Mentor and later manager to his younger brother Severiano, Manuel owed his Seniors Tour membership to solid performances at the 2000 Daily Telegraph European Seniors Match Play and Dan Technology Senior Tournament of Champions where he won enough money to move up to 35th place on the Order of Merit. Made his breakthrough on the European Tour in 1983 when he won the Timex Open at Biarritz, 15 years after winning the Open Costa Vasca at the same venue. After starting as a caddie, Manuel turned professional in 1967 and, after two years in National Service, returned to tournament golf to finish runner-up to Peter Townsend in the 1971 Swiss Open. Played his first season as a senior in 1999 and claimed two top 20 finishes. In 2000 a tie for fifth at the Dan Technology Senior Tournament of Champions remains his best performance.