Real Madrid legend Raul turns down the chance to return to former club Schalke as manager in favour of staying with Los Blancos academy

Thomas Reis was sacked from his post as head coach last week with the Gelsenkirchen side sitting as low as 16th in the 2. Bundesliga.

Schalke turned to ex-star forward Raul to offer him the job, according to Sport1, but the Spain legend has turned down the opportunity.

Raul signed for Schalke on a free transfer from Real Madrid in 2010 and went on to make 97 appearances for the club, scoring 40 goals.

He helped fire them to the Champions League semi-finals in his first season with the Bundesliga side, and the quarter-finals of the Europa League the following year.

Raul is currently at the helm of Real Madrid Castilla and, according to the report, would prefer to stay there than take over at the German side.

Raul, who won six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns as a player at Madrid, took charge of the Castilla side in 2020. He has overseen 138 competitive matches and won 59.

Raul, 46, also guided the Madrid Under 19s to UEFA Youth League success in 2020.

Schalke will look to other options to take over as head coach and lead their bid to escape the relegation zone in the second tier of German football.