Manolo Villanova

Manolo Villanova
Personal information
Full name Manuel José Villanova Rebollar
Date of birth (1942-08-27) 27 August 1942 (age 82)
Place of birth Zaragoza, Spain
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1967 Mallorca 14 (0)
1967–1971 Betis 81 (0)
1971–1975 Zaragoza 51 (0)
Total 156 (0)
Managerial career
1975–1978 Deportivo Aragón
1979–1981 Zaragoza
1982–1984 Salamanca
1984–1985 Mallorca
1985–1986 Hércules
1987–1988 Zaragoza
1991–1992 Huesca
1992–1996 Recreativo
1996–2003 Zaragoza B
2006–2008 Huesca
2008 Zaragoza
2008–2009 Zaragoza B
2013–2014 Sariñena
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Villanova and the second or maternal family name is Rebollar.

Manuel José "Manolo" Villanova Rebollar (born 27 August 1942) is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a goalkeeper.

Playing career

Born in Zaragoza, Aragon, Villanova's first professional club was Segunda División's RCD Mallorca, whom he joined in 1966. After a full season at the club he moved to La Liga with Real Betis, suffering relegation during his first campaign.

Villanova continued to appear with the Andalusians in the following years, all in the second level. In 1972, he returned to the top tier, after agreeing to a deal with Real Zaragoza.

A backup to Manolo Nieves, Villanova appeared sparingly for his hometown club, and retired in 1975 at the age of 32.

Managerial career

Immediately after retiring Villanova took up coaching, being appointed at Zaragoza's reserve team, Deportivo Aragón. In May 1979 he was appointed at the helm of the main squad, replacing Vujadin Boškov.

Villanova was sacked in March 1981, after winning only one match out of ten. In June he was named UD Salamanca manager, and took the club back to the top level at first attempt.[1]

Villanova was in charge of the Charros until 1984, and left the club after suffering relegation as dead last. In 1984, he was appointed manager of RCD Mallorca in the second division,[2] finishing the campaign in the seventh position.

In October 1985 Villanova returned to the main category, being appointed Hércules CF manager and replacing sacked Antoni Torres.[3] He was unable prevent relegation nonetheless, and subsequently left the club.

In December 1987 Villanova returned to Zaragoza,[4] taking the club to an impressive fifth position before resigning.[5] He only returned to coaching duties in 1991, while in charge of SD Huesca.

In 1996, after four full seasons at Recreativo de Huelva,[6] Villanova rejoined Zaragoza and its reserve team. In charge until 2003, he only left his post to join the club's board.

In July 2006 Villanova returned to Huesca.[7] On 3 March 2008, he returned to Zaragoza for a third spell, with his side seriously threatened with relegation.[8]

After failing to avoid the drop with the main squad, Villanova was appointed manager of the reserves for a third time. He was relieved from his duties in June 2009, ending a 12-year relationship with the club.[9]

On 14 October 2013, Villanova was named manager of CD Sariñena, in Segunda División B.[10] After suffering relegation, he left the club.

References

  1. ^ Fermor (28 May 1982). "Villanova, un año más en el Salamanca" [Villanova, another further year at Salamanca] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. p. 8. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  2. ^ Jolis, Montse (16 May 1984). "Villanova, presentado en Palma" [Villanova, presented in Palma] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. p. 10. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  3. ^ EFE (24 October 1985). "Relevo en el Hércules: Villanova, nuevo entrenador" [Replacement at Hércules: Villanova, new manager] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. p. 30. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. ^ Andrés, Mariano (6 December 1987). "Presentación del nuevo entrenador" [Presentation of the new manager] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. p. 16. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  5. ^ Andrés, Mariano (22 May 1988). "Villanova: En la hora del adiós" [Villanova: At the time of the farewell] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. p. 31. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Manolo Villanova, nuevo entrenador del Recreativo" [Manolo Villanova, new manager of Recreativo] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 19 July 1992. p. 41. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  7. ^ Ferrer, Jaime (3 July 2006). "Borraz, nuevo presidente y Villanova entrenador" [Borraz, new president and Villanova manager] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. p. 33. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Manolo Villanova, nuevo entrenador del Zaragoza" [Manolo Villanova, new Zaragoza manager]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 March 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  9. ^ "El club despide a Manolo Villanova después de doce años seguidos de relación laboral" [The club sack Manolo Villanova after twele years of professional relationship]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 17 June 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Manolo Villanova ficha por el Sariñena" [Manolo Villanova signs for Sariñena]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 14 October 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.