NEW YORK: Former Real Madrid and Spain forward Raul has joined New York Cosmos for the 2015 season on a “multi-year” contract pending a medical, the North American Soccer League (NASL) club said on Thursday.

As part of the deal, the terms of which were not disclosed, Raul, 37, will also become a technical advisor for the club’s youth academy, which he will take over on a full time basis when he retires from playing, Cosmos said on their website.

“Everyone throughout the football world knows the Cosmos name and the legacy of the players that played for this team previously,” Raul said.

“They helped establish soccer in America and I’m honoured to follow in their footsteps,” he added. “I believe in this club’s vision and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

Real’s all-time leading goalscorer Raul, who remains the top Champions League scorer with 71, becomes the latest big-name import to sign up for the Cos­m­os, following the likes of Pele and Fra­nz Beckenbauer, who played in the 1970s.

Raul joined Real Madrid in 1994 and spent 16 seasons with Los Blancos, collecting six La Liga titles, four Spanish Super Cups and three Champions League crowns.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2014