On 28 July 2010, Schalke's crew quickly set up the center of the Fairtins Arena in the afternoon, setting up tables, tables and chairs, and even inviting people dressed in traditional miner costumes in the Ruhr area to add to the atmosphere. At 15:15 p.m., Gregor Koenig, the famous host of RTL TELEVISION, said in a loud voice: "Gentlemen and ladies, he has come from the royal to the Imperial Blue, Raul Gonzalez Blanco." “
With Koenig's voice, Raul walked in. The Spain international is one of the most famous players in the world over the past decade. About 1,000 fans applauded thunderously in the audience, and Schalke really signed the 33-year-old world-class star.
It was Magat that made the deal happen. As a famous coach who won league titles at Bayern and Wolfsburg, he coached Schalke in 2009, and the "Devils Manager" was both manager and coach. During Magath's time at Schalke, players, fans and the media judged him divisively. But he credited Raul with Garcenkirchen, and even the loudest Magat critics would extend their thumbs in praise.
Raúl impressed Schalke and fans still relish it today. It's not just because of his 40 match goals, but also the virtuosity and charisma he has shown on the pitch. Perhaps Raúl will meet Schalke fans as an opponent in the future, with spox websites and Sky TV reporting that Frankfurt is contacting Raúl, who is currently training in Real Madrid reserves, as one of the managerial candidates, and the current Frankfurt manager Hüttle will coach Borussia Moncheng next season.
Magath has always been proud to complete the deal to sign Raul. He said: "Raul is one of the best players in the world, one of the best players I have ever trained with and it is an honour to be his coach. "Magath rarely has such a compliment on a player.
In fact, Magat never imagined he would have the opportunity to work with Raul. His first year at Schalke brought the team to the league runner-up position, when Schalke was saddled with a heavy debt of 250 million euros, and no one expected the team to achieve such a good result. However, at the end of the season, the center forward and the team's top scorer Kuranyi left the team for Moscow, and Magat, whose plans were disrupted, desperately needed a replacement.
Magat had no idea That Raul wanted to move. He was told about another player who had just joined Schalke from Real Madrid: Metzelder. Magat said: "Metzeld told me that Raul wanted a change. I didn't think it was possible at first. ”
This is a very normal idea. Raúl is a legend at Real Madrid, playing for the team for 18 years and 16 years in La Liga, including 7 years as captain. He has been La Liga champion six times and has won three Champions League trophies. He scored 323 goals for Real Madrid, surpassing Di Stefano. Such a player, even in Magath's view, is beyond Schalke's level. But Metzelder said that because Real Madrid signed Ronaldo, Benzema, Kaka and others, Raul often sat on the bench at Real Madrid last season and is seriously considering seeking new challenges. Magat recalled: "Christopher helped us make the connection. ”
In the end, Raúl's successful transfer was due to the agreement reached between Raúl and Real Madrid. Real Madrid did not ask Raúl for a transfer fee for the remaining year of his contract, Schalke offered Raul a two-year contract of 10 million euros, and Real Madrid promised to pay Raúl another 2 million euros a year to make up for the difference in his salary between the two clubs. Magath's negotiations with Real Madrid took place in great secrecy, and apart from the Real Madrid head, only Metzelder, Raul and Magath knew about it. This is also due to Magat's enormous power in Schalke, where he can decide for himself whether to meet some of Raul's demands.
On 26 September 2010, Raul scored his first Bundesliga goal against Borussia Moncheng, triggering spectators in the stands. He scored twice in the Champions League against Tel Aviv and scored his first hat-trick in the Bundesliga against Bremen. His prettiest goal was against Cologne the following year, where Raul took the ball with his back to goal, adjusted his right foot, turned around and fired with his left foot, passing two defenders and a goalkeeper at once, and the commentator commented: "This is a genius. The goal was voted Germany's best goal of 2011.
Escudero
Magath said: "His relationship with everyone is amazing. In order to get Raul a little quicker into the team, Magath signed two other Spanish players: left-back Escudero and midfielder Hurado. Magat said: "No one understands why I want to sign Escudero. But Raul needed someone who could communicate in his native language. "Escudero has only played 13 games in 3 years in Schalke and Magat really has no intention of really using him. Hurado joined for a similar reason, with Magat saying: "I wouldn't have signed Hurado without Raul. ”
Magat did everything he could to make raul possible in Schalke. He said: "My mission is for Raul to show strength in our ranks as well. He has all the conditions: the ability to understand the game, the possession, the confrontation, that's where he excels. But you also have to create a space for him to play. Even Huntelaar's arrival has something to do with Raul, and Magat wants a penalty-type centre forward to give Raul as a fulcrum and can also cover Raul.
Raul was not entirely blessed under Magat. Once the team lost in a match, Magat arranged punitive training. The temperature was low, the wind was biting cold, and the snow covered the training ground. The training consisted of a set-piece defensive position, and Raúl's task was to kick the ball in the cross. However, Raul did not have many chances to actually play football, because Magat repeatedly interrupted training, swinging several defenders around, accompanied by roars. Most of the time, Raul stood idly by and watched. Reporters at the scene allegedly speculated about how long Raul could endure before leaving in such weather. Unexpectedly, the Spaniards waited until the training was all over. Magat mocked reporters after training, saying, "What are you thinking?" He is a real professional player. ”
Magat also said that such a star player will not be completely uncomfortably in training. He said: "Raul is certainly not quite used to such a harsh training session, but he did, which speaks to his character. ”
Raul's time in Schalke ended two years later, but Magat left school first. One of Magath's charges was a chaotic transfer strategy, he signed a large number of players but did not use them at all, resulting in Schalke's first team being extremely bloated, and the media even attacked him as a "garbage king". Another charge is holding all the power of the first team and refusing to let go. These two charges are true, but when Schalke signed Magath, he promised to entrust him with full power. Firing him on this charge seems a bit unauthentic.
Magat was gone, and his successor was Rangnick. Under Rangnick's command, Raúl and his teammates defeated Duisburg 5–0 in the German Cup final in May 2011. Interestingly, despite the numerous accolades Raúl has won at Real Madrid, the German Cup is his only domestic cup winner.
When he left the team in May 2012, he looked very emotional. Raul said: "I can't find the words to express my feelings. I will be forever grateful for this time in Schalke. In July 2013, Schalke arranged a farewell match for him. Magat said: "Raul is a bright spot in Schalke's history. Even when we signed him, not every Schalke could understand. "It's true, there were a lot of people who were excited when Raul came, but there were also people who thought he was too old, (because he had taken too many honors) didn't have the momentum and so on. These criticisms eventually became the laughing stock. The Schalkes will always have fond memories of Raul, especially during the difficult time when Schalke was relegated to the Bundesliga for the first time in 30 years.
If Raúl can really coach Eintracht Frankfurt and Schalke can return to the Bundesliga next year, they may meet again in another form.