Former Sporting Gijon boss Manuel Preciado is set to be honoured with a statue of him outside the club’s El Molinon stadium.
The 54-year-old died four months ago after suffering a heart attack just one day after he had agreed to take the reins at Villarreal, having coached Sporting for six years before being axed in January this year after a 5-1 loss at Real Sociedad.
“The aim is that Manuel Preciado is immortalised and will always be with us,” said Sporting Gijon supporters club President Jaime Alvarez.
The sculpture will be engraved with the names of all the people who have collaborated in the initiative, thought to be around 11,000 in number, and will cost around €110,000 which has been raised by fans, businesses and other entities.
Municipal government spokesman Rafael Felgueroso highlighted Preciado as a figure who was ‘very important to the town’ and said the tribute was ‘so that nobody will ever forget what he did for Sporting’.
