Karim Benzema hints at a return to Real Madrid after his football career

The Frenchman could return to Los Blancos, but not as a coach.

Legendary Real Madrid player Karim Benzema has made it clear that he wants to return to the club after his storied playing career is over.

With 354 goals in 14 years, Benzema ranks second on Madrid’s all-time goalscoring list, ahead of legends Raul and Alfredo Di Stefano. With 648 games played between 2009 and 2023, he ranks fifth on the team’s all-time appearance list.

Benzema left the LaLiga club on a high note after winning his first-ever Ballon d’Or and Champions League for the Saudi club.

In past decades, Madrid have welcomed former players’ return in a range of off-field capacities; notable executive jobs have been held by stalwarts Emilio Butragueno and Jorge Valdano. Alvaro Arbeloa is currently the youth coach at Real Madrid Castilla, which Raul has been leading since 2019. He is currently the head coach of the Real Madrid B team.

Before two stints as head coach, Zinedine Zidane famously served as an adviser under Santiago Solari, who had stints in command of several teams up to the first-team level.

Benzema acknowledged in an interview that he wants to remain “close” with President Florentino Perez but that he is unsure if coaching is the career route he truly wants to follow.

“The other day I was with Florentino in Madrid. When he signed me [in 2009], I told my father that as long as he was at Real Madrid, I would be there,” the Frenchman explained.

“He was the first person I called when I decided I was leaving. He didn’t quite understand…I told him that the youngsters, Vinicius and Rodrygo, were ready. When I retire, I want to be close to football. Coach? I don’t know, it seems more complicated than being a player. I want to be close to Florentino.”

Benzema is 37 years old and presently in his second campaign with Saudi Pro League powerhouse Al Ittihad, who are close on winning the title race.

🚨⚪️ Karim Benzema: “Florentino Perez was the first person I called when I decided to leave Real Madrid”.“He didn't quite understand… I told him that the young stars, Vinicius and Rodrygo, were ready”, told @EduAguirre7. pic.twitter.com/QyATc0KlEs

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 3, 2025

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