Manuel Preciado Rebolledo

Born in El Astillero, Cantabria, Preciado appeared in 59 La Liga matches for local Racing de Santander, split between three of his five-year spell with the club. His best-ever in the top flight was 32 games in the 1978–79 season, which ended in relegation. After three years in Segunda División (two of them with Linares CF), Preciado resumed his career in the lower leagues, eventually retiring in 1992 with lowly Gimnástica de Torrelavega also in his native region, at nearly 35. He scored his only goal in the top tier on 18 April 1982, but in a 4–1 away loss against Athletic Bilbao.

Preciado took up coaching in the mid-90s precisely with his last team, leading it to the Tercera División championship. Being then recalled by Racing to be in charge of the reserves, two other promotions to Segunda División B befell, in 1997 and 2002. Preciado was called for first-team coaching duties in 2002–03's top division, helping them to eventually retain their status in his 18 games in charge but submitting his resignation after the purchase of the club by Dmitry Piterman, given the intention of the businessman to act as coach. After second-tier spells with Levante UD – with promotion – and Real Murcia, he returned to Santander. Although the side finished just one point above the relegation zone, they managed a 2–1 away win over Real Madrid on 21 December 2005. In the summer of 2006, Preciado switched to Sporting de Gijón. In his second season he managed to lead the Asturians to the top flight after ten years. Subsequently, he avoided relegation with the lowest budget of all 20 teams after a 2–1 home defeat of Recreativo de Huelva in the last round on 31 May 2009, renewing his contract later that year. Preciado again led Sporting into safety in the 2009–10 campaign (15th place). In November 2010, after resting almost his entire starting XI for a fixture against FC Barcelona two months earlier, eventually losing 1–0 away, he was accused by Real Madrid manager José Mourinho of throwing the match, and responded by calling the Portuguese a "bad colleague" and a "scumbag".…

Preciado's wife died from cancer in 2002. Two years later, his 15-year-old son (one of two the couple had) was killed in a car crash. He later claimed about the incidents: "I could have shot myself or I could have carried on". On 20 April 2011, Preciado's father, also named Manuel, died after being run over in Santander.

Manager

Levante

Segunda División: 2003–04 Individual

Miguel Muñoz Trophy (Segunda División): 2007–08