Spanish legend Raul struck 28 goals for Schalke in a two-year spell at the Gelsenkirchen club - © © gettyimages
Spanish legend Raul struck 28 goals for Schalke in a two-year spell at the Gelsenkirchen club - © © gettyimages

Former Schalke star Raul signs off with title

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Former FC Schalke 04 star Raul has thanked his fans after ending his glittering career with yet another trophy.

'I want to say thank you'

The Spanish forward, 38, represented the Royal Blues on 66 occasions in the Bundesliga between 2010 and 2012, scoring 28 goals. The former Real Madrid CF attacker went on to represent Al-Sadd before bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career by winning the North American Soccer League with New York Cosmos at the weekend.

“I’m taking a lot of affection from many people from all the clubs I’ve played for, from clubs I’ve played against, from people who weren’t on my team and have recognised me," Raul said. "For me, that’s most important; that’s the biggest prize at the end of my career.

"I want to say thank you. I feel like a kid from the neighbourhood playing in the streets, playing on dirt fields."

'Schalke always special to me'

Bundesliga fans will never forget the impact Raul made in two glorious seasons in Gelsenkirchen, in which he went into double figures each time and extended his then record as the UEFA Champions League's top goalscorer. He also won the DFB Cup with Schalke in 2011, adding that to his long list of accolades.

"I'm very interested in the progress of my former team," he said on Schalke's website. "Schalke will always be something special to me. I will always carry S04 in my heart. I don't think it's very common for a player to hold two clubs so deep in his heart as I do with Real and Schalke. It was a much briefer time with Schalke, but at the same time it was so incredibly powerful."

Watch Raul's moving farewell from Schalke in this video, courtesy of the Bundesliga's official YouTube channel.