Manuel Martínez Lara
Encyclopedia
Manuel 'Manolo' Martínez Lara (born 15 June 1980 in Bigastro
, Alicante) is a Spanish
professional footballer who plays for Recreativo de Huelva
mainly as a defensive midfielder - he can also operate as a central defender.
, as a central defender. After years spent almost exclusively in Segunda División B
, he had a brief spell in the top level
, playing three matches for Gimnàstic de Tarragona
, and being released in the 2007 winter transfer window; his debut in the main competition consisted of 55 minutes of a 1–2 home loss against Celta de Vigo
, on 10 September 2006.
Martínez then moved to CD Tenerife
where he reconverted into a defensive midfielder, greatly helping the team return to the first division in 2008–09, after a seven-year hiatus. In the subsequent topflight campaign
, he played more often than not in his secondary position - stopper - and his performances were overall poorer, with the Canary Islands
outfit being immediately relegated, although it would only be certified in the last round, against Valencia CF
(0–1 away defeat).
In August 2010, aged 30, Martínez did not renew his Tenerife link and agreed a two year-deal with another team in division two
, Recreativo de Huelva
.
Bigastro
Bigastro is a district in the Valencian Community situated in the south of the province of Alicante, in the comarca of Vega Baja del Segura. It had a population of 6,450 at the time of the -History:...
, Alicante) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
professional footballer who plays for Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
mainly as a defensive midfielder - he can also operate as a central defender.
Football career
Martínez started his professional career with local outfit Hércules CFHércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
, as a central defender. After years spent almost exclusively in Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, he had a brief spell in the top level
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, playing three matches for Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Club Gimnàstic de Tarragona, usually referred to as Nàstic, is a Spanish sports club based in Tarragona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Its football team currently plays in Segunda División....
, and being released in the 2007 winter transfer window; his debut in the main competition consisted of 55 minutes of a 1–2 home loss against Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
, on 10 September 2006.
Martínez then moved to CD Tenerife
CD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
where he reconverted into a defensive midfielder, greatly helping the team return to the first division in 2008–09, after a seven-year hiatus. In the subsequent topflight campaign
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, he played more often than not in his secondary position - stopper - and his performances were overall poorer, with the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
outfit being immediately relegated, although it would only be certified in the last round, against Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
(0–1 away defeat).
In August 2010, aged 30, Martínez did not renew his Tenerife link and agreed a two year-deal with another team in division two
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
.