The newly-appointed Villarreal manager Manolo Preciado has died at the age of 54. Preciado, 54, passed away during the early hours of Thursday morning after suffering a heart attack, reports Spanish newspaper Marca. The former Sporting Gijon coach had only just agreed to take over as Villarreal's new boss, with a press conference scheduled for his unveiling on Friday. Preciado spent six years in charge of Sporting Gijon before parting company with the club ahead of the challenge of achieving promotion at Villarreal, who suffered relegation from La Liga last season. A statement on Villarreal's website read: "The coach Manuel Preciado died overnight in Valencia as a result of a heart attack. "The Cantabrian, who had been chosen by Villarreal to lead next season's project, was 54 years old. "Villarreal want to express their deepest sorrow at the sad loss and want to offer their condolences to his family and all his relatives.''