Manolo Herrero

Manuel "Manolo" Herrero Galaso (born 28 June 1970) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently manager of Primera Federación club Real Jaén.

His career was closely associated to Jaén, as both a player and a coach.

Playing career Born in Andújar, Province of 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 during his tenure.

Herrero competed solely in the Segunda División B in the following years, representing Jaén, Málaga CF, Granada CF and Gimnàstic de Tarragona. He achieved promotion with the Catalans in 2001, but was relegated the next season.

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 licence, being named Jaén's manager after replacing fired José Miguel Campos. In 2012–13, he led the side to the first place in the regular season and the subsequent playoff promotion, which meant a return to Segunda División after an 11-year absence.

On 4 July 2013, Herrero signed a new contract. He left the club the following year, after his side's relegation.

Herrero signed with Hércules CF 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. On 20 May 1017, he signed with UD Melilla.

Herrero took over Real Murcia CF on 11 June 2018. Having won eight of 26 games, he was relieved of his duties the following 27 February.

On 5 November 2019, Herrero returned to Melilla, 13th in their third-division group. He left at the end of the season, before rejoining in June 2021 with the team now in the Segunda División RFEF.

Herrero left by mutual consent on 21 February 2022, being subsequently replaced by Miguel Rivera. On 24 January 2025, he returned to Jaén for a second spell as manager.

On 5 June 2026, after overseeing a second consecutive promotion, Herrero agreed to a new one-year deal.

Managerial statistics

+ Managerial record by team and tenure TeamNatFromToRecord Jaén B1 July 200930 June 2010 Jaén (caretaker)27 August 200931 August 2009 Jaén6 January 201111 June 2014 Hércules26 January 201517 January 2016 —

Honours Manager Jaén Segunda División B: 2012–13