Jose Manuel Copete

Jose Manuel Arias Copete (born 10 October 1999) is a Spanish footballer who plays for SD Ponferradina as a central defender.

Club Career

Born in Ecija, Seville, Andalusia, Copete was an Ecija Balompie youth graduate. He made his first team debut at the age of just 16 on 19 March 2016, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 Tercera Division away win against CD Cabecense.

Copete featured sparingly for the Azulinos afterwards, contributing with seven appearances during the 2016–17 campaign as his side achieved promotion to Segunda Division B. On 4 January 2018, he moved to Cordoba CF until the end of the season, and featured for the reserves in the fourth division.

On 7 June 2018, Copete signed a three-year contract with Villarreal CF, being initially assigned to the C-team also in the fourth tier. On 22 July of the following year, he was loaned to third division side SCR Pena Deportiva for one year, and upon returning in July 2020, he played for the B-side in the same category.