A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head includes a return magnetic pole layer and a connecting magnetic layer. The return magnetic pole layer is formed at a position distanced from the medium-opposing surface on the side opposite to the write shield layer with the main magnetic pole layer intervening therebetween. The connecting magnetic layer is formed using a magnetic material so as to connect the return magnetic pole layer to the write shield layer on the side closer to the medium-opposing surface than is the thin-film coil. The thin-film coil is wound as a flat spiral around the write shield layer. A part of the thin-film coil wound as the flat spiral is disposed only at a position distanced from the substrate than is the main magnetic pole layer.