Manuel Zúñiga

Zúñiga was born in Luciana, Ciudad Real. After starting professionally with lowly CD Calvo Sotelo in the Segunda División B, he signed for RCD Español in 1979, being immediately cast in the team's rotation at the age of 19. After only three appearances in his second season, which also included a loan to Cádiz CF to perform his military service, Zúñiga went on to average more than 30 La Liga matches per campaign, including 43 – with two goals – in 1986–87 as the Catalans qualified for the UEFA Cup. He helped them to reach the final in the subsequent continental competition, but missed his penalty in the shootout in an eventual loss against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In the following three years, Zúñiga played with fellow top-flight club Sevilla FC, where he still was regularly used. After 1991–92, spent with CE Sabadell FC in the Segunda División, he moved to Écija Balompié, helping it to promote to division two in 1995 and partnering Real Betis and Real Madrid legend Rafael Gordillo in 1995–96, retiring aged 36. Subsequently, Zúñiga worked as a manager, never in higher than the third tier.

A longtime Spain under-21 international, Zúñiga never earned a cap for the full side. He did represent the nation at the 1980 Summer Olympics.