I-League runners-up NEROCA FC from Imphal, Manipur have announced Spaniard Manuel Retamero Fraile as their new head coach for the 2018-19 season.

43 year old Valladolid-born Manuel Retamero Fraile started his playing career with local side Real Vallaloid, and then went to play for Villa de Simancas and Real Betis Sevilla.

Still in his twenties, Manuel Retamero Fraile started his coaching career at the Academy of LaLiga side Real Betis Sevilla before becoming the head coach of Villa de Simancas and then went on to coach Iscar, Real Valladolid ‘B’ and Milford United Soccer Club in the US. Thereafter he was head of youth at Al Ittihad Aleppo in Syria and then technical director of the Bahrain Football Association.

In 2015, Manuel Retamero Fraile came for the first-time to India and the Northeast to sign for Aizawl FC. He had a successful start by winning the Mizoram Premier League, but after only four points from the first six matches in the I-League, he was fired on February 7, 2016.

He thereafter worked a few months for Al Budaiya in Bahrain before joining Ulaanbaatar FC and spending 18 successful months in Mongolia.

Now Manuel Retamero Fraile returns to India to replace Gift Raikhan, who had an impressive first season with NEROCA FC, who finished runners-up to eventual champions Minerva Punjab FC.