Raúl appointed Real Oviedo coach on contract until June 2028

Real Oviedo have appointed Raúl González as head coach on a contract running until June 2028, replacing Julián Calero at the Spanish second-division club. BBC Sport reported that the appointment gives the former Real Madrid and Spain striker his first senior club management role after six years coaching Madrid’s reserve side.

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The change was announced on Monday despite Oviedo winning 2-1 away to Cádiz on Saturday. According to Associated Press, the club are ninth in the 22-team division after 13 matches and sit one point outside the promotion play-off places. Calero’s contract had been due to expire next year, but his departure brings that spell to an early end.

Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported that Oviedo have recorded six wins, three draws and four defeats in the league. It identified their recent Copa del Rey elimination against Numancia as one factor behind the dismissal, alongside concerns over performances and a loss of confidence among the owners. The cup exit came in the same week as the victory in Cádiz.

Raúl, 49, coached Real Madrid Castilla from 2019 to 2025, according to the BBC. In a video released through Oviedo’s social media, he outlined an approach that would recognise the squad’s talent while demanding sustained effort. He said he wanted players to compete throughout matches and give supporters a team they could feel proud of, setting out his expectations as he began the job.

His playing record includes 323 goals in 741 appearances for Real Madrid, where he won three Champions League titles and six Spanish league championships. He subsequently played for Schalke in Germany, Al Sadd in Qatar and New York Cosmos in the United States. At international level, he scored 44 times across 102 appearances for Spain, the BBC reported.

His first match in charge is scheduled for Saturday against Girona at the Carlos Tartiere. AP reported that Oviedo returned to the second division after finishing bottom last season, when they had played in the top flight for the first time in 24 years. The new contract covers the remainder of this campaign and the following season.