Manolo Hierro

Manuel "Manolo" Ruiz Hierro (born 8 February 1962) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ruiz and the second or maternal family name is Hierro.
Manolo Hierro
Personal information
Full name Manuel Ruiz Hierro
Date of birth (1962-02-08) 8 February 1962
Place of birth Vélez-Málaga, Spain
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Málaga
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1984 Málaga B
1981–1986 Málaga 51 (4)
1986–1988 Valladolid 57 (4)
1988–1990 Barcelona 0 (0)
1988–1989 → Betis (loan) 24 (1)
1989–1990 → Tenerife (loan) 28 (0)
1990–1994 Tenerife 46 (2)
Total 206 (11)
National team
1988 Spain U21 1 (0)
1988 Spain U23 2 (0)
Teams managed
2006 Málaga
2007–2008 Puertollano
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed La Liga totals of 175 matches and seven goals over ten seasons, representing mainly Tenerife (four years) and Málaga (three).

Playing career

Born in Vélez-Málaga, Andalusia, Hierro started playing professionally with local CD Málaga, but only appeared in a combined 26 games for the first team in his first five seasons, also suffering La Liga relegation in the last one. After one more year in Segunda División, he signed with Real Valladolid of the top level.

After helping the Castile and León side finish eighth in his second season, with one of the best defensive records in the competition (38 matches, 34 goals), Hierro signed with FC Barcelona,[1] but only lasted a few months in Catalonia, moving to Real Betis on loan. Suffering top flight relegation with the Verdiblancos he subsequently joined CD Tenerife[2]– also in the top division and on loan – and retired from football at 32, having amassed professional totals of 206 games and 11 goals.

Post-retirement

After retiring as a player, Hierro served as director of football to his first team – now renamed Málaga CF – for several seasons. In early 2006, following the dismissal of Antonio Tapia,[3] he was named head coach, as the club was eventually relegated from the first division and he was relieved of his duties as both director and manager.[4]

Personal life

Hierro was the second of three siblings who were all footballers, and defenders. His older brother, Antonio, played almost exclusively for Málaga, while the youngest, Fernando, represented mainly Real Madrid and scored more than 20 goals for the Spanish national team.

From 1980 to 1986 Manuel and Antonio played together in Málaga, and Fernando was Manuel's teammate at Valladolid for one season.[5][6]

References
  1. Perearnau, Francesc (9 July 1988). "¡Hola Hierro" [Hello Hierro!] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  2. "Expediente para Manolo, un Hierro que no sale de penas" [Disciplinary proceedings for Manolo, ever-worrying Hierro]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 14 October 1993. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  3. Barbado, José Carlos (31 January 2006). "Hierro para la salvación" [Hierro for salvation] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. Cortés, Sergio (9 August 2006). "El Málaga destituye a Antonio Mendoza y Manolo Hierro" [Málaga dismiss Antonio Mendoza and Manolo Hierro]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  5. "Fallece el padre de Fernando y Manolo Hierro" [Father of Fernando and Manolo Hierro dies]. La Opinión de Málaga (in Spanish). 17 September 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  6. "La saga de los Hierro" [The Hierro saga] (in Spanish). Historias del Real Madrid. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
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