Manuel "Manolo" Zambrano Díaz (born 8 March 1960) is a Spanish former football midfielder and manager.
Playing career Born in Huelva, Andalusia, Zambrano finished his youth career at Recreativo de Huelva, and made his first-team – and La Liga – debut on 3 September 1978 at the age of only 18, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 home win against Real Zaragoza.3–0: El Huelva dio un repaso al Zaragoza (3–0: Huelva all over Zaragoza); Mundo Deportivo, 4 September 1978 On 18 May 1980 he scored his first professional goal, the last in a 3–1 away victory over Getafe Deportivo in the Segunda División.1–3: Gran golpe del Huelva en Getafe (1–3: Great Huelva blow in Getafe); Mundo Deportivo, 19 May 1980
Zambrano signed for neighbouring CD Málaga in summer of 1984, and scored his first goal in the top division on 30 March of the following year, opening a 1–1 home draw with RCD Español.1–1: Un Español de mercado común (1–1: Single-market Español); Mundo Deportivo, 31 March 1985 His team was eventually relegated at the end of the season, and he signed with fellow league club Sevilla FC shortly after.
After 72 competitive matches at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium (three goals), Zambrano joined RC Celta de Vigo in 1987. He retired with Real Murcia CF in 1992 at the age of 32, mainly due to hernia injuries.Manolo Zambrano; Yo Jugué en el Celta, 8 April 2008
Coaching career Zambrano started working as a coach with amateurs Olont CF, and also had lower league spells at Ayamonte CF, CD San Fernando and AD Cartaya. In 2007, he returned to his first club Recreativo, being appointed manager of the reserves."Criticamos mucho lo nuestro. Si alguien de Huelva hace lo mismo que los nuevos dueños del club no podría ni salir a la calle" ("We often criticise our own. If anyone from Huelva does what the club's new owners did they would not be able to show their faces"); Huelva 24, 29 January 2014
On 4 February 2008, Zambrano replaced the fired Víctor Muñoz at the helm of the main squad.Víctor Muñoz, destituido como técnico del Recreativo (Víctor Muñoz, dismissed as Recreativo manager); Marca, 4 February 2008 After narrowly avoiding top-flight relegation he renewed his contract on 23 May,Zambrano y Aitor renuevan su contrato con el Recreativo (Zambrano and Aitor renew their contract with Recreativo); Diario AS, 23 May 2008 but was dismissed on 7 October.Manolo Zambrano, destituido (Manolo Zambrano, dismissed); Diario AS, 7 October 2008
On 6 October 2016, Zambrano was elected Recreativo's new president.Manolo Zambrano, elegido nuevo presidente del Recreativo (Manolo Zambrano, elected new Recreativo president); Diario AS, 6 October 2016
Personal life Zambrano's brother and son, respectively Antonio and Alejandro, were also footballers. They too represented Recreativo professionally.Luto en el Recre por la muerte de Antonio Zambrano (Mourning at Recre for the death of Antonio Zambrano); Huelva Hoy, 1 July 2015 Álex Zambrano: “Ser el hijo del presidente del Recreativo me ha perjudicado más que beneficiado” (Álex Zambrano: "Being the son of the president of Recreativo has hurt me more than it has done me good"); Diario de Huelva, 24 August 2018
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenure TeamNatFromToRecord Olont1 July 199930 June 2001 Ayamonte1 July 200130 June 2002 San Fernando 1 July 200230 June 2004 Cartaya1 July 200430 June 2007 Recreativo B1 July 20074 February 2008 Recreativo4 February 20087 October 2008 Career Total —
References
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