Manu Trigueros

Villarreal

Subsequently, Trigueros signed for Villarreal CF, being assigned to the C team. He made his official debut with Villarreal B on 4 June 2011, playing 30 minutes as a substitute for Fofo in a 2–1 away loss against Real Betis on the last day of the second-tier season. On 11 February 2012 he scored his first goal in a 3–1 defeat at CE Sabadell FC, being relatively played during the season but suffering relegation – even though the side finished in 12th position – as the first team had also dropped down a level in La Liga.

In June 2012, Trigueros was definitely promoted to the main squad. He contributed 36 games and three goals as the Yellow Submarine won instant promotion; his 15th appearance activated a clause that paid €100,000 to Murcia.

Trigueros made his maiden appearance in the top flight on 19 August 2013, coming on as a 53rd-minute substitute for Tomás Pina in 3–2 away victory over UD Almería. As a starter, he scored his first goal in the competition, his team's second in the 3–1 home defeat of CA Osasuna on 3 February 2014. That October, his contract was extended from 2017 to 2019; in November 2016, a new deal tied him to Villarreal until 2022.

On 21 May 2017, Trigueros scored in a 3–1 win at local rivals Valencia CF on the last day of the season, securing fifth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. He netted his first in that continental competition on 19 October, as the team fought back for a 2–2 group stage draw with SK Slavia Prague at the Estadio de la Cerámica. On 23 December, in another derby at Mestalla, he was sent off for the first time in his career in a 1–0 victory.

Trigueros reached 300 matches for the club on 10 November 2019, in a 3–1 away loss against RCD Mallorca. In March 2021, he entered Villarreal's top three appearance makers, overtaking Marcos Senna's 363 and trailing only his contemporaries Bruno Soriano and Mario Gaspar. He played 14 times that season in their victorious Europa League campaign (54 in all competitions), scoring the opening goal of a 2–1 semi-final win over Arsenal on 29 April.

In November 2021, Trigueros' link was lengthened to 2025, with him remaining a key part of manager Unai Emery's plans. On 15 December, he made his 400th appearance in a 7–1 rout of Atlético Sanluqueño CF in the second round of the Copa del Rey, trailing Bruno's overall record by just 25. He took the record on 8 September 2022 in a 4–3 UEFA Europa Conference League group victory at home to Lech Poznań.

In 2023–24, Trigueros was more often a substitute, as the managerial hotseat revolved between Quique Setién, Pacheta and Marcelino García Toral. On 2 November, playing as an attacking midfielder for the second of those coaches, he scored his first career hat-trick in a 5–0 win away to sixth-tier Chiclana CF in the first round of the cup.

Trigueros finished his spell with 477 matches, leaving on 8 August 2024.

Granada Hours after leaving Villarreal, Trigueros joined second-division side Granada CF on a two-year contract. On 29 May 2026, Trigueros announced that he would retire at the end of the 2025–26 season. On 31 May 2026, at the 2025–26 Segunda División final round against Sporting de Gijón, he played his last professional match.

Personal life Both of Trigueros' parents were teachers, and he graduated in Primary Education in 2017. While some sources erroneously named his alma mater as Universidad CEU San Pablo, it was actually the Castellón de la Plana campus of a linked establishment, CEU Cardinal Herrera University.

Trigueros' father, also named Manuel, played in the second tier for Granada CF.

Career statistics

Honours Villarreal UEFA Europa League: 2020–21

Individual UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2016–17