Manuel Salvador Serra

Manuel "Manolo" Salvador Serra (born 27 November 1963) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder or a forward. He spent the majority of his career with Albacete Balompié, with whom he made 89 La Liga appearances during two separate spells.

Career Villarreal Manolo came to professional football relatively late, joining Villarreal in 1988 at the age of 24.

Albacete Balompié In the summer of 1989, Manolo joined Villarreal's Segunda División B rivals Albacete Balompié. This proved to be an inspired move, with Albacete about to embark on an unprecedented period of success, and Manolo would play a major part.

It was an excellent season for Albacete, who won their group and earned promotion to the Segunda División. This meant that 1990–91 gave Manolo the opportunity to make his Segunda División debut, which he duly did on 2 September as Albacete got off to a winning start by taking a 2–0 home victory against Palamós. His first goal at that level came on 18 November during a 5–1 home win over Figueres, and he finished the season with his habitual six goals in 32 matches.

Miraculously, Albacete won the Segunda División title at the first attempt, and earned a second successive promotion, reaching La Liga for the first time in their history. Manolo featured less heavily as Albacete strengthened the squad for their inaugural top flight season, and he had to wait until 26 January to make his La Liga debut. This came in a home fixture against Atlético Madrid, where he came off the bench with eight minutes to play in place of Delfí Geli, who had joined on loan from Barcelona in the summer. Albacete held on for a remarkable 3–1 victory.

His first start in the top flight came on 9 February in a 1–1 draw with Valencia at Estadio Luis Casanova, while his first home start didn't arrive until 28 March, in a 3–1 loss to Real Madrid. In total, he played 15 times that season. but Albacete narrowly prevailed and maintained their top flight place.

Atlético Marbella The majority of Manolo's appearances in Albacete's two La Liga campaigns had been as a substitute, and in search of more regular starting opportunities he dropped down a division in 1993, joining Atlético Marbella in the Segunda División.

He continued to play an important part in the team in 1994–95, appearing in 15 of the first 17 league games. The 2–0 home loss to Rayo Vallecano on 15 January would prove to be his last for Marbella, though, as he rejoined Albacete in the January transfer window.

Return to Albacete His second Albacete debut came on 22 January, in a 2–2 home draw with Barcelona. His stint with Marbella had built up his reputation, and he was now a regular starter for Albacete, featuring 25 times before the end of the season. These included playing both legs of the relegation playoff that they found themselves involved in once again. This was the only red card of Manolo's career. Manolo made the most of it, making 40 appearances during the 1995–96 La Liga campaign, but Albacete found themselves in a relegation playoff once again. This time the opponents were Extremadura, and again Manolo played in both legs, but a pair of 1–0 losses saw them finally relegated back to the Segunda División.

Back in the second tier, Manolo played 34 matches the following season, and scored his first Albacete goal for more than five years in a 2–0 home win over Ourense on 14 September. A 1–0 home win over Almería on 1 June was his last for Albacete, as he left the club at the end of the season after 206 appearances and 14 goals over six and a half seasons in two spells. before retiring at the end of the season.

Honours Albacete Balompié Segunda División B: 1989–90 Segunda División: 1990–91

Career statistics

1. Appearance in the 1992–93 La Liga relegation playoff 2. Appearances in the 1994–95 La Liga relegation playoff 3. Appearances in the 1995–96 La Liga relegation playoff