He appeared in 270 Segunda División games over ten seasons, scoring a total of nine goals for Badajoz, Hércules, Castellón, Elche and Cádiz.
On 3 January 2001 he played his first professional game with the latter's first team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0–4 home loss against Racing de Santander for that season's Copa del Rey.
In August of that year he signed with Alicante CF of Segunda División B,[2] going on to appear twice in the promotion playoffs but falling consecutively short.
[7] On 19 August 2013, the 33-year-old Mantecón made his debut in the Spanish top flight, replacing David Generelo midway through the second half of a 3–0 away defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
[12] Mantecón served as interim manager of the main squad on 29 November 2021 for a top-tier match against CA Osasuna, after Fran Escribá was dismissed.