Manuel Tena

Manuel Tena López (born 3 February 1978) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

Over the course of 12 seasons he appeared in 208 games both major levels of Spanish football combined and scored five goals, representing mainly Getafe (six years, two in La Liga).

Tena was born in Alcalá de Henares, Community of Madrid. He grew as a player in the ranks of Real Madrid, and first appeared officially for the main squad in the last matchday of the 1998–99 campaign, playing ten minutes in a 3–1 home win against Deportivo de La Coruña (his only game).

Tena moved to Real Valladolid in 1999, playing a further 23 La Liga matches over the course of two seasons and being loaned to Córdoba CF in between. In the 2002 summer he joined Getafe CF – also in Madrid – in the second division and, instrumental while the team achieved promotion to the top flight in 2004, he saw little action after, subbing in in the final minutes of games or playing through injuries and suspensions to teammates; on 16 April 2006 he scored his first goal for Getafe, in a 1–1 home draw against his first professional team.

In July 2008 Tena signed for Rayo Vallecano, freshly promoted to the second level, on a 2+1 deal. After only seven league appearances in his second season, he retired from football at the age of 32.