Real Oviedo made an unexpected managerial change on Monday. Despite winning 2-1 away to Cádiz CF in their most recent fixture and remaining firmly in contention for promotion, the club decided to part ways with Julián Calero. His replacement is Raúl González, who has signed a contract until June 2028. For the 49-year-old, it represents his first senior managerial appointment outside Real Madrid’s youth and reserve-team setup.
Victory at Cádiz came too late to save Calero
Calero leaves Oviedo ninth in the table after 13 matches. Six wins, three draws and four defeats earned his side 21 points, leaving them just one point outside the play-off places and six behind the automatic promotion positions.
Recent performances, however, had raised doubts about the team’s progress. A Copa del Rey exit against fourth-tier Numancia attracted particular criticism, with Oviedo losing on penalties after a 3-3 draw. That disappointment was followed by a 3-2 home defeat to Las Palmas, in which the hosts showed considerable defensive weaknesses.
Even the subsequent away victory could not save Calero. According to reports in the Spanish media, the club’s Mexican ownership group, Pachuca, had already lost confidence in the coach. An agreement with Raúl was reportedly reached before Calero’s dismissal was officially announced.
Calero had guided Levante to the Segunda División title and promotion to the top flight in 2025 before joining Oviedo in June. Just five months later, he has been dismissed despite a reasonably competitive points return.
Raúl finally gets his chance
As a player, Raúl was one of the most successful strikers of his generation. He scored 323 goals in 741 appearances for Real Madrid, winning six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies. He subsequently played for clubs including Schalke 04 before retiring in 2015.
His coaching career began in Real Madrid’s academy in 2018. A year later, he took charge of the club’s reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla, where he remained until 2025. His greatest achievement came in 2020, when he guided Madrid’s under-19 side to the UEFA Youth League title.
Raúl twice led Castilla into the promotion play-offs for Spain’s second division. In 2023, his side reached the final before losing to CD Eldense. Across 209 matches in charge of the reserve team, he recorded 82 wins, 70 draws and 57 defeats.
For years, Raúl was considered a potential successor in the Real Madrid first-team dugout. However, when Carlo Ancelotti departed in 2025, the club opted for Xabi Alonso instead. Raúl subsequently left Madrid and had been out of coaching until his appointment at Oviedo.
What kind of football will Raúl bring to Oviedo?
During his years in Real Madrid’s youth setup, Raúl developed an approach built around quick transitions and committing numbers to the box.
At Castilla, he frequently used a 3-5-2 formation during the 2022/23 season, with wing-backs providing the width. Sergio Arribas regularly dropped off the front line to operate between the opposition’s midfield and defence, while central midfielders made forward runs into the box. Up front, the tall Álvaro Rodríguez acted as a focal point, holding up possession and attacking crosses. Without the ball, Raúl favoured aggressive counter-pressing but was also prepared to defend deeper with a back five when circumstances demanded it.
Which of these ideas he will implement at Oviedo remains to be seen. In his first comments following the appointment, Raúl stressed his intention to make the most of the quality already available in the squad while demanding total commitment. He expects his players to fight for victory from the first minute to the last.
Promotion the target as Girona provide the first test
Oviedo are under considerable pressure to return to La Liga following last season’s relegation. The historic club had only returned to the top flight in 2025 after a 24-year absence, but went straight back down after collecting just 29 points.
Pachuca remain determined to secure an immediate return. However, the ownership group have already dismissed seven managers since taking control in 2022. Raúl has been tasked with bringing greater stability while delivering promotion.
He also has a personal connection to the club: his son Héctor González has played for Oviedo’s reserve team, Vetusta, since the summer.
Raúl will make his managerial debut on Saturday when Oviedo host Girona at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere. Both teams currently have 21 points. For the former world-class striker, the challenge is a new one: rather than developing young prospects, he must now lead a senior team facing immediate pressure to win promotion.
