Spanish Inquisition: Is Raul Ready For Retirement?

During international breaks, the Spanish press seem to struggle with storylines as, contrary to the Barcelona-Real Madrid duality presented when club action is in full swing, Blancos and Blaugranas can be seen playing beautiful football together on the Spanish national team.

This international break, a range of headlines have preoccupied the tabloids: Gerard Pique has tried to persuade Cesc Fabregas to join him at Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo is well on his way to returning and should be available in time for El Clasico, and a debate has arisen about whether Xabi Alonso enjoys playing more for Real Madrid or for La Furia Roja (Johan Cruyff has commented that Xabi enjoys the Spanish national side more because he is given the opportunity to play with Barcelona’s technically gifted midfield).

But one headline that has surfaced during the respite has been of particular interest and it is one that has developed into something of a contentious issue in the Spanish capital: Raul’s diminishing role at Real Madrid.

The iconic captain’s descent from the throne of football can ultimately be traced back to shortly after the 2006 World Cup. Following Spain’s unceremonious exit from the German-hosted competition in the knockout stages, Raul’s days with La Seleccion were numbered as young phenom Fernando Torres and the dynamic David Villa began to showcase their abilities; there were also reports that the 'El Siete' openly questioned the leadership and decision-making of then-Spain-coach Luis Aragones and that animosity was beginning to develop between the coach and the captain.

Whatever the case may have been, Raul played his last match for La Roja against Northern Ireland in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, a match that Spain lost 3-2. And with the country teeming with young players ready to make the transition to the national squad, so began the beginning of the end of an era.

Those were the days for Raul

Since being cast out of La Seleccion, the aging Raul (who will be 33 years old next June) began focusing solely on his club play, but with the ultimate goal of making his return to La Roja in time for the Euro 2008 tournament. Unfortunately his form did not improve enough to merit widespread protest against his exclusion and while the national side was not the same without the traditional number 7, one could not objectively criticize Aragones’ executive decision too harshly.

Without their long-time leader and record breaker extraordinaire, La Furia Roja actually became much stronger and went on to win the Eurocopa, ending a 44-year title drought. In the three years (it is hard to believe it has been so long) that have passed since Raul’s omission from the national squad, the Spaniard has begun a slow but steady decline. True, he continues to break records including earning the title of Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer last year - surpassing Alfredo Di Stefano’s mark that some never thought would be broken - but the truth is that the bulk of that record breaking was mostly accomplished in the skipper’s younger days.

And while it is also true that Raul remains a strong and motivating force in the Real Madrid dressing room, he has begun assuming less of a role on the pitch. Against some of Europe’s stronger opposition, the sad truth is that Raul has become more of a liability than an asset for a Madrid side that is overflowing with talent... particularly youthful talent. While the skipper does what every fan admires in a leader by pursuing the ball deep into the defensive third of the pitch, even his undying effort is beginning to yield less in terms of results.

Currently, Raul’s play is lamentably marked by a lack of speed, less-than-sharp control, and limited power both on the ball and in shooting. Against some of the continent's most competitive sides, it has even come to look as if the skipper is running through cold peanut butter, laboring to cover the space that just a few years ago came in a few strides.

This is not say that Raul is by any means some sort of geriatric. Illustrious reputation aside, he ranks as one of the most talented and certainly as one of the most intelligent veteran goalscorers in the world, but truth be told, Raul’s time in elite football is beginning to come to an end.

Raul being hounded by the bigger and the stronger

In these difficult days, the 'Angel of Madrid' has become something of an enigma. In some matches he looks as if he is well on his way to mounting a resurgence and silencing all his doubters with two thumbs pointed at the name on the back of his shirt. As if any of us will forget his name. It's only four letters anyway.

But in other matches, he looks frustratingly stale, unable to contribute productively and, in some cases, hindering the fast, free-flowing offense favored by Kaka, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain, Marcelo, etc., most notably on the counterattack.

During this international break, there has not only been debate over whether Raul should be a regular starter in the Madrid squad but also whether he should finally hang up his boots at the end of the season and retire. With second captain Guti having worn out his welcome at the Spanish capital with one too many demonstrations of laziness and petulant outbursts, perhaps the table has been set for the old guard to step down and a new group of youngsters to carry the Madrid mark. Sergio Ramos now looks like a potential candidate to take on the captaincy duties alongside Iker Casillas.

Is Raul ready to pass on the baton?

By his own admission there is not long left for 'El Gran Capitan' at Real Madrid. However, assuming a secondary role is certainly not something about which to be disappointed. Raul is a living legend and holds every major record at the world’s most historic club. The fact that he has not won a World Player of the Year award is highway robbery; but so it goes… those days have passed.

While Raul enjoys his golden years on the pitch, there is still much he can teach to the next generation of aspiring Bernabeu-hopefuls. And the experience he brings as a seasoned player to a squad that is still very much in the stages of development is invaluable as Los Blancos push to dethrone Barcelona in both La Liga and the Champions League.

With time and with Florentino Perez at the helm, it also does not seem too outlandish that Raul could be called upon to step in as coach of Real Madrid. After all, Manuel Pellegrini is not getting any younger and at the moment, his job isn't any safer.

But then there is the possibility that all of this talk of Raul being past his prime is absolute rubbish; should he score in Barcelona in El Clasico and again put his finger to his lips in that familiar fashion to hush the Camp Nou die-hards, it is possible that the media, too, will finally have nothing to say.

Cyrus C. Malek, Goal.com