Manolo González’s Family: Wife, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Gabriel

Manolo González has one of the most unusual stories among coaches working at the highest level of Spanish football. Born José Manuel González Álvarez on January 14, 1979, in Folgoso do Courel, Lugo, the RCD Espanyol coach moved to Barcelona with his family when he was only three years old. Long before reaching La Liga, González combined coaching in Spain’s lower divisions with everyday employment, including many years working as a bus driver.

Family has remained extremely important throughout that journey. Manolo was largely raised by his mother and two maternal uncles after the family settled in Barcelona. One of those uncles later became such an important figure that González described him as being like a father to him. In adulthood, Manolo formed a family of his own: he is married to a woman from Mataró and has children, although he deliberately keeps their names and personal lives away from public attention.

Who Is Manolo González’s Wife?

Manolo González is married. His wife is originally from Mataró, a city on the Catalan coast north of Barcelona.

González confirmed this himself in an interview with Esportiu Maresme while discussing why his family decided to leave Barcelona and settle in the Maresme region. He explained that his wife knew Mataró and the surrounding area extremely well and wanted the family to enjoy a quieter lifestyle than they had in Barcelona.

However, Manolo González’s wife’s name has not been widely published by reliable sports media. The coach has generally spoken about her simply as his wife rather than making her a public figure.

That approach is consistent with how González treats his personal life more broadly. Despite becoming a recognizable La Liga coach, he has kept his immediate family away from the intense public attention associated with professional football.

Where Does Manolo González Live With His Wife?

Manolo González and his family live in the Maresme region of Catalonia.

In a 2024 interview, the coach explained that the family had moved away from Barcelona approximately nine years earlier. Their first destination was Argentona, where they spent around three years.

They subsequently moved to Mataró, the hometown of González’s wife. At the time of the interview, Manolo said they had already lived there for approximately six years.

The decision was strongly connected to family life. González said they wanted greater tranquility, fewer people and cars and, generally, a better quality of life than they felt they had in central Barcelona.

Does Manolo González Have Children?

Yes. Manolo González has children.

The Espanyol coach publicly confirmed this during a September 2025 interview with El Partidazo de COPE. While explaining how his household deals with social media, González said that neither he nor his children used social-media platforms.

His use of the plural confirms that he has more than one child, although the exact number, their names and their ages have not been reliably disclosed in mainstream reporting.

González appears determined to allow his children to maintain normal lives despite his increasing fame as a football manager.

Why Does Manolo González Keep His Children Private?

Manolo González is notably uncomfortable with unnecessary attention and has repeatedly said that he does not enjoy being the protagonist away from football.

That attitude also appears in his family life. His children rarely feature in established sports coverage, and he has avoided publicly discussing their names, schools or other personal information.

During his COPE interview, González said that his household remained largely removed from social media. He himself does not use it, and neither do his children.

Instead, the coach says that whenever he has free time, one of the things he most enjoys is simply being with his family.

Is Manolo González Close to His Children?

Yes. González has repeatedly described spending time with his family as his main interest away from football.

There is one complication: he finds it extremely difficult to completely disconnect from the sport. Even when he is at home, González admits that his thoughts often return to matches, players and training.

He watches football regularly to follow opponents, Espanyol’s reserve players and footballers who are away from the club on loan.

Nevertheless, family remains his preferred way of spending whatever free time his demanding job allows.

Who Are Manolo González’s Parents?

Public information about Manolo González’s parents is uneven. Considerably more is known about his mother than his father.

González was born in Folgoso do Courel in Galicia. When he was three years old, his family relocated to Catalonia, where he would spend almost his entire childhood and adult life.

In a detailed interview about his upbringing, González said that he was raised alongside his mother and her two brothers, meaning his two maternal uncles.

Reliable public sources have not established the names of either of his parents.

Who Is Manolo González’s Mother?

Manolo González’s mother was the central parental figure in his childhood.

According to González, he moved from Galicia to Barcelona with his mother when he was just three. They settled in the Guinardó neighborhood, close to FC Martinenc’s football ground.

That location would have a major impact on his future. González began playing locally and ultimately became closely connected to Martinenc, first as a young footballer and eventually as a coach.

His mother worked hard after settling in Catalonia and eventually ran a restaurant on Carrer de València in Barcelona.

Manolo González’s Mother and Her Restaurant in Barcelona

One of the clearest details about González’s childhood comes from reports describing his mother’s restaurant.

After the family settled in Barcelona, his mother operated a restaurant on Calle Valencia. Meanwhile, Manolo became increasingly obsessed with football.

That passion was apparent even in his behavior after matches. González has jokingly remembered being so competitive as a young player that when he lost, his mother already knew it was better not to speak to him immediately.

That extreme competitiveness remained part of his personality, although González believes he learned over time how to channel it much more productively as a coach.

Who Is Manolo González’s Father?

Manolo González’s biological father has not been reliably identified in major public interviews or profiles.

When González talks about his childhood, he normally mentions his mother and his two maternal uncles rather than his father. He has specifically said that he grew up with those three relatives after arriving in Barcelona.

It would therefore be inappropriate to assign a name, profession or background to his father based on unverified websites or people who happen to share the González surname.

One relative who clearly did occupy an important paternal role in Manolo’s life was one of his uncles.

Manolo González’s Uncle Was Like a Father to Him

One of Manolo González’s maternal uncles had an especially important place in his life.

In May 2026, following an emotionally exhausting period with Espanyol, González revealed that an uncle who had died approximately three years earlier had been “like a father” to him.

The coach made the comment while describing some of the most difficult moments he had experienced personally.

His words reinforce what he had previously revealed about his upbringing: his mother’s brothers were not distant extended relatives but important members of the household in which he was raised.

Who Were Manolo González’s Two Uncles?

González has confirmed that his mother had two brothers with whom he grew up after moving to Barcelona.

Their names and professions have not been clearly documented in reliable mainstream reporting.

However, González’s later description of one uncle as being like a father demonstrates the depth of their relationship.

There is also still a wider González family connection to Galicia. In a 2024 interview, Manolo mentioned having relatives in Lugo and said that an aunt continued to live in Folgoso do Courel.

Does Manolo González Have Brothers or Sisters?

There is currently no reliable public information confirming whether Manolo González has brothers or sisters.

The most detailed interview about his childhood states that González was raised with his mother and her two brothers. It does not identify a brother or sister of Manolo himself.

However, this should not automatically be interpreted as proof that he is an only child. The interview was describing the relatives with whom he grew up rather than necessarily providing a complete family tree.

Therefore, the safest conclusion is that Manolo González’s sibling situation has not been publicly established.

Where Is Manolo González’s Family From?

Manolo González’s family has deep roots in Folgoso do Courel in Lugo, Galicia.

González was born there in January 1979 and spent the first three years of his life in Galicia before moving to Catalonia.

Despite having lived almost his entire life around Barcelona, he continues to identify strongly with his Galician origins.

In a 2024 interview with El Progreso, González said that he still considered himself more Galician than Catalan. He also revealed that he remained in contact with relatives and people from his hometown even though he had not visited for some time.

Why Did Manolo González’s Family Move to Barcelona?

González’s mother left Galicia for Catalonia when her son was approximately three years old.

The family settled in Barcelona during a period in which many Galician families moved to major Spanish industrial cities in search of greater employment opportunities.

Specific details about exactly why González’s mother made the move have not been extensively documented, but her relocation permanently changed the direction of her son’s life.

Growing up in Barcelona gave Manolo access to a strong local football culture, particularly at Martinenc, where his connection with coaching began extraordinarily early.

Manolo González’s Childhood With His Mother and Uncles

González spent his formative years in Barcelona’s Guinardó neighborhood.

He has said directly that he was brought up by his mother alongside her two brothers. His early childhood was therefore shaped by a close extended-family household.

Football quickly became the dominant interest in his life. González initially played for Colegio Dalvi before being spotted by Josep Maria Valls and joining Martinenc.

The club’s ground was conveniently located near where the family lived, allowing football to become an everyday part of his childhood.

Manolo González’s Family Supported Espanyol and Real Madrid

Football allegiance was also part of the González household.

Manolo has explained that his family supported Espanyol and Real Madrid rather than FC Barcelona.

He personally developed a particularly strong attachment to Espanyol, despite growing up in Barcelona during an era when Barça naturally dominated much of the city’s football culture.

That connection became even more remarkable because González was once given the opportunity to join Barcelona’s youth system but chose not to leave Martinenc.

Decades later, he would become the first-team coach of the club he had followed since childhood.

Manolo González’s Wife and the Move to Maresme

As González built his own adult family, another geographical move became important.

After spending decades in Barcelona, he and his wife decided they wanted a quieter environment in which to live with their family.

Because his wife is from Mataró and knew the Maresme region well, the area became the natural choice.

The family initially spent three years in Argentona before moving to Mataró. González has described the decision as one of the best they have made because of the quality of life they found there.

Manolo González’s Family Life in Mataró

When his work schedule allows, González spends much of his free time in Mataró.

He enjoys walking around the city centre, visiting Mataró Parc and spending time around the waterfront.

Living in Mataró is also practical because the city is relatively close to Espanyol’s Dani Jarque training complex.

González has explained that on certain days he can even return home for lunch before continuing his work with Espanyol.

That proximity is especially valuable because he considers spending time with his wife and children one of his greatest priorities.

How Manolo González Supported His Family Before Reaching La Liga

González’s football career did not initially provide the financial security associated with coaches working in La Liga.

For many years, he had to combine football with regular employment in order to provide stability for his family.

His best-known job was as a bus driver in the Barcelona area. He would begin working early in the morning, finish his shift in the afternoon and then quickly travel to football training.

Those exhausting years continued while he coached teams in comparatively modest levels of Spanish football.

Only much later did coaching become his sole professional focus.

Manolo González’s Journey From Bus Driver to La Liga Coach

González’s path is unusual because there was no prestigious playing career to open doors for him.

A serious knee injury ended his playing ambitions at only 21, but he had already started coaching teenagers several years earlier.

He gradually progressed through Sant Gabriel, Badalona, Montañesa, Ebro and Peña Deportiva before Espanyol appointed him to coach its reserve team in 2023.

Less than a year later, he was promoted to the first team.

González guided Espanyol back into La Liga through the 2024 promotion playoffs and subsequently established himself as a top-flight coach.

Throughout that journey, ensuring that his family was financially secure remained an important consideration.

How Important Is Family to Manolo González?

Family is one of Manolo González’s clearest priorities outside football.

When asked in 2025 what he enjoys most away from work, he responded that he likes being with his family.

The same theme appeared during the difficult second half of Espanyol’s 2025-26 season. After finally ending a long winless run, González became emotional and immediately spoke about his family.

He explained that they suffer alongside him during difficult periods and that the people waiting for him at home had helped push him forward when the pressure became particularly intense.

Does Manolo González Use Social Media?

No. Manolo González has said that he does not personally use social media.

Interestingly, he has also stated that his children do not have social-media accounts.

The family therefore maintains an unusually private digital profile considering that González coaches a major La Liga club.

This helps explain why relatively little dependable information exists about his wife and children despite the coach’s increasing public visibility.

Manolo González’s Family During His Espanyol Career

González has repeatedly acknowledged that the pressure of managing Espanyol affects more than just him.

His wife and children experience the emotional consequences of results because they see what the job demands from him when he returns home.

During an especially difficult run in 2026, González admitted that he was sleeping poorly because of the pressure surrounding the team.

After a crucial victory, he thanked the relatives at home who had supported and encouraged him through the difficult weeks.

That episode offered a rare glimpse into the private support system behind one of Spanish football’s most distinctive coaching careers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Manolo González’s Family

What is Manolo González’s full name?

His full name is José Manuel González Álvarez. He was born on January 14, 1979, in Folgoso do Courel, Lugo, Spain.

Who is Manolo González’s wife?

Manolo González is married to a woman from Mataró. Her name has not been widely disclosed in reliable mainstream reporting.

Does Manolo González have children?

Yes. González has publicly referred to his children in the plural. However, their exact number, names and ages have not been reliably made public.

Who is Manolo González’s mother?

His mother raised him after the family moved from Galicia to Barcelona when Manolo was three years old. She later operated a restaurant on Calle Valencia in Barcelona. Her name has not been reliably published.

Who is Manolo González’s father?

Reliable mainstream profiles do not provide confirmed information about Manolo González’s biological father.

Who raised Manolo González?

González has said that he grew up with his mother and her two brothers, his maternal uncles, after moving to Barcelona.

Did Manolo González have a father figure?

Yes. González has said that one of his maternal uncles, who died around 2023, was like a father to him.

Does Manolo González have brothers or sisters?

There is no reliable public information confirming whether González has siblings. His detailed accounts of childhood focus on his mother and two maternal uncles.

Where is Manolo González’s wife from?

His wife is from Mataró, Catalonia. Her connection to the city helped influence the family’s decision to settle in the Maresme region.

Where does Manolo González live?

González has publicly said that he and his family live in Mataró. They previously spent approximately three years living in nearby Argentona.

Where is Manolo González’s family originally from?

His birth family has roots in Folgoso do Courel, Lugo, Galicia. González moved to Barcelona at three but still considers his Galician heritage important.