José María Manzanares

José María Dols Samper (; born 3 January 1982), also known professionally as José Mari Manzanares hijo is a Spanish bullfighter and model. He has twice been borne shoulder-high out through the Great Gate at the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid.

Early life Manzanares grew up in a family whose affinity for bullfighting was very strong, for not only was his father the bullfighter José Mari Manzanares, but his grandfather, José María Dols Cantó ("Pepe Manzanares"), was a novillero and later a subalterno and a banderillero. He began studies in veterinary medicine but eventually gave them up to give himself over wholly to tauromachy.

In 2001, when he was 19 years old, he presented himself as a becerrista (novice who fights calves) at a charitable bullfighting festival in Campotéjar, at which he cut four ears and two tails. He alternated with M. González Porras, José Fuentes, José María Manzanares (his father), Enrique Ponce, and Joaquín Puga, while bulls were supplied by the Giménez Indarte ranch.

Since taking his alternativa, he has kept to his decision not to headline the bullring, that is to say, he will never seek top billing. This he manages by giving the alternativa to novilleros (bullfighters who are not yet fully fledged matadors) or by appearing after other veteran bullfighters, with few exceptions, such as cases of mano a mano bullfights (ones at which only two bullfighters appear, instead of the usual three). He had the confirmation of his alternativa on 18 May 2005 at Las Ventas. Standing as "godfather" this time was César Jiménez, while Salvador Vega stood as witness. Bulls, including the one that Manzanares slew for his confirmation, named Catavino, were supplied by the Garcigrande ranch. – and the 2008 season, too – from which he also had to excuse himself after catching another virus – he fought together with his father on numerous occasions. His style is considered to be at a high artistic level and to be serious and deep. In the 2008 bullfighting season he had resounding triumphs at the Seville Fair when he appeared at the Maestranza, at Alicante's Feria de Hogueras, at Acho in Lima, and at Valencia in Venezuela, being borne out the gates at his appearances.

The 2011 bullfighting season was very important for Manzanares. On 18 May, he was taken shoulder-high out through the Great Gate at Las Ventas after slaying bulls supplied by the Núñez del Cuvillo ranch, among them one named Trapajoso. He also got an ovation and two ears, sharing the billing with El Juli and Sebastián Castella.

In 2016, at the yearly Corrida de Beneficencia ("Charity Bullfights"), Manzanares was borne out through the Great Gate at Las Ventas, together with López Simón, after slaying bulls furnished by the Victoriano del Río ranch. Sebastián Castella was the third bullfighter on the bill that afternoon. in Nîmes in 2013; at the Plaza México in 2007; at the Plaza de Toros Cañaveralejo in Cali, Colombia in 2013; at the Arènes du Plumaçon bullring in Mont-de-Marsan, France, in 2014; and at Valencia in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017.

Modelling career In 2012, Manzanares began his career as an advertising model for some haute couture firms, appearing in VMan sporting Carine Roitfeld's styles, which included a gladiator's skirt. In 2013, he was Givenchy's spring-summer-season male image. In 2015, he starred, alongside Blanca Padilla, in Dolce & Gabbana's spring-summer-season campaign, which was inspired by bullfighting.

Personal life On 6 November 2010, Manzanares wed Rocío Escalona, a prestigious plastic surgeon's daughter, at Alicante's Church of Our Lady of Grace (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Gracia). They have three children, José María (born 2011), Julieta (born 2013), and Gabriela (born 2016).

Manzanares's brother, Manuel Dols Samper, is himself a rejoneador.