Raúl Bravo

Real Madrid

Bravo was born in Gandia, Valencian Community. After playing in his early years with two local clubs, he joined Real Madrid's youth system at 16. He was subsequently part of the Junior A side, and played for them two more seasons before arriving at the C team in Tercera División, moving to Real Madrid Castilla in Segunda División B for 2001–02. International call-ups of some players in the first team gave Bravo the chance for a La Liga debut against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu, on 6 October 2001, and he played 70 minutes in a 2–0 win. He ended up training with them – under Vicente del Bosque's management – very regularly, which eventually led to his permanent stay from the 2002–03 campaign onwards. In January 2003, Bravo started an unsuccessful six-month loan spell at Leeds United. During Euro 2004, in which he appeared for Spain, Mick McCarthy, whilst commentating for the BBC, remarked that he looked a different player to the one in his Elland Road stint; Roberto Carlos' presence, however, restricted his playing time in the Real main squad.

Olympiacos

With a chance to retain UEFA Champions League status, Bravo signed a four-year contract with Olympiacos F.C. in mid-July 2007, with the transfer fee estimated in the region of €2.3 million while the player received an annual salary of €1.3 million. After having appeared rarely due to injuries, he had a short return to Spain in the 2009 January transfer window, moving on loan to…

Bravo was capped for Spain on the under-16 level in 1997–98, when the national team won the Algarve Tournament. With the under-17s he played in the Nymburk International Tournament, scoring two goals in three matches. Bravo's full debut was on 21 August 2002 against Hungary, in a friendly. Subsequently, he was a participant at UEFA Euro 2004, playing every minute in Spain's group stage exit campaign, against Portugal, Russia and eventual champions Greece (always as a stopper); he was not recalled since, receiving a total of 14 caps.

Club

International

Real Madrid

La Liga: 2002–03, 2006–07 Supercopa de España: 2003 UEFA Champions League: 2001–02 UEFA Super Cup: 2002 Olympiacos

Super League Greece: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11 Greek Football Cup: 2007–08