Raul hailed after announcing retirement

Former team-mates and coaches are leading praise for Raul Gonzalez with the former Real Madrid and Spain striker announcing his retirement.

Raul will leave the game next month at 38 after finishing the current season with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League.

"He walks on the turf and astounds. It is utterly amazing," former Real player Luis Figo posted on Twitter on Friday.

"He is a winner. He is the inheritance of Real Madrid," Fabio Capello, who had two spells as Real coach, tweeted.

Raul spent 16 years with Real Madrid, helping the team to six Spanish league titles, four Spanish Super Cups and three Champions League titles.

He played for Schalke in Germany between 2010 and 2012 and then at Qatar's Al-Sadd before joining Cosmos in 2014.