[2] In 2001, when he was 19 years old, he presented himself as a becerrista (novice who fights calves) at a charitable bullfighting festival in Campotéjar, at which he cut four ears and two tails.

[3][1] He made his début with picadores at Nîmes, France on 22 February 2002, alternating with David Luguillano and Juan Bautista, and with bulls supplied by Victoriano del Río.

[1] On 19 November 2006, he also had his alternativa confirmed at the Plaza México, the world's biggest bullring, with El Juli as "godfather" and José Luis Angelino y Bricio as witness.

He had also had another confirmation in Colombia on 1 February 2004 at the Santamaría Bullring in Bogotá, with Enrique Ponce standing as "godfather" and Manuel Libardo as witness.

[6] On 1 May 2006, between tears and in an emotional act, he cut off his father's coleta (bullfighter's queue) on the occasion of the elder Manzanares's farewell to the bullring.

On 18 May, he was taken shoulder-high out through the Great Gate at Las Ventas after slaying bulls supplied by the Núñez del Cuvillo ranch, among them one named Trapajoso.

[14] In 2016, at the yearly Corrida de Beneficencia ("Charity Bullfights"), Manzanares was borne out through the Great Gate at Las Ventas, together with López Simón, after slaying bulls furnished by the Victoriano del Río ranch.

[23][24][25][26] In 2012, Manzanares began his career as an advertising model for some haute couture firms, appearing in VMan sporting Carine Roitfeld's styles, which included a gladiator's skirt.