Manolete

Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez (4 July 1917 – 29 August 1947), known as Manolete, was a Spanish bullfighter.

Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez was the son of a bullfighter (who also went by the name Manolete) and his wife Angustias.

His father died when Manolete was five years old.

Rising to prominence shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Manolete went on to be considered one of the greatest bullfighters of all time.

His style was sober and serious, with few concessions to the gallery, and he excelled at the suerte de la muerte — the kill.

Manolete's contribution to bullfighting included being able to stand very still while the bull passed close to his body and, rather than giving the passes separately, remaining in one spot and linking four or five consecutive passes into a compact series.

He popularized the "Manoletina": a pass with the muleta normally given just before entering to kill with the sword.

In addition to appearing in all of the major bullrings of Spain, Manolete had important triumphs in Plaza Mexico.

Manolete died on 29th August 1947, following a fatal goring that occurred in his appearance alongside the up-and-coming matador Luis Miguel Dominguín in the town of Linares.

As he killed the fifth bull of the day, the Miura bull Islero, Manolete was gored in his upper right leg, in an event that left Spain in a state of shock.

The cause of his death has not been fully determined, and some believe that he died after receiving a transfusion with the wrong type of blood.

Barnaby Conrad also wrote, and narrated, an LP recording in 1957: "The Day Manolete Was Killed."