Manuel María "Lolo" Escobar Rodríguez (born 13 May 1976) is a Spanish
footballmanager and former player. He is the current manager of
CD Lugo.
Career
Born in
Don Benito,
Badajoz,
Extremadura, Escobar moved to
Madrid with his parents and joined
CD Las Rozas' youth setup at the age of 14. He then went on to feature for the first team before leaving the club at the age of 21.[1]
Escobar began coaching at the age of just 18, being in charge of Las Rozas' Infantil B squad. He subsequently worked in the youth categories of
CF Rayo Majadahonda, EF Madrid Oeste Boadilla[2] and FC Villanueva del Pardillo before being named manager of the latter side's first team.[1] He promoted the club from the Segunda de Aficionados (seventh division) to the Preferente (fifth tier) before being sacked in March 2010.[3]
In August 2010, Escobar was named manager of
AD Unión Adarve in the fifth division.[4] He helped the club in their promotion to
Tercera División in his first season, and reached the play-offs twice in
2013 and
2014, missing out promotion in both.
On 26 June 2014, Escobar took over fellow fourth division side
CD Puerta Bonita.[5] He resigned the following January alleging "personal reasons",[6] and was presented as manager of
CF Trival Valderas on 29 June 2015.[7]
On 30 June 2016, Escobar was named at the helm of
Alcobendas CF, still in division four.[8] He returned to Las Rozas on 8 June of the following year,[9] taking over the main squad in the fifth division and achieving two consecutive promotions.
On 13 May 2020, Escobar announced his departure from Las Rozas after the club kept their
Segunda División B status.[10] The following 3 January, after six months without a club, he took over fellow third division side
Salamanca CF UDS, severely threatened with relegation.[11]
Escobar's first professional match occurred on 16 August 2021, a 0–0 away draw against
Málaga CF.[15] On 13 February of the following year, after a 0–3 home loss against
Sporting de Gijón, he was sacked.[16]
On 27 May 2024, after
avoiding relegation with Algeciras, Escobar departed the club[20] and was named at the helm of fellow third division side
CD Lugo on 11 June.[21]
^"Unión Adarve" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 7 September 2021. "Unión Adarve" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 7 September 2021. "Unión Adarve" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 7 September 2021. "Unión Adarve" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
^"Puerta Bonita" (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 7 September 2021.