{{short description|Spanish footballer (born 1991)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{family name hatnote|Molina|Valero|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Manu Molina | image = | caption = | fullname = Manuel Antonio Molina Valero | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|11|20|df=y}}<ref name=Bio>{{cite news|url=https://resultados.as.com/resultados/ficha/deportista/molina/18654/|title=Molina|publisher=[[Diario AS]]|language=es|access-date=19 October 2024}}</ref> | birth_place = [[Huelva]], Spain | height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=Bio/> | position = [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|Attacking midfielder]] | currentclub = [[CD Eldense|Eldense]] | clubnumber = 12 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = [[Recreativo de Huelva|Recreativo]] | youthyears2 = 2006–2009 | youthclubs2 = [[RCD Espanyol Cantera|Espanyol]] | years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = [[RCD Espanyol B|Espanyol B]] | caps1 = 41 | goals1 = 4 | years2 = 2010–2012 | clubs2 = [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]] | caps2 = 7 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2011–2012 | clubs3 = → [[SD Huesca|Huesca]] (loan) | caps3 = 23 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2012–2014 | clubs4 = [[Valencia CF Mestalla|Valencia B]] | caps4 = 71 | goals4 = 13 | years5 = 2014–2016 | clubs5 = [[Recreativo de Huelva|Recreativo]] | caps5 = 62 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2016–2017 | clubs6 = [[Deportivo de La Coruña B|Deportivo La Coruña B]] | caps6 = 26 | goals6 = 5 | years7 = 2017–2018 | clubs7 = [[Lleida Esportiu]] | caps7 = 30 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2018–2019 | clubs8 = [[Salamanca CF|Salamanca]] | caps8 = 32 | goals8 = 2 | years9 = 2019–2020 | clubs9 = [[Real Balompédica Linense|Linense]] | caps9 = 28 | goals9 = 3 | years10 = 2020–2022 | clubs10 = [[UD Ibiza|Ibiza]] | caps10 = 58 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2022–2023 | clubs11 = [[Real Zaragoza|Zaragoza]] | caps11 = 25 | goals11 = 0 | years12 = 2023–2025 | clubs12 = [[Málaga CF|Málaga]] | caps12 = 66 | goals12 = 1 | years13 = 2025– | clubs13 = [[CD Eldense|Eldense]] | caps13 = 12 | goals13 = 0 | totalcaps = | totalgoals = | club-update = 30 November 2025 | nationalteam-update = }} '''Manuel "Manu" Antonio Molina Valero''' (born 20 November 1991) is a Spanish [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]] for [[Primera Federación]] club [[CD Eldense|Eldense]].
==Club career== Born in [[Huelva]], [[Andalusia]], Molina was a product of his local club [[Recreativo de Huelva]] youth system. After completing his development at [[RCD Espanyol]], he made his first-team debut at only 18, playing the last minute of the 3–1 [[La Liga]] home win over [[Getafe CF]] on 29 August 2010.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120718132654/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/302035?cc=5739 Dani double for Espanyol]; [[ESPN FC|ESPN Soccernet]], 29 August 2010</ref><ref name=Exploit>[https://as.com/futbol/segunda/manu-molina-descender-y-despues-ascender-en-un-ano-fue-una-hazana-n/ Manu Molina: “Descender y después ascender en un año fue una hazaña” (Manu Molina: "To be relegated and then promote in one year was an exploit")]; Diario AS, 10 October 2024 (in Spanish)</ref> One month later, he started and finished the match at [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], but in a 3–0 loss.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120714040220/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/301950?cc=5739 Madrid cruise to win]; ESPN Soccernet, 21 September 2010</ref>
Molina was loaned to [[SD Huesca]] of [[Segunda División]] for the [[2011–12 Segunda División|2011–12 season]].<ref>[http://www.diariodelaltoaragon.es/Deportes/NoticiasDetalle.aspx?Id=696557 Manu Molina, otro fichaje para el Huesca (Manu Molina, another signing for Huesca)]; [[Diario del AltoAragón]], 7 July 2011 (in Spanish)</ref> He scored his first goal for the [[Aragon]]ese on 17 September 2011, in a 3–3 home draw against [[CD Alcoyano]].<ref>[http://www.marca.com/2011/09/17/futbol/2adivision/1316284786.html Empate de locos en El Alcoraz (Crazy draw at El Alcoraz)]; [[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]], 17 September 2011 (in Spanish)</ref>
In the following campaigns, Molina represented a host of sides in the [[Segunda División B]].<ref>[https://www.diariodehuelva.es/2018/08/25/manu-molina-ficha-salmantino-crea-nuevo-derbi-onubense/ Manu Molina ficha por el Salmantino y crea un nuevo derbi onubense (Manu Molina signs for Salmantino and creates new Huelva derby)]; Diario de Huelva, 25 August 2018 (in Spanish)</ref><ref>[https://www.periodicodeibiza.es/deportes/deporte-ibiza/2020/08/23/1191081/ibiza-ficha-manu-molina.html La UD Ibiza ficha a Manu Molina (UD Ibiza sign Manu Molina)]; Periódico de Ibiza, 23 August 2020 (in Spanish)</ref> The exception to this was [[2014–15 Segunda División|2014–15]], when he appeared in the second tier with Recreativo.<ref>[https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/futbol-segunda-division/2014/08/18/manu-molina-regresa-recreativo-ocho-anos-despues/28522.html Manu Molina regresa al Recreativo ocho años después (Manu Molina returns to Recreativo eight years later)]; [[Estadio Deportivo]], 18 August 2014 (in Spanish)</ref>
Molina returned to the professional leagues in the [[2021–22 Segunda División|2021–22 season]], after [[2020–21 Segunda División B|achieving promotion]] with [[UD Ibiza]].<ref>[https://as.com/futbol/2022/05/24/segunda/1653398827_808977.html Manu Molina no continuará en la UD Ibiza (Manu Molina will not remain at UD Ibiza)]; Diario AS, 24 May 2022 (in Spanish)</ref> In the second division, he later was a part of [[Real Zaragoza]]<ref>[https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/mercado-de-fichajes/20230819/oficial-manu-molina-dice-adios-al-real-zaragoza_300064499.html Oficial: Manu Molina dice adiós al Real Zaragoza (Official: Manu Molina says goodbye to Real Zaragoza)]; El Desmarque, 19 August 2023 (in Spanish)</ref> and [[Málaga CF]].<ref>[https://www.huelvainformacion.es/recreativo/onubense-manu-molina-asciende-malaga_0_2000467269.html El onubense Manu Molina asciende con el Málaga a Segunda División (Huelva-born Manu Molina promotes with Málaga to ''Segunda División'')]; Huelva Información, 23 June 2024 (in Spanish)</ref><ref name=Exploit/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{BDFutbol|300485}} *{{LaPreferente|79852}} *{{Soccerway|manu-molina/149227}}
{{CD Eldense squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Molina, Manu}} [[Category:1991 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen]] [[Category:Spanish men's footballers]] [[Category:Footballers from Huelva]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:La Liga players]] [[Category:Segunda División players]] [[Category:Segunda División B players]] [[Category:Tercera División players]] [[Category:Primera Federación players]] [[Category:RCD Espanyol B footballers]] [[Category:RCD Espanyol footballers]] [[Category:SD Huesca footballers]] [[Category:Valencia CF Mestalla footballers]] [[Category:Recreativo de Huelva players]] [[Category:Deportivo Fabril players]] [[Category:Lleida CF players]] [[Category:Salamanca CF UDS players]] [[Category:Real Balompédica Linense footballers]] [[Category:UD Ibiza players]] [[Category:Real Zaragoza players]] [[Category:Málaga CF players]] [[Category:CD Eldense footballers]]