Raúl Bravo

Raúl Bravo Sanfélix is a Spanish defender, a former player of the Spain national team.

Raúl began his career in the youth ranks of Palma CF and Gandía. When 16, Bravo joined the youth ranks of Real Madrid. After 3 years he became part of the C team in Tercera División and subsequently moved to the B side in Segunda División. Raúl was given his first taste of first-team action in October 2001 in the match versus Athletic Bilbao. He ended up training with the senior squad under the guidance of Vicente del Bosque.

In 2003 Bravo was sent out on loan for 6 months to Leeds United where he didn’t manage to impress due to only 5 appearances. On his return to Real Madrid, the player was frequently used, but didn’t become a first-team regular.

In the summer of 2007 Raúl penned a 4-year contract with the Greek Olympiacos F.C. His appearances for the club were rare, thus in the winter transfer period 2008/09 Bravo moved to CD Numancia on loan. Having earned 6 appearances, the back returned to Greece. After that he had a season long spell at Rayo Vallecano and in the summer of 2012 joined Beerschot AC.

In the summer 2013 Bravo returned to Spain joining recently promoted outfit Cordoba.

In 1997/98 Raúl Bravo was capped for Spain at the U-16 level, when the national squad won the Algarve Tournament. With the U-17 team the defender took part in the Nymburk International Tournament firing 2 goals in 3 games. In 2002 he played 3 matches at the U-21 level.

His first senior cap came on 21 August 2002 in a friendly encounter with Hungary. Subsequently Raúl was a participant at UEFA Euro 2004 when his team played in all three group stages versus Greece, Portugal and Russia. Unfortunately, since then he hasn’t been capped any more.