Manolo Gaspar Explained

Manolo Gaspar
Full Name:	Manuel Gaspar Haro
Birth Date:	3 February 1981
Birth Place:	Málaga, Spain
Height:	1.76 m
Position:	Right-back
Youthclubs1:	Málaga
Years1:	2001–2004
Caps1:	109
Goals1:	1
Years2:	2004–2006
Caps2:	65
Goals2:	0
Years3:	2006–2008
Caps3:	28
Goals3:	0
Years4:	2008–2011
Caps4:	40
Goals4:	0
Years5:	2011–2012
Caps5:	20
Goals5:	0
Years6:	2013
Caps6:	10
Goals6:	1
Years7:	2013–2015
Caps7:	54
Goals7:	0
Totalcaps:	326
Totalgoals:	2

Manuel 'Manolo' Gaspar Haro (born 3 February 1981) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a right-back.

Club career

Born in Málaga, Andalusia, Gaspar started playing professionally with hometown Málaga CF's reserves, then spent two Segunda División seasons with another team in the region, UD Almería, being named 2005–06's best right-back whilst at the service of the latter.^[1]

For 2006–07, upon Levante UD's return to La Liga, Gaspar signed for the Valencian Community side.^[2] He appeared scarcely over two seasons, facing relegation in his second with the club immersed in a precarious financial situation.

Gaspar returned to Málaga in July 2008, being pretty much absent of the lineups for most part of the campaign but being heavily used in the final months.^[3] He again featured regularly in 2009–10, mainly due to injuries to teammates; however, on 3 April 2010, it was announced that he would miss the rest of the season because of an inflamed appendix, which was successfully operated and removed.^[4]

Gaspar continued to be used exclusively as a backup in 2010–11, by both Jesualdo Ferreira and his successor Manuel Pellegrini.^[5] On 4 July 2011, aged 30, he left Málaga and returned to the second tier, joining FC Cartagena.^[6]

Following an unassuming spell in the Cypriot First Division, Gaspar signed with CD El Palo from Segunda División B.^[7] In 2014, still as an active player, he returned to Málaga in directorial capacities.^[8]

References

1. Web site: Leyendas rojiblancas: Manolo. Red-and-white legends: Manolo. Vavel. Sebastián. Guirao Martínez. Spanish. 17 May 2013. 23 February 2018.
2. Web site: Fútbol.– El nuevo fichaje del Levante Manolo Gaspar desea "empezar ya los entrenamientos". Football.– New Levante signing Manolo Gaspar wishes to "start training at once". Europa Press. Spanish. 3 July 2006. 27 September 2022.
3. Web site: Manolo Gaspar: "Jugar ahora mismo es una gozada". Manolo Gaspar: "I'm getting a real kick out of playing right now". Málaga CF. Spanish. 15 January 2009. 29 January 2016.
4. Web site: Manolo Gaspar, operado de apendicitis. Manolo Gaspar, underwent appendicitis surgery. Málaga CF. Spanish. 3 April 2010. 29 January 2016.
5. News: Pellegrini no da con la tecla. Pellegrini does not get it right. Diario de Almería. Spanish. 28 February 2011. 29 January 2016.
6. Web site: Manolo Gaspar deja el Málaga CF y firma con el FC Cartagena. Manolo Gaspar deja el Málaga CF y firma con el FC Cartagena. Málaga CF. Spanish. 4 July 2011. 23 February 2018.
7. Web site: El Palo ficha a Manolo Gaspar. El Palo sign Manolo Gaspar. Vavel. Fernando. Fernández. Spanish. 17 August 2013. 23 February 2018.
8. Web site: El club incorpora a Manolo Gaspar a su secretaría técnica. Club adds Manolo Gaspar to technical department. Málaga CF. Spanish. 14 August 2014. 23 February 2018.