José Manuel "Manolo"González Álvarez (born 14 January 1979) is a Spanishfootball manager and former player who is the current manager ofLa Liga clubRCD Espanyol.
González subsequently played forUDA Gramenet B,FC Santboià andCF Montañesa, suffering a seriousknee injury with the latter.[3] He subsequently signed for UE Poble Sec, but had to retire.[3]
González started his managerial career at the age of 16, being in charge of theInfantil B squad of Martinenc.[3] He subsequently managed San Gabriel in several different categories,[3] also working as an urbanbus driver.[4]
In 2005, González joinedCF Badalona as a manager of theJuvenil squad, and was in charge of the side for seven years before departing in May 2012.[5] On 25 May of that year, he was appointed manager of the first team of Montañesa, inTercera División.[6]
On 20 June 2014, after missing out promotion inthe play-offs, González returned to Badalona, now as manager of the main squad inSegunda División B;[7] he was presented by the club on 3 July.[8] On 7 May 2015, after leading the club to afifth place finish, he renewed his contract until 2018.[9]
On 31 May 2018, González left Badalona to take over fellow third division sideCD Ebro.[10] Despite leading the club to the round of 32 inthe season'sCopa del Rey and a 9th place inthe league, he left on a mutual agreement on 23 May 2019.[11]
On 7 October 2019, González returned to theEscapulats, replacing sacked Juanma Pons.[12] He renewed his link with the club for a further year the following 20 May,[13] but left on 26 May 2021, after refusing a new deal.[14]
On 8 June 2021, González was named at the helm ofSCR Peña Deportiva, in the newly-createdSegunda División RFEF.[15] On 31 May 2023, after missing out promotion in two consecutive play-offs, he left the club,[16] and took over fellow league teamRCD Espanyol B on 3 July.[17]
González led Espanyol to a promotion toLa Liga at first attempt, after defeatingReal Oviedo in the finals ofthe play-offs.[20] He managed to narrowly avoid relegation in the2024–25 campaign, and was namedManager of the Month in April after leading Espanyol to three consecutive victories.
On 15 July 2025, González renewed his contract with thePericos until 2027.[21]
^"Montañesa" (in Spanish). Resultados Fútbol. Retrieved13 March 2024. "Montañesa" (in Spanish). Resultados Fútbol. Retrieved13 March 2024. "Fase de ascenso a Segunda División B 2013–14" [Promotion phase to Second Division B 2013–14] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved13 March 2024.
