Manuel 'Manolo' Herrero Galaso (born 28 June 1970) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a midfielder, and is a current manager. His career was closely associated to Jaén, as both a player and a coach.

Playing career

Born in Andújar, Jaén, Andalusia, Herrero made his senior debut with local amateurs Iliturgi CF before joining Real Jaén in 1991. He left the latter three years later and moved straight to La Liga with Real Valladolid, but totalled only 245 minutes of action in his only season, also being loaned to

Córdoba CF Córdoba Club de Fútbol (), (from the 2020–21 season onwards competing under the umbrella of Unión Futbolística Cordobesa, S.A.D.) is a Spanish football club based in Córdoba, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1951 as ...

during his tenure. Herrero competed solely in

Segunda División B Segunda División B ( en, Second Division B) was the third tier of the Spanish football league system containing 102 teams divided into five groups, until it was replaced by the new structure in 2021. It was administered by the Royal Spanish Foot ...

in the following years, representing Jaén,

Málaga CF Málaga Club de Fútbol (, ''Málaga Football Club''), or simply Málaga, is a association football, football club based in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain, that competes in the Segunda División, the second tier of the Spanish football league system, ...

, Granada CF and Gimnàstic de Tarragona. He achieved promotion with the Catalans in

2001 The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a Participants in ...

, but was relegated the following year. Herrero returned to Jaén for the second time in the 2003 off-season, retiring at the end of the 2005–06 campaign after a further three years in the third level, aged 36. He totalled 272 matches for his main club in seven years, 253 in the league, 16 in the Copa del Rey and three in the Copa Federación de España, scoring 40 goals in all competitions.

Coaching career

After retiring, Herrero was an assistant manager of Real Jaén B, being promoted to head coach in the summer of 2009 as they competed in the regional championships. He left at the end of the season, and joined the first team. In February 2011, after working with the club as a match delegate, Herrero obtained a professional license, being named Jaén's manager after replacing fired José Miguel Campos. In

2012–13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

, he led the side to the first place in the regular season and the subsequent playoff promotion, which meant a return to

Segunda División The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Segunda División, commercially known as LaLiga SmartBank for sponsorship reasons, is the men's second professional association football division of the Spanish football league system. Administrated by the Lig ...

after an 11-year absence. On 4 July 2013, Herrero signed a new contract with the ''Whites''. He left the club the following year, after his side's relegation. Herrero signed with

Hércules CF Hércules de Alicante Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. () is a Spanish football team in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencian Community. Founded on 25 October 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División RFEF – Group 3 and plays its hom ...

in the third tier on 26 January 2015, taking over from the sacked Pacheta. He was dismissed roughly one year later, following a 0–2 home loss against CD Alcoyano. On 14 June 2016, Herrero was appointed SD Ponferradina manager, lasting only four months in charge. The following 20 May, he signed with UD Melilla. Herrero took over Real Murcia on 11 June 2018. Having won eight of 26 games, he was relieved of his duties the following 27 February. On 6 November 2019, Herrero returned to Melilla, 13th in their third-division group.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Manager

Jaén *

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Herrero, Manolo 1970 births Living people People from Andújar Sportspeople from the Province of Jaén (Spain) Spanish footballers Footballers from Andalusia Association football midfielders La Liga players Segunda División players Segunda División B players Real Jaén footballers Real Valladolid players Córdoba CF players Málaga CF players Granada CF footballers Gimnàstic de Tarragona footballers Spanish football managers Segunda División managers Segunda División B managers Real Jaén managers Hércules CF managers SD Ponferradina managers UD Melilla managers Real Murcia managers