Manuel Estiarte facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manuel Estiarte
Manuel Estiarte in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Manel Estiarte Duocastella
Born	26 October 1961 (1961-10-26) (age 63) Manresa, Spain
Nationality	Spain
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	62 kg (137 lb)
National team
Years	Team
1977–2000	Spain
Medal record Men's water polo Representing  Spain Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta Team Silver 1992 Barcelona Team World Championship Gold 1998 Perth Team Silver 1991 Perth Team Silver 1994 Rome Team FINA World Cup Bronze 1985 Duisburg Team Bronze 1991 Barcelona Team Bronze 1999 Sydney Team European Championship Silver 1991 Athens Team Bronze 1993 Sheffield Team

Manel Estiarte Duocastella (born October 26, 1961) is a famous Spanish former water polo player. He was born in Manresa, a town in Barcelona, Spain. Many people think he is one of the two greatest water polo players ever.

Today, Manel works as part of Pep Guardiola's team at Manchester City, a big football club.

Manel Estiarte's Amazing Career

Manel Estiarte had a very long and successful career in water polo. He played for his country and for several clubs, winning many awards.

Playing for Spain's National Team

Manel played for the Spanish national water polo team for 23 years, from 1977 to 2000. He was the team captain for 20 of those years! He played in 580 games and scored an incredible 1,561 goals.

His first international game was at just 15 years old in Sweden in 1977. At 18, he played in his first Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980. He was the top goalscorer in that Olympics, and he repeated this amazing feat in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympic Games. Manel holds the record for the most goals ever scored by a water polo player in Olympic history, with 127 goals.

Manel Estiarte took part in six Olympic Games in a row: Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, and Sydney 2000. He was the first water polo player to compete in six Olympics.

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, held in his home country, Spain reached the final. It was a very close game against Italy. Manel scored a penalty shot with only 42 seconds left, putting Spain ahead. But Italy quickly scored to tie the game, and then won in extra time. It was a tough loss.

However, four years later, Manel and his team got their revenge! They won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, beating Croatia 7-5 in the final.

He also won a World Championship gold medal in Perth 1998. Before that, his team had won silver medals at the World Championships in Perth 1991 and Rome 1994.

At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Manel had the special honor of carrying Spain's national flag during the opening ceremony. After these Games, he announced his retirement from playing water polo.

Playing for Water Polo Clubs

Manel Estiarte played for several water polo clubs during his career:

• Club Natació Manresa (1975 – 1979) in Spain
• Club Natació Barcelona (1979 – 1985) in Spain
• Pallanuoto Pescara (1986 – 1989 and 1992 - 1999) in Italy
• Rari Nantes Savona (1989 – 1991) in Italy
• Club Natació Catalunya (1991 – 1992) in Spain
• Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta (1999 – 2000) in Spain

Other Sports Roles

During the 2000 Sydney Olympics, other athletes chose Manel to represent them in a special committee. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2000 to 2006.

From 2008 to 2012, he worked in external relations for the famous football club Barcelona. Later, he became the personal assistant to football manager Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich from 2013 to 2016. He continues this role with Guardiola at Manchester City, where his official title is Head of Player Support and Protocol.

Manel's Personal Life

Manel Estiarte was born in Manresa, Spain. He has two siblings, a brother named Albert and a sister named Rosa. All three siblings were involved in high-level sports. Manel is married and has two children, including a daughter named Rebecca.

In 2009, Manel wrote a book about his life called All My Siblings. In the book, he shares stories about his personal and professional journey, including memories of his sister Rosa.

Manel's Friendship with Pep Guardiola

Manel Estiarte and Pep Guardiola, who is now a famous football manager, have been friends since the early 1990s. They first met in 1992 when Guardiola, then a player for Barcelona, won a football title. Manel, a big Barcelona fan, went to congratulate him.

They stayed in touch throughout their sports careers. In 2008, Guardiola asked Manel to join him as an assistant when he became head coach at Barcelona. They have been close friends and colleagues ever since. Manel has worked with Guardiola throughout his entire career as a manager. Manel even helped Guardiola when he faced a difficult situation in 2001.

Pep Guardiola wrote the introduction for Manel's book, All My Siblings. He said about Manel: “I don't know if angels exist and, if they do, if they help us. Much less if guardian angels exist. But, if they do exist, I believe you are one of them.”

Guardiola also says that Manel has helped him a lot as a manager, by helping him understand sports from a bigger perspective. Guardiola believes Manel is a very important part of his success as a manager.

Manel Estiarte's Honors and Awards

Manel Estiarte received many awards and honors throughout his career, both with his national team and his clubs, and for his individual achievements.

National Team Honors

Olympic Games Medals

• Gold Medal: Atlanta 1996
• Silver Medal: Barcelona 1992
• Fourth Place: Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984, Sydney 2000

World Championships Medals

• Gold Medal: Perth 1998
• Silver Medals: Perth 1991, Rome 1994

FINA Water Polo World Cup Medals

• Bronze Medals: Duisburg 1985, Barcelona 1991, Sydney 1999

European Championships Medals

• Silver Medal: Athens 1991
• Bronze Medal: Sheffield 1993

Club Honors

• 2 European Cups: with C.N. Barcelona and Pescara
• 3 European Cup Winners’ Cups: one with C.N. Barcelona and two with Pescara
• 9 League Titles: 5 in Spain with C.N. Barcelona and 4 in Italy with Pescara
• 11 Domestic Cups: 5 in Italy with C.N. Barcelona and 6 in Italy with Pescara
• 4 European Supercups: 2 with C.N. Barcelona and 2 with Pescara

Individual Awards

• Gold Insignia by C.N. Manresa in 1982
• Called "The Maradona of Water Polo" by Pescara in 1985
• Named Best Water Polo Player in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992
• Extraordinary Distinction of the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation in 1992
• Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit in 1993
• Extraordinary Medal of Brilliance of the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation in 1996
• Marca Leyenda (Marca Legend) Award in 1998
• Prince of Asturias Sports Award in 2001

Special Decorations

Manel Estiarte received the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit in 1993. In 1996, he was given the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sports Merit, which is the highest sports award in Spain. In 2001, he also received the Prince of Asturias Sports Award, one of the most respected sports awards in Spain and internationally.

Films About Manel Estiarte

• TV3 Documentary (July 18, 2012), «Sense ficció: "Aigua, infern, cel"» on YouTube
• TVE Documentary (October 29, 2012), «Legendarios - Manuel Estiarte» on RTVE.es
• Movistar+ Documentary (May 25, 2016), «Informe Robinson - Manel Estiarte» on YouTube

See also

In Spanish: Manel Estiarte para niños

• Spain men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
• List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games
• List of players who have appeared in multiple men's Olympic water polo tournaments
• List of Olympic champions in men's water polo
• List of Olympic medalists in water polo (men)
• List of men's Olympic water polo tournament top goalscorers
• List of flag bearers for Spain at the Olympics
• List of world champions in men's water polo
• List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo
• List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame