Manolo González
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
José Manuel "Manolo" González Álvarez (born 14 January 1979) is a Spanish football manager and former player who is the current manager of La Liga club RCD Espanyol.
|
González in 2020 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Manuel González Álvarez | ||
| Date of birth | 14 January 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Folgoso do Courel, Spain | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Espanyol (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1988 | Colegio Dalvi | ||
| 1988–1996 | Martinenc | ||
| 1996–1997 | Sant Gabriel | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Martinenc | |||
| Gramenet B | |||
| Santboià | |||
| Montañesa | |||
| Poble Sec | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1995–1996 | Martinenc (youth) | ||
| 1996–2005 | Sant Gabriel (youth) | ||
| 2005–2012 | Badalona (youth) | ||
| 2012–2014 | Montañesa | ||
| 2014–2018 | Badalona | ||
| 2018–2019 | Ebro | ||
| 2019–2021 | Badalona | ||
| 2021–2023 | Peña Deportiva | ||
| 2023–2024 | Espanyol B | ||
| 2024– | Espanyol | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Born in Folgoso do Courel, Lugo, Galicia,[1] González moved to Barcelona at the age of three,[2][3] and began his career with Colegio Dalvi at the age of eight.[3] In the following year, he moved to FC Martinenc, and spent a year with CE Sant Gabriel before making his senior debut with the former.[3]
González subsequently played for UDA Gramenet B, FC Santboià and CF Montañesa, suffering a serious knee injury with the latter.[3] He subsequently signed for UE Poble Sec, but had to retire.[3]
Managerial career
González started his managerial career at the age of 16, being in charge of the Infantil B squad of Martinenc.[3] He subsequently managed San Gabriel in several different categories,[3] also working as an urban bus driver.[4]
In 2005, González joined CF Badalona as a manager of the Juvenil squad, and was in charge of the side for seven years before departing in May 2012.[5] On 25 May of that year, he was appointed manager of the first team of Montañesa, in Tercera División.[6]
On 20 June 2014, after missing out promotion in the play-offs, González returned to Badalona, now as manager of the main squad in Segunda División B;[7] he was presented by the club on 3 July.[8] On 7 May 2015, after leading the club to a fifth place finish, he renewed his contract until 2018.[9]
On 31 May 2018, González left Badalona to take over fellow third division side CD Ebro.[10] Despite leading the club to the round of 32 in the season's Copa del Rey and a 9th place in the league, he left on a mutual agreement on 23 May 2019.[11]
On 7 October 2019, González returned to the Escapulats, replacing sacked Juanma Pons.[12] He renewed his link with the club for a further year the following 20 May,[13] but left on 26 May 2021, after refusing a new deal.[14]
On 8 June 2021, González was named at the helm of SCR Peña Deportiva, in the newly-created Segunda División RFEF.[15] On 31 May 2023, after missing out promotion in two consecutive play-offs, he left the club,[16] and took over fellow league team RCD Espanyol B on 3 July.[17]
On 12 March 2024, González was appointed manager of Espanyol's first team in Segunda División, replacing Luis Miguel Ramis.[18] His first professional match in charge occurred five days later, a 1–0 away win over Real Zaragoza.[19]
González led Espanyol to a promotion to La Liga at first attempt, after defeating Real Oviedo in the finals of the play-offs.[20] He managed to narrowly avoid relegation in the 2024–25 campaign, and was named Manager of the Month in April after leading Espanyol to three consecutive victories.[21]
On 15 July 2025, González renewed his contract with the Pericos until 2027.[22] He was named Manager of the Month in December 2025.[23]
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 22 August 2026
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Montañesa |  |
25 May 2012 | 20 June 2014 | 80 | 32 | 26 | 22 | 101 | 85 | +16 | 40.00 | [24] |
| Badalona | |
20 June 2014 | 31 May 2018 | 162 | 56 | 60 | 46 | 173 | 159 | +14 | 34.57 | [25] |
| Ebro | |
31 May 2018 | 23 May 2019 | 42 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 33 | 38 | −5 | 30.95 | [26] |
| Badalona | |
7 October 2019 | 26 May 2021 | 50 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 30.00 | [27] |
| Peña Deportiva | |
8 June 2021 | 31 May 2023 | 75 | 35 | 22 | 18 | 102 | 66 | +36 | 46.67 | [28] |
| Espanyol B | |
3 July 2023 | 12 March 2024 | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 32 | 29 | +3 | 38.46 | [29] |
| Espanyol | |
12 March 2024 | Present | 98 | 32 | 28 | 38 | 108 | 119 | −11 | 32.65 | [30] |
| Career total | 533 | 193 | 178 | 162 | 592 | 545 | +47 | 36.21 | — | |||
Honours
Manager
Individual