Manolo Hierro
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Manuel Ruiz Hierro | ||
| Date of birth | 8 February 1962 | ||
| Place of birth | Vélez-Málaga, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | 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. |
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Manuel "Manolo" Ruiz Hierro (born 8 February 1962) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.
He amassed La Liga totals of 175 games and seven goals over the course of ten seasons, representing mainly Tenerife (four years) and Málaga (three).
Born in Vélez-Málaga, Andalusia, Hierro started playing professionally with local CD Málaga, but only appeared in 20 games for the first team in his first three seasons combined, also suffering La Liga relegation in the last one. After one more year in Segunda División, he signed with Real Valladolid in 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, 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– also in the top division and on loan – and retired from football at 32, having amassed professional totals of 206 games and 11 goals.
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, 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.
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