Manolo Díaz
José Manuel 'Manolo' Díaz Fernández is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who played as a forward.
Coaching career
Born in Madrid, Díaz began his managerial career at the Juvenil squad of Real Madrid, leaving the club in 2006 after the arrival of the new president Ramón Calderón. He returned to Spain following a brief spell in Mexico, being appointed at CDA Navalcarnero in summer 2008.Díaz was named coach of Real Madrid C a year later, after Florentino Pérez's return as president. In 2011–12 he led the team to second place in the regular season, and despite losing in the playoffs, saw them achieve promotion to Segunda División B due to administrative relegations.
On 19 November 2013, Díaz replaced the fired Alberto Toril at the helm of the B side. His first match in charge was four days later, a 0–0 home draw against CD Numancia. Later that year, he finally took the reserves from the bottom position in Segunda División, having won 13 out of a possible 15 points and four consecutive wins.
In July 2014, Díaz was appointed at SD Ponferradina in the second division. On 31 January 2016, after the sixth loss in seven matches, he was dismissed; the campaign eventually ended in relegation.
Díaz returned to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 24 June 2017, being appointed youth system coordinator. In late October 2018, as Santiago Solari was named Julen Lopetegui's successor in the first team, he replaced the former at Castilla.
On 8 September 2021, following a short stint in the Spanish third tier with Hércules CF, Díaz was announced as head coach of Indian Super League side East Bengal FC. He resigned at the end of the year due to a poor start to the season.