Villareal Coach Dies Of Heart Attack Hours After New Job

Manolo Preciado, who was due to be unveiled as new Villarreal manager on Friday, has died of a heart attack.

The 54-year-old Spaniard left relegated Sporting Gijon this summer and was due to take charge of their former La Liga rivals.
Villarreal, who were also relegated last month, only announced on Wednesday, 6 May, 2012 that they had reached an agreement with Preciado to take charge of the club next season. He was due to be officially unveiled to the media by the 2006 Champions League semi-finalists on Friday.
Spanish newspaper Marca report that he was suffering from a virus before he passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after he got his new job.
A statement on Villarreal’s website read: “Coach Manuel Preciado died early this morning in Valencia and as a result of a heart attack.
“Villarreal wants to show its deep regret at the sad loss and wants to show their condolences to his family and all his relatives.”
A statement on the Sporting website read: “With deepest regret, Sporting Gijon wish to express their sorrow at this sad loss, for someone who formed an integral part of this club’s history, and send their deepest condolences to his family in this time of grief.”
Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas was one of many players to post their condolences on Twitter. He wrote: “I cannot believe the news when I woke up. From here my most sincere hug to all the family of Manolo Preciado.”
Preciado parted company with Gijon in January following six years in charge of the Asturian outfit.
Preciado took over Sporting in the summer of 2006 and in his second season led them into the Primera Division for the first time in 10 years.
His record of 232 official matches in charge at El Molinon is second only to Jose Manuel Diaz Novoa, who sat in the Sporting hotseat for 282 games.
Prior to his time at Sporting, Preciado was coach of the likes of Racing Santander, Levante and Murcia, while as a player he represented Racing, Real Mallorca and Alaves among others.
Sporting were relegated from the Primera Division in the recently-completed season, as were Villarreal.