A product of FC Barcelona's youth ranks, Cristóbal was born in Priego de Córdoba, Andalusia, and he made his professional debut in 1987–88, being regularly used as the Catalans lifted that season's Copa del Rey.
[1] Cristóbal was scarcely played in his second stint, and returned to Oviedo: in the subsequent nine campaigns (three plus six at Barça neighbours RCD Espanyol) he rarely missed a game, and left Spain in 2001 with 454 La Liga appearances to his credit.
In early February 2009 he returned to his country and signed with lowly SCR Peña Deportiva in the Segunda División B,[6] being one of two managers in a relegation-ending season.
[9] On 24 October 2017, after Deportivo de La Coruña first-team manager Pepe Mel was fired due to poor results, Parralo moved from the reserve side and was appointed caretaker until the following 30 June.
[13] Parralo returned to the same league on 11 November 2019, replacing Iván Ania at a Racing de Santander side that had won one of 15 matches all season.