlier this week, rumors have been swirling about who will take over.

However, Diario AS said Real Madrid made the decision early in March when the team's President Florentino Pérez realized that Zidane might leave at any time.

Diario AS says Real Madrid's President Florentino Pérez (L) has been well-prepared for Zinedine Zidane's (R) exit. /VCG Photo

On March 21, Raul was appointed as the head coach of Real Madrid Youth Team B. Though he only had a Level 1 coaching license issued by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and could not coach any team from La Liga or La Liga 2, Rual registered for a senior coach training program held by the RFEF in April.

With the former head coach of the Spanish national team Vicente Del Bosque as the main mentor, the three-month program can help Raul receive a Level 3 coaching license as early as July.

Meanwhile, Raul has also been enrolled in an elite coach training class organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). If he gets the coaching license from this class, he will be able to coach teams from La Liga and La Liga 2 as well, according to Diario AS.

Raul has won enough titles to become a banner of Real Madrid. /VCG Photo

Having been playing for Real Madrid for 16 years, Raul helped this team won six La Liga champions and three European Champion League titles.

Interestingly, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009, one year before Raul left the club. Today, with rumors about CR7 leaving Real Madrid spreading fast, Raul might just return. Perhaps it is just impossible for the two men to stay in one team for long.