Manuel Gavilán

Manuel 'Manu' Gavilán Morales (born 12 July 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Tercera Federación club Atlético Central.

Club career Born in Seville, Andalusia, Gavilán graduated from Real Betis' youth system, and made his senior debut with the reserves in the 2008–09 season, in the Segunda División B. After attracting interest from Liverpool and other Premier League clubs, he joined Serie A's Bologna FC 1909 on 10 August 2010, for €350,000.

Gavilán played his first match as a professional on 18 January 2011, coming on as a substitute for Henry Giménez in the 77th minute of a 2–1 away loss against SSC Napoli in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia. He subsequently served loans at fellow Italians Piacenza Calcio 1919, ASG Nocerina and San Marino Calcio, only appearing regularly with the latter; he was released in June 2014.

On 6 August 2014, Gavilán returned to Spain and signed a three-year deal with Zamora CF in the third tier. He scored his first goal for the team on 26 October, opening a 4–0 away win over Atlético Astorga FC.

In the following seasons, save for a brief spell in the Austrian Football Bundesliga with SV Ried, Gavilán continued to compete in the Spanish lower leagues, representing in quick succession CD Eldense, UE Llagostera, CD Guijuelo and CD Toledo. On 31 July 2019, after a two-week trial, he joined Hong Kong Premier League side Happy Valley AA, leaving on 28 May 2020 after it was decided his contract would not be renewed.

Gavilán signed with Kitchee SC of the same league on 1 June 2020. Two years later, he remained in the country's top flight on a contract at Lee Man FC.

In July 2023, Gavilán returned to Toledo, who now competed in the amateur Tercera Federación. He then took his game to the Icelandic second tier.

Honours Kitchee Hong Kong Premier League: 2019–20, 2020–21

Spain UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2008